15d • Trusty Tidbits
Consequence vs Punishment
These two words are sometimes used interchangeably in conversation but what do they actually mean. Let’s start out with definitions:
Consequence: umbrella term for any outcome that follows and depends on a behavior, with its meaning determined by the effect it has on that behavior.
Punishment: a specific consequence that reduces behavior; the opposite of reinforcement.
When a trainer or owner/handler does something in response to a dog’s behavior they may have every intention for it be as force free as possible but the dog may not see it that way. This is something that I see and hear quite often in both the working and nonworking canine worlds; that is the dog does something undesirable and the response is not timed well, harsh and sometimes more than what the situation called for. The dog then has a reaction of fear or caution and the person may think that their dog had a consequence when in fact the dog received a punishment.
This is not to paint the trainer or owner/handler as a bad person but to remind everyone that even if our intentions are good the dog may interpret the consequence as a punishment. This could be due to the reasons listed above but also could be due to past experiences, the dog senses you’re in a bad mood, or something else happened in tandem and the moment was overwhelming for the dog even if the events are completely unrelated.
It is important to know and understand the dog in front of you and have the ability to adjust on the fly to what that dog needs in that moment. Do not be afraid to reach out and learn from others in order to add skills to your toolbox. If you are in it for the right reasons sharing information to better a dog’s life and learning opportunity/ability is never an issue.
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Consequence vs Punishment
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