Trainers spend 30 church activities pet related on the upper 't. Berryman People Training for Good Dogs I've read all the comments and noticed that important evidence-based result of punishment was not mentioned. PUNISGMENT IS REINFORCING FOR THE PUNISHER,AND it is addicting- and a very difficult behavior to change once well established. It has all of the addictive qualities of the most notorious narcotics... immediate sense of being control, of power, and relief from stress. The fact that these sensations are of a transient nature, make the use of punishment all the more addictive and more frequent. It is the poster child for unintended consequences--it encourages those observing it to imitate the punisher. Think of all the children who have been physically punished, or the worse case abused, who grow up to be abusers, adults who deal with their frustrations through force and bullying. Would you really want oyur chuild to watch you physically abuse animal? Count on them imitating you and applying it not only to pets, but also to smaller weaker children. This is excellent article. For those of you who 't understand what punishment means and how bad it is, get the book by Sidman, PhD called Coercion And Its Fallout. It is not a dog book, it is a behavior book. But behavior is behavior is behavior. It doesn't matter much whether the punishment is from the extreme of abuse to the other end called coercion, what we need to understand is how behavior works, not to mention between 2 different species who 't speak a common language. This article is not just right on with a pleasant message, but it contains the most up-to-date information we have from behaviorists and dog trainers and veterinarians on how BEST to train and work with your dog. This is as bad as not spanking your children. There is a difference between correction and abuse. That's why there are bad dogs because of bad owners who refuse to correct there dog. does not use punishment. Why was he included as using punishment. His methods make the most common sense and has helped more people with problems. I live with neighbors who 't correct their dogs behavior and it drives me crazy. From being kept awake at night to being jumped on and mouthed all over. I forwarded this article to a relative who has had dogs, mostly Labs, for decades. His comment: I read the article but was somewhat disappointed when the author lumped how corrects bad behavior with some of the behaviorists who use violent punishment. The first Comment section had a great review where they point out the difference and emphasized the timing of the correction that sometimes simply be a well timed stern look or stare. Since this article attempts to debunk the dog theory without going into detail about how using only positive reinforcement it left me completely confused. Everyone who loves their dog would live to use and only positive reinforcement. However, and using the example of owning a dog who lives to climb up on the couch, I 't know how you could replace the comfort of the couch by gently asking your dog to hop off and sit on his doggie mat. The doggie mat is not a better replacement as the author suggests. You should never beat your dog, but this article has not convinced me that you could be successful training a strong willed dog, or a child for that matter, with only positive reinforcement. Even a glutton like a Lab lose interest food if given enough treats as a reward. I would certainly like to evaluate the success of a dog behaviorist that uses only and communication with a dog like Lab. Why are Americans extreme. I believe each dog responds differently to different methods. I used Barbara Woodhouse's book, NO BAD DOGS 1990 to train pup and she turned out to be like Lassie. I did nothing cruel to her and didn't have to have treats on hand for everything she did, it was enthusiastic praise for a good behavior, and a stern verbal correction for undesireable behaviors. Why not take the good from both methods, there is evidence that they both work. I had to be a bit firmer with adult rescue, who was extremely dominant and bold and she also became a wonderful dog. However, I now have a scaredy dog, who I know needs all positive approach to training and that's what I'm doing with her. Time tell if it was the best method, but I am quite tired of carrying treats around 24 and avoiding all her triggers, as opposed to confronting them and correcting, but she is different, that's what she needs right now. I think is wonderful at what he does. It's people that cannot read a dogs body language that gets them trouble. By all means, drowning a dog or shaking it by its jowels are not acceptable. does not use physically harsh signals. He's just trying to help the owner out that has let a behavior get out of control. I think he just uses words like that to help the uninformed owner, who for whatever reason cannot not reward good behavior, is yelling all the time, lets their