The Side Effects of Positive Punishment

When using a positive punishment procedure, and aversive is presented to the dog that interrupts the behavior and makes the behavior less likely to occur in the future.  The aversive is not always a physical correction or punishment, but could be a strong verbal correction ("NO! ACK!") or other verbal reprimand.   Positive punishment suppresses behavior quickly, at least in the presence of the punisher. The result of the intervention identified it as punishment.  If adding the aversive does not cause a decrease in the behavior it is not a punisher, it is abuse.

In order to be effective the timing of the punishment procedure must be precise, within at LEAST 3 seconds of the onset of the behavior.  Interrupting sooner is better - later is counterproductive.  Application must be consistent; every occurrence must be punished.  The intensity of the punishment must be such that it interrupts and overrides any rewards the dog gets from engaging in the behavior, yet not so intense to create a stress reaction in the dog.

Behaviors that are established and have a significant reinforcement history, are in the dog's nature ( i.e. digging, barking) are more resistant to change and so might require frequent and harsh punishment in order to effect a long term or permanent decrease in the behavior.  If the aversive is not strong enough to effect a change, it is not a punisher.  Ever occurrence must be punished.

Because punishment procedures using physical  corrections generally effect a rapid suppression of behavior, it frequently becomes a default procedure in training.   Unfortunately, when punishment is timed poorly and inconsistently applies, the contingencies are unclear.  The dog learns he is not able to predict or control consequences and the result is learned helplessness.  The owner might think it necessary to increase the severity or repetitions of the punishment, when really it is a matter of poor timing or consistency.  This confusion can undermine a dog's self confidence, he might become reluctant to try any behavior, or he might begin to behave without regard to consequences.

If anxiety based behaviors are punished the behaviors may become worse.   Examples are behaviors related to separation anxiety or submission such as submissive urination.   Some other behaviors exhibited when the dog is stressed include yawning, stretching, shaking ,self- mutilation grooming, inability to focus, increased urination or defecation.  When the dog is anxious and he is in an emotional state he becomes cognitively challenged. He might go on "auto pilot" and try a bit of everything to relieve the stress and stop the punishment.  He might try to escape or to defend himself.

Punishment can cause acute stress in a dog.  This stress could be related to the timing consistency and/or severity of the punishment.  A dog that is acutely stressed cannot learn.   He has been pushed to an emotionally defensive state (fight or flight.)  When the fight or flight is prevented and punished, the dog could shut down, or he might become more hyperactive in an effort to relieve himself of the stress.  As the dog does not learn when acutely stressed, the punishment procedure will not be effective and the owner could end up in a vicious cycle.

Why do we have dogs that dig when we are not outside or counter surf when we are not home?  Why do our dogs behave perfectly in some situations but act like they have never been trained in other situations?  Punishment is effective as long as every occurrence is punished, and/or the punisher is present.  If the behavior holds its own rewards ( i.e. getting the steak off the counter) and we do not punish every occurrence, we end up with an "opportunist."  Dogs are amoral by nature.  They maximize their rewards and minimize their punishments.  They are very keyed in on the environment and environmental cues. They figure out when they can "get away with it" and frequently do.  Positive punishment procedures might only temporarily suppress the behavior and only suppress the behavior in certain situations.   When punishment is applies imperfectly, the behavior might become an owner-absent problem, could manifest as anxiety related behavior problems, create a neurotic animal, suppress behaviors that the owner did not mean to suppress, and increase other undesired behaviors.

Punishments must be applied fairly and be balances with rewards.  Use of negative punishment procedures to extinguish undesirable behaviors paired with positive reinforcement to reward desired alternative could accomplish this.  Negative punishment is when something the dog finds desirable or rewarding is removed, interrupting and decreasing the behavior.  Positive reinforcement provides something the dog wants and increases or strengthens behaviors.    Example:  Dog jumps up when  a visitor enters your home.  The visitor turns and walks away, not giving any ATTENTION to the dog.  When the dog has "four on the floor" the visitor greets the dog.

If necessary, the owner can use a leash or a tether to control the dog, in a situation such as greeting behavior.   If you were to use POSITIVE PUNISHMENT in this situation by pushing the dog down, kneeing the dog, squeezing the paws, or stepping on toes, the dog could see the attention as a game.  He is being rewarded with attention and game playing.  The physical correction would have to be intense enough to cause real physical pain. And since in a state of arousal the dog will be more tolerant to pain, it could be necessary to be harsh.

The advantage of using the negative punishment/positive reinforcement procedures is that it gets the owner focusing on rewards.   What reward does the dog gain from the behavior?  How can I gain control of that reward to train the dog?  The goal of any training endeavor should be to teach the dog how to be good, rather than to teach him how not to be bad.

There is a side effect to the use of negative punishment procedures called "extinction burst."  If the dog has been consistently rewarded for jumping up or engaging in another undesired behavior, he will continue to try.  The behavior might temporarily become more intense and insistent as the dog works it out.  It is extremely important that the owner be consistent in withholding rewards during the burst and rewarding the desired behavior as soon as it occurs.