Companion Animals

Dog Positive Reinforcement and Fear-Free Training

Training methods that use punishment and aversive tools cause fear, stress, and aggression, while positive reinforcement achieves better results with none of these welfare costs.

Key Facts

Aversive training including shock collars and choke chains causes fear and stress
The UK government consulted on banning shock collar use in 2018 and Wales banned them
Studies show positive reinforcement achieves training goals with better welfare outcomes
Dogs trained with punishment show more aggression and anxiety
Balanced or dominance-based methods are inconsistent with modern animal behaviour science

Welfare Considerations

Training interactions are frequent and influential in a dog's life. Using aversive methods causes repeated fear responses, suppresses normal behaviour, and damages the human-dog relationship. Positive reinforcement training using food, play, and praise achieves reliable training results while building trust, confidence, and a positive emotional state. The welfare cost of aversive training is borne by the dog for the owner's convenience.

What You Can Do

Choose a trainer accredited by the APDT or IMDT using only positive methods
Avoid trainers who use aversive tools including shock, prong, or choke collars
Attend puppy classes using food-reward based methods
Learn about dog communication and stress signals to improve training interactions
Support legislation banning the sale and use of shock collars