But just shouting NO works?

But just shouting ‘No’ works? Right?

Often pet parents will say, ‘but I just shout no, or uh-uh in a stern voice, and it works.’ Or does it? What’s really going on? Of course dogs don’t speak English, but the they do understand tone of voice, based on all their experiences of living with us humans. Using a harsh tone may work to frighten your dog and stop them doing something in the moment, but it’s not effective training. It's a much better strategy to ask for what we do want.

When we praise and speak gently to our dogs, often in the context of cuddles, even food rewards, it’s associated with feeling comfortable. Shouting, or using a sharp tone can be startling and is likely to convey the opposite. It’s useful to note that ‘punishment’ in a learning theory sense of the word, means anything we add that makes a behaviour less likely. Whereas we know from science that the best ways to train behaviour are positive, rewards-based methods (positive reinforcement).

If you continue to use shouty tactics, there’s also a chance your dog will get used to a loud or harsh tone of voice. In which case you may need to sound even scarier next time to get the behaviour to stop. It’s a race to the bottom. Continuing to shout at your dog is likely to erode trust and eat away at your relationship. You can’t buy trust and you can’t train trust.

In fact, shouting and using punishment can have unintended results. It can cause other types of unwanted behaviours, like barking or biting and general unsettledness, from anxiety and/ or being confused about what’s expected.

‘No’ contains very little information about what is appropriate. Relying extensively on this strategy comes with a real possibility that your dog could essentially shut down over time, and avoid all kinds of natural behaviours that come from feeling comfortable in his world. This is most definitely not what we want considering the likely negative effects on welfare and health.

If ‘no’ is not a behaviour, we are not teaching what we do want in a particular situation. This requires some reflection and planning on our part. Try just saying ‘no’ to someone, without any other clues, and ask them what they think you mean. Of course it’s impossible to say.

It’s a kinder, fairer option to ask your dog for a behaviour that you would prefer in a given situation. You’ll have to train it first of course. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important in the beginning to use management and supervision to encourage good choices in puppyhood. For example, to avoid furniture chewing, you could puppy proof a room area and close it off with baby gates when you can’t be around. Or perhaps put glass tumblers under the legs of your dining room table. You could also create designated spaces to encourage natural behaviours, like a digging hobby, in more acceptable contexts. This way you can set your dog up for success by noticing and rewarding the things you do like. What gets rewarded, gets repeated.