02/28/2026
Why it is so important to understand the reason behind the behaviour.
If it’s an emotional fear or anxiety based response we need to address the emotional response and this can not be done with punishment nor reward but working on building a positive association with the thing that sparks the response ie the “trigger”.
In my early days on social media, I routinely talked about the effects of punishment on dogs.
It was one of the loudest parts of my platform.
I shared reams of research.
I broke down the body language.
I called out abusive individuals with huge platforms.
I replied to comments with paragraphs of information.
People came for me.
Hard.
They used some of the most aggressive, hostile tactics to try to make me stop talking.
Some even made me scared for my own safety.
And here's the part that still sits with me: it worked.
Not because they changed my mind, but because they got the result they wanted.
I pulled back.
I posted less.
And the parallel wasn't lost on me.
Because that's exactly what punishment does.
It doesn't change how someone feels.
It just changes what they're willing to show you.
I no longer felt safe.
Speaking out started costing me too much.
My mental health.
My physical health.
My welfare was compromised.
Every single week in my practice, I listen to guardians who love their dogs and did what someone told them would help.
And now they are trying to put the pieces back together.
The misinformation hasn't slowed down.
It's still out there.
Still being preached by confident individuals who say things that sound like they make sense - unless you know the truth.
You can't always see what punishment leaves behind.
It doesn't always look like fear.
Sometimes it looks like a dog who listens perfectly.
Sits on command.
Never steps out of line.
But compliance is not comfort.
Obedience is not safety.
And silence is not the same as being okay.
You cannot punish any animal into feeling safe.
Feelings exist, it's just whether or not you are aware enough to hear them and respond.
