Why Punishment Fails Long-Term

Punishment suppresses behavior in the moment but does not teach an alternative. A dog yelled at for jumping on guests learns to not jump when you are watching.

Worse, punishment has side effects that positive reinforcement does not. It increases stress, damages trust, triggers aggression in some dogs, and creates a dog that shuts down rather than engages. A dog that is afraid to try anything for fear of correction is not well-trained.