Yelling At Your Dog Doesn't Fix The Problem Behaviour

It's like yelling at your best friend; you're not going to get to the root of you're dog's behaviour problem.

Let's face it, sometimes our furry companions can be, well, a bit much. Between the chewed shoes and the midnight zoomies, it's easy to lose your cool and unleash the inner drill sergeant. But hold on a sec, pup parents! Turns out, yelling at your dog is a total lose-lose situation and not going to solve any kind of behaviour problem.

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Here's the deal: imagine you're hanging out with your best friend, but instead of high-fives and laughter, they yell every time you mess up. Kinda stressful, right? That's what yelling feels like to your dog.

Stress Busters, Not Yellers

Yelling triggers stress hormones in your dog, like a little internal fire alarm, and contributes to poorer welfare. This can make them more anxious and reactive, which isn't exactly ideal for a chill living room vibe. Plus, it's like they're speaking a whole different language! Dogs don't understand the words you're yelling, just the angry tone. They might even get confused and think you're excited, making the whole situation even worse.

Building a Friendship, Not a Battlefield

The constant yelling can damage your bond with your dog. They might become scared of you, lose trust, and even feel less attached. Not exactly the recipe for happy tail wags and sloppy kisses.

Yelling can actually:

• lead to separation anxiety

• make it more difficult for your buddy to socialise

• hold them back from learning

• discourage your dog from trying to please you

• make your dog less likely to respond to commands

• develop a more pessimistic outlook

Image Source: humanesociety.org

Think Positive, Not Punitive

Here's the good news: yelling is totally unnecessary! Positive reinforcement, a.k.a. rewarding good behaviour with treats, praise, or belly rubs, is the way to go. It builds trust, makes training way more effective, and helps your dog learn what you actually want.

Think of it like this: if your friend responded better to high-fives than angry lectures, wouldn't you choose high-fives every time? Your dog is the same.

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So, ditch the yelling and embrace the treats (and the endless cuddles). You'll have a happier, calmer pup, and a stronger friendship built on love, not fear. Now that's something to bark about!