Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-w7rtg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-05T08:07:20.375Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

EF Hiby*
Affiliation:
Anthrozoology Institute, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 SDT, UK
NJ Rooney
Affiliation:
Anthrozoology Institute, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 SDT, UK
JWS Bradshaw
Affiliation:
Anthrozoology Institute, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 SDT, UK
*
* Correspondence: elly.hiby@bristol.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Historically, pet dogs were trained using mainly negative reinforcement or punishment, but positive reinforcement using rewards has recently become more popular. The methods used may have different impacts on the dogs’ welfare. We distributed a questionnaire to 364 dog owners in order to examine the relative effectiveness of different training methods and their effects upon a pet dog's behaviour. When asked how they trained their dog on seven basic tasks, 66% reported using vocal punishment, 12% used physical punishment, 60% praise (social reward), 51% food rewards and II% play. The owner's ratings for their dog's obedience during eight tasks correlated positively with the number of tasks which they trained using rewards (P< 0.01), but not using punishment (P = 0.5). When asked whether their dog exhibited any of 16 common problematic behaviours, the number of problems reported by the owners correlated with the number of tasks for which their dog was trained using punishment (P< 0.001), but not using rewards (P = 0.17). Exhibition of problematic behaviours may be indicative of compromised welfare, because such behaviours can be caused by— or result in — a state of anxiety and may lead to a dog being relinquished or abandoned. Because punishment was associated with an increased incidence of problematic behaviours, we conclude that it may represent a welfare concern without concurrent benefits in obedience. We suggest that positive training methods may be more useful to the pet-owning community.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2004 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Adams, GJ and Johnson, KG 1994 Sleep, work, and the effects of shift work in drug detection dogs, Canis familiaris. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 41: 115126CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arkow, PS and Dow, S 1984 The ties that do not bind: a study of the human-animal bonds that fail. In: Anderson, RK, Hart, BL and Hart, LA (eds) The Pet Connection: Its Influence on Our Health and Quality of Life pp 348354. Censhare, University of Minnesota: Minneapolis, USAGoogle Scholar
Askew, HR 1996 Treatment of Behaviour Problems in Dogs and Cats. Blackwell Science: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Barlow, TA 2003 Hypothyroidism and behavioural change in the domestic dog. PhD thesis, Southampton University, UKGoogle Scholar
Beerda, B, Schilder, MBH, van Hooff, JARAM and de Vries, HW 1997 Manifestations of chronic and acute stress in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52: 307319CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christiansen, FO, Bakken, M and Braastad, BO 2001 Behavioural changes and aversive conditioning in hunting dogs by the second-year confrontation with domestic sheep. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 72: 131143CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clark, Gl and Boyer, WN 1993 The effects of dog obedience training and behavioural counselling upon the human-canine relationship. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 37: 147159CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hennessy, MB, Williams, MT, Miller, DD, Douglas, CW and Voith, VL 1998 Influence of male and female petters on plasma Cortisol and behaviour: can human interaction reduce the stress of dogs in a public animal shelter? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 61: 6377CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hubrecht, RC 1993 A comparison of social and environmental enrichment methods for laboratory housed dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 37: 345361CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hubrecht, RC 1995 Enrichment in puppyhood and its effects on later behaviour of dogs. Laboratory Animal Science 45: 7075Google ScholarPubMed
Jagoe, JA and Serpell, JA 1996 Owner characteristics and interactions and the prevalence of canine behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 47: 3142CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnston, B 1995 Harnessing Thought. Queen Anne Press: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Lieberman, D 1999 Learning Behaviour and Cognition. Wadsworth: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Marschark, ED and Baenninger, R 2002 Modification of instinctive herding dog behaviour using reinforcement and punishment. Anthrozöos 15: 5168CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Most, K 2000 Training Dogs: A Manual. Dogwise Publishing: Wenatchee, USAGoogle Scholar
Mugford, R 1981 Problem dogs and problem owners: the behaviour specialist as an adjunct to veterinary practice. In: Fogle, B (ed) Interrelations Between People and Pets pp 295318. Charles C Thomas: Springfield, IL, USAGoogle Scholar
O'Farrell, V 1997 Owner attitudes and dog behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52: 205213CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Overall, KL 1997 Clinical Behavioural Medicine for Small Animals. Mosby: St Louis, MO, USAGoogle Scholar
Podberscek, AL and Serpell, JA 1997 Environmental influences on the expression of aggressive behaviour in English Cocker Spaniels. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52: 215227CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roll, A and Unshelm, J 1997 Aggressive conflicts amongst dogs and factors affecting them. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52: 229242CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Serpell, JA 1996 Evidence for an association between pet behaviour and owner attachment levels. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 47: 4960CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siegel, S and Castellan, NJ 1988 Non-Parametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences, Edn 2. McGraw-Hill: New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Voith, VL, Wright, JC and Danneman, PJ 1992 Is there a relationship between canine behaviour problems and spoiling activities, anthropomorphism, and obedience training? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 34: 263272CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, DL and Hepper, PG 2000 The influence of environmental change on the behaviour of sheltered dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 68: 151162CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed