The science of dog training has definitively shown that positive reinforcement is both more effective and more welfare-positive than punishment-based methods.
Dogs trained using punishment including choke chains, prong collars, and shock collars show elevated cortisol, increased aggression, and fear-related behaviors that reduce welfare and increase bite risk. Positive reinforcement training achieves superior results with lower welfare cost. The scientific consensus supporting positive methods has shifted professional organizations and is gradually changing public practice.