Is this dog understanding it has done something wrong? Or is the dog only responding submissively to the assertive energy of the owner?

I was writing on a peers FB page, about using the terms punishment and correction with my clients, and it got me thinking about explaining my views on this subject further.

I guess I just have a different definition of punishment and correction to a lot people, especially dog trainers.. Many dog trainers will use the terms 'positive punishment' (+P) and 'negative punishment' (-P). I personally feel using the term punishment to explain modifying behaviour, or as a training term is wrong. I feel that for me to better explain why we should never punish a dog, or be abusive to a dog, it's easier and clearer for me to explain to my clients that punishing a dog is not acceptable, however a correction when required is ok, and explaining the difference. I prefer to separate the 2 words. I find most of my clients have a better understanding of the concept of correcting behaviour. Many see punishment as getting mad at the dog.. I know it seems silly.. but I am surprised how many people have a preconceived definition of punishment as being angry at a person/animal and letting them know you are, by punishing them for it. Using the term 'correcting/correction' and explaining it to my clients, tends to put many in a different mindset when they see themselves as correcting, and not 'handing out' punishment to their dog.. Also the dog definitely doesn't understand punishment.

I have never seen myself as punishing my dog or any dog for unwanted behaviour. As to me punishment also means that the person/animal should have a concept of right and wrong, good and bad... Dogs don't..there are just positive and negative experiences, and satisfying genetically inherent drives and instincts.... Even when we correct a behaviour..the dog doesn't see it as wrong or bad behaviour..it just produces a negative reaction in the dogs brain, so it avoids repeating the behaviour. Humans have the concept of right and wrong, good and bad.. We can teach right and wrong and good and bad to a child for example.. and then the child has a choice to carry out the bad behaviour or not, knowing that the behaviour is wrong and could result in punishment. If I use say a no-bark collar on my dog.. the dog is not understanding it is 'wrong' to bark, it just produces a reaction in the dogs brain to avoid the negative response. I don't see that as punishing my dog, as it has no concept of right or wrong.... You can only punish if the person understands the concept of right and wrong.

As an example.. we teach children at a young age it is wrong to kill other animals. However our dog has no concept of this. A dog that chases a bird in the back yard, catches it..plays with it for awhile killing it, and then leaves it on the ground, doesn't see this as bad or cruel. Good and bad behaviour are human concepts only. If a child killed an animal knowing it is wrong, we can if we choose punish the child for being so cruel. However we cannot do this to a dog, as the dog has no concept that its behaviour was wrong or cruel. In nature, killing another animal is as normal as drinking water. So if a dog has no human concept of right and wrong, how can we punish it?

Now if we caught the dog as it was about to grab the bird, and immediately corrected the behaviour.. the dog still doesn't understand it was wrong to grab the bird... The dog just avoids the negative response of grabbing a bird, if we repeat this action enough times for the dog to predict the consequences of its actions. The dog has no concept of right and wrong, or that it was cruel to kill the bird.

Another example.. We are training our dog to stay on its bed. Each time our dog goes to move from the bed, we correct with a harsh "NO", step forward assertively and tell our dog to stay. If our dog stays we pet our dog saying "good boy" with a pleasing tone. Now we keep repeating this until our dog predicts the consequences of leaving the bed.. So after a few repetitions, to avoid our negative response the dog stays on the bed... The dog doesn't comprehend that leaving the bed is wrong.. as it has no concept of wrong..The dog is just avoiding our response. So again..how can we punish our dog for leaving a bed when it has no concept of doing anything wrong?

So never see your dog as understanding the concept of right and wrong. Never believe you can punish a dog for something it has done wrong. As that is only putting human reasoning into a dog. This in my opinion is why many fail at training their dog, or teaching a dog correct behaviour from a human perspective.. As many think a dog understands the concept of right from wrong, and so if it does the right thing they praise it..if it does the wrong thing they punish. The dog is only doing the right thing because of the positive feeling we create by rewarding what 'we' consider good behaviour, and avoiding the negative for what 'we' consider wrong or bad behaviour.

A correction is just that..correcting behaviour. We are not saying to the dog this is good or bad.. we are just creating good or negative feelings. The dog avoids the negative feeling, and is attracted to the positive feeling.

Just on another note about punishment. I just want to add this....

Do you know what I see as punishment from a human perspective, in regards other animals? When we punish a criminal, we place them in a prison, and deny them freedom.  Keeping intelligent non-domesticated animals in cages in a zoo, or dolphins and whales in sterile pools, all for our own amusement, is akin to punishment, as we are denying their right to freedom, and live as they instinctively need.