Portland Oregon Dog Kennel

As an owner of a dog kennel in Portland Oregon I believe that people disciplining their dogs causes more problems than it fixes. When dogs are punished in an unconstructive manner it only causes more problems. If dogs that jump on visitors or bark at other dogs are punished for this behavior they will simply assume that other people and dogs are something bad and meeting them precedes punishment.

If your dog growls, it is because he is letting you know that he is uncomfortable in the situation and becoming agitated and by punishing this behavior you are telling him that growling is bad and so leave him no other alternative means to show his feelings other than attacking. What you want to teach you dog is that being around people and animals can be a fun positive experience, but you can destroy this concept through misapplied punishment. For many years punishment was considered an integral part of dog training but now we can see that it is not only inefficient but also ineffective when it comes to teaching and training. Clicker training is a better and kinder way to train your dog. Not only does the dog learn faster but also the methods and techniques used do not rely on physical force. Therefore anyone can master and train their dog by using the clicker. Clicker training is a scientifically based method, which uses the principles of operant conditioning. It teaches the dog to learn through thinking and therefore is a more intelligent technique. Because of the high risk of your dog misunderstanding and misinterpreting why you are punishing. You just should not do so when there are people or other dogs involved. Punishing for displays of aggression could lead to more violent acts.