Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftips
Yes we humans love our dogs and yes, sometimes they also make us want to pull our hair out!
But no matter what your dog does and how tempted you are, you should never yell or scream at your dog.
Why?
Because not only does it not work, yelling at your dog can actually make the situation worse. Your dog doesn’t know why you are yelling, even if it seems obvious to you. Your yelling, whether over something he did hours ago or even a few minutes ago, is not addressing the dog’s behavior.
Yelling at your dog weakens any bonds that have formed between you and he may actually become fearful of you, likely making it more difficult to get him to respond favorably to you in the future.
Yelling Will Only Escalate Bad Behavior
If your dog is excited and barking and running around, he may interpret your yelling at him that you are excited too and may actually escalate his behavior. Plus, shouting at him is not good for his health, as it puts him in a stressed out state.
Depending on the situation, try speaking to your dog in a calm, positive manner. Or try ignoring the behavior. Take the time to learn positive dog training techniques using rewards instead of negativity.
Both you and your dog will be better for it.
By Ellen Britt
Dr. Ellen Britt has loved dogs since she was a child. She is particularly fond of the Northern breeds, especially Alaskan Malamutes. Ellen worked as a PA in Emergency and Occupational Medicine for two decades and holds a doctorate (Ed.D.) in biology.
