Before You Try Correction-Based Training, Know These Risks

Aversive training methods—including shock collars, prong collars, choke chains, and verbal reprimands such as shouting—carry specific documented risks to dog welfare that extend beyond the training session itself. The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) recommends against the use of these methods, noting that "aversive stimuli received during training are likely to be acutely stressful, painful and frightening for the animals" and "frequently result in long term adverse effects on behavioural and emotional responses such as fear and aggression."^[1]

What Aversive Training Methods Include

Aversive methods rely on positive punishment and negative reinforcement—applying or removing unpleasant stimuli to change behavior.^[2] Common examples include:^[1]

• Electric shock collars
• Prong collars
• Choke chains
• Spray collars
• Electric containment fences
• Physical corrections such as hitting, shaking, or lead jerking
• Verbal reprimands including shouting

Documented Stress During Training

A quasi-experimental study compared 92 companion dogs across seven training schools using objective behavioral and physiological measures.^[2] Because dogs could not be randomly assigned to training methods, the researchers collected data on potential confounding factors to account for in their analysis.^[2] Dogs trained with high proportions of aversive methods displayed more stress-related behaviors such as lip licking and yawning, and were more frequently in tense and low behavioral states, compared to dogs trained with reward-based methods.^[2]

These stress indicators were measured through video recordings of training sessions and saliva samples collected after training and compared to baseline levels taken at home.^[2]

Effects Beyond the Training Context

Researchers also assessed welfare outside the training context using a cognitive bias task, a tool validated for evaluating affective states in animals.^[2] The rationale is that dogs with more negative affective states tend to make more pessimistic judgments about ambiguous stimuli.^[2] The researchers hypothesized that dogs trained with aversive methods would show more pessimistic judgments on this task than dogs trained with reward-based methods, reasoning that repeated exposure to aversive stimuli could affect a dog's affective state beyond the immediate training situation.^[2]

The BSAVA position statement describes an association between the use of aversive training methods and "a more 'pessimistic' cognitive state, indicative of compromised welfare, as well as behavioural and physiological indicators of stress."^[1]

Long-Term Behavioral Consequences

Aversive training methods may cause injuries and have implications for both public safety and animal welfare due to their effects on fear and aggression.^[1] These long-term adverse effects on behavioral and emotional responses occur because the shocks and other aversive stimuli must be sufficiently stressful, painful, and frightening to effectively stop unwanted behavior.^[1]

The Reward-Based Alternative

The BSAVA recommends positive reinforcement training methods, which use physical and verbal praise, treats, toys, and play to increase the frequency of desirable behaviors.^[1] Research indicates that reward-based methods are both more effective and less likely to have undesired consequences than aversive methods.^[1]

Reward-based methods allow owners to build confidence and trust with their dogs rather than creating anxiety or fear, and adhere to the welfare principle of being "Least Invasive, Minimally Aversive."^[1] If you're considering positive reinforcement training, understanding how these methods work can help you build a stronger foundation with your dog.

Legal Status and Welfare Standards

Wales has prohibited the use of electronic collars in dogs and cats since 2010 under the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations.^[1] England announced its intention to introduce similar legislation, though implementation has been delayed.^[1]

The Animal Welfare Act (2006) places a duty of care on owners to protect animals from pain, suffering, injury, and disease—standards that aversive training methods and devices have the potential to violate.^[1] UK codes of practice for both dogs and cats advocate reward-based training methods.^[1]

Making an Informed Choice

Before choosing a training method, owners should understand that aversive techniques carry documented risks including acute stress during training, an association with more pessimistic cognitive states indicative of compromised welfare, and potential long-term effects on fear and aggression.^[2][1] These conclusions are drawn from objective behavioral and physiological measures rather than simply trainer preference, though the underlying study used a quasi-experimental design that cannot establish cause and effect in the way a randomized trial would.^[2]