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Writer's pictureLevi J

Correct Me if I'm Wrong...

Updated: Oct 10

Always a hot and interesting topic in dogs is the use of corrections or aversives in dog training. Do they work? Are they ethical and so on. You can probably guess my answers to those questions.


That's not the point of this.


I want to illustrate what I believe a correction should be like and this is something I think is lost on the purely positive people and the very correction heavy people. It's that, SO many factors and considerations (should) go into the if, when, how, why should I correct the dog.


For starters, I don't use corrections when teaching a dog something new, this isn't fair. How can you correct a dog for something they don't know? However! During training something new, if the dog goes off task or does something inappropriate, I will correct that to bring them back on task or stop the unwanted behaviour (like trying to bite me).


Typically, the correction is only given after 1 or 2 attempts to simply get the dogs focus back on the work. Then, my corrections in these cases, if you saw it in real time, probably wouldn't even classify it as such. Seriously, as little as blowing on them or a little tap on the head, sometimes using the leash.


Now, I'm not one to typically get hung up on language but personally, I do differentiate between corrections and punishment. Based of literal definitions and how they are applied in training, I think correction is accurate.

  • Correction (noun):

a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy.


  • Punishment (noun):

the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense.


  • Retribution (noun):

    punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.


I think it's important that corrections are not based in emotion and are not given out in spite or as an act of revenge. This conceptually, doesn't work with dogs.


Correcting means the dog made an error or a choice and it was the wrong one (If YOU make an error and take that out on the dog, that IS punishment. Don't do that.) and you are giving them information to help them make the right choice, now and in the future. It's natural and in the moment. Punishment is not. If a dog goes to jump up on a person and I pop the leash, they made a choice, I told them it was an inappropriate one, end of interaction. If I pop the leash and then don't feed them that night because of the jumping, that's punishment and it makes no sense to them. It's not clear or fair.


Two of my favorite examples of this are the hot stove and the hornets nest.


My stove top is hot, I just finished boiling a kettle and my kid is in the kitchen messing around. As a responsible parent, I tell them the stove is hot and not to touch it, it will hurt. But my kid doesn't believe me and they're curious- they run their hand over it and it's warm, well it must feel nice and warm if they touch it right?

That hot stove top is going to teach my kid exactly what I said only faster and more effectively and they will remember it for their whole life. I don't even have to say anything next time, they just know. Am I worried about them being afraid of the stove forever now? No, because over time, they realize, "As long as I don't touch it, nothing happens!" and they'll be fine. Lesson learned.


I like the hornets nest because there's definitely people and dogs like this and the difference between stove top and hornets nest can represent level of correction.


My kid has discovered a hornets nest and is very excited and interested. I tell them not to disturb it, it'll disturb and upset the hornets and they'll come out and sting you. But again, they don't take my word for it, I must be making that up or lying to them. There's no way that could happen... So the little genius has the brilliant idea to hit the hornets nest with a stick, "It's like a pinata!" Sure it is kid, only this candy stings the crap out of you.



Same principle as the stove top. Those hornets will teach my kid to NEVER hit another nest again in their life. They made a choice, the wrong one and there was an immediate and natural consequence for their actions that they can attribute to that action.


In both instances, those interactions are over immediately. Once they feel the heat, they pull their hand away. Almost like it was their own idea to not touch the stove. Interesting...


I do not punish them after and continue to hold their hand to the stove or withhold dinner after. They already understand.


I don't release a bunch of hornets in their room while they sleep. They understand now, trust me. Now when they see a hornets nest, they think, use their brain and make the choice themselves to not hit it. That's the point of a correction. Not to hurt and suppress the shit out of the dog. To get them to change their mind to make better choices. Your corrections should help inform their decision making.


Lastly, the most common aftermath to a correction is avoidance. Like my kid being afraid of the hot stove or hornets nest. If I have corrected a dog for reacting inappropriately towards another dog, most of the time, what happens is they now avoid and move away from the other dog. This is OKAY! If the reactive dog is on my left and sees another dog, then, moves to the right to give itself more space, I won't correct that even if they've broken the "heel" command because it shows they are thinking and making a different, better, choice than exploding at the end of the leash. Then, when nothing (lack/absence of correction) happens, we start building the clarity and trust. When you don't react, nothing happens. That other dog isn't a threat, I won't senselessly correct you for nothing and the dog is learning to be clear and that it can trust me and over time, the other dog(s).


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