Why It's Vital to Use the Right Emotion When Training Your Dog
Dogs are quite adept at picking up on their human's emotions, which can really affect your training!
Photo by Ann Caudle, used with permission
Training Bad Behavior
At lunch, your friend tells you the latest disaster story concerning her new Labrador puppy and his bad behavior. "Then he jumped up on my 84-year-old grandma!" your friend exclaims. "If Phil hadn't been standing next to her to catch her as she fell, she would have broken a hip. I am at my wits' end. What should I do?"
What would be your response? How would you train the dog not to jump? Would you knee the dog in the chest when he jumps? Use a pinch collar to jerk the dog's neck when he jumps? Use a shock collar to give the dog a zap? Grab the dog by the scruff and shake him? Go to a trainer who can teach you how to use these techniques properly? Maybe you think of more positive methods like giving a treat for all four paws on the floor?
But, when thinking of a solution for your friend, did you think—even once—of the Lab puppy's emotions? Did you think at all about what your chosen training method might do to the fun-loving Lab's personality?
It's pretty obvious the author's Sheltie is none to pleased to be forced to wear a Santa hat. Dog's emotions are sometimes easy to read, but sometimes they are very subtle.
Photo by Kevin Devine, used with permission
Punishment-Based Training Can Leave Dogs With Emotional Baggage
I was out with friends recently at a festival when we ran across a dog and his owner. The dog was well-behaved. He walked right by his owner's side, and he did exactly what the owner asked. He was perfect.
But the dog had no personality. His eyes were dead, his expression lifeless. He wore a training collar, indicating a punishment-based training system. He didn't look up lovingly with dancing eyes at his owner. Instead, he looked at his owner with questioning eyes, asking what he could do next to avoid another collar pop.
Studies Show Dogs' Emotions Are Similar to Ours
Recent science is proving that dogs feel emotions similar to our own. (Read "A New Study May Forever Change the Way We Train Our Dogs".) This knowledge should be empowering to dog owners. Knowing that our dogs feel emotions similar to the way we do lets us know that punishment-based training methods will leave behind emotional "baggage" for the dog exactly the same way physical punishment leaves behind emotional "baggage" for the human.
A great trainer will understand this and instead of "stuffing" a dog's personality and emotions with punishment-based training, the trainer will look to enhance the dog's personality and even work with the dog's personality while getting the same desired level of obedience.
A dog trained with the goal of keeping all of the dog's personality and good emotions intact looks completely different when working with her owner. She will have shining eyes. She may even walk with a prance. Her tail will wag. Her personality will ooze out of her. She will look at her owner with love and joy as she obeys.
In short, dogs trained with the proper emotion are happy, willing, loving workers.
Dogs aren't clones. As such, each dog must be trained with emotions that will meet the dog's needs to bring out her individual personality.
WDTC Photo Group, used with permission
The Art of Dog Training
Training dogs while still keeping their shining, unique personalities intact is an art. Here is the secret to this special art of dog training: Pay attention to the emotion the dog needs from you when you train and interact with her daily.
Ignoring this advice can cause training to fail and the dog to begin to shut down. For example, if you have a dog who is fearful, training with a rough voice and with emotions of power and force will make the dog even more fearful. Using punishment methods on such a dog can make the dog obey out of fear. The dog may obey, but she does so slowly and without joy or enthusiasm. She may even shut down completely. This type of training with a fearful dog—in fact, with all dogs—results in a dog whose personality becomes "stuffed" or muted.
Fearful dogs would need a different emotion from their trainers to enhance their beautiful personalities, which are already muted due to innate fears. These dogs will need their handlers to exude emotions similar to happiness. With a handler who smiles and makes training happy and fun, the dog can blossom to become what she was intended to be. She will obey with joy and eagerness rather than out of fear of reprisal.
Dogs aren't clones. As such, each dog must be trained with emotions that will meet the dog's needs to bring out her individual personality. Emotions dogs might need from their trainers could fall into three categories: Happy, Peaceful and Energy. Generally speaking, most house dogs will need emotions from the "Happy" or "Peaceful" categories. The "Energy" category is best suited for high-drive performance dogs. Below is a chart that lists each category and a few of their possible corresponding emotions.
Dog Emotion Categories
| Happy Emotions | Peaceful Emotions | Energy Emotions |
|---|---|---|
Confidence | Serene | Spirited |
Joy | Calm | Intense |
Merry | Lighthearted | Powerful |
Jocular | Safe | Indefatigable |
Chirpy | Content | Vibrant |
These three categories will each include many, many more emotions than those listed above, but this is a good starting point. The art of dog training comes in pinpointing the exact emotion your dog needs from you to enhance his obedience and personality.
The more detailed you can get when choosing which emotion(s) your dog needs from you, the better the training result you will achieve. This can be difficult to decipher. Below is another chart that may help you begin to decide what emotions you should be using when training your dog.
Emotions for Training Different Types of Dogs
| Happy Emotions | Peaceful Emotions | Energy Emotions |
|---|---|---|
Fearful Dogs | High-Energy Dogs | High-Energy Working Dogs |
Most Dogs | Fearful Dogs | Unmotivated Dogs |
— | Reactive Dogs | Distracted Dogs |
Happy Emotions
All dogs can benefit from emotions from the "Happy" category. It's a great place to start if you are unsure what emotion(s) your dog might need. Amazingly enough, many fearful dogs don't do well with "Peaceful" emotions in certain situations because they can actually encourage their fear. For instance, if your dog reacts in fear from a loud noise such as thunder, and your response is to offer a peaceful, "It's all right. Everything's OK," the dog hears, "It's alright to be scared. Good boy to be scared."
Using a "Peaceful" emotion may do exactly the opposite of what you desire. Using an emotion from the "Happy" category, such as merry or confidence, can make the dog realize that if you aren't scared, then he shouldn't be scared either. ("Did you hear that boom?" you happily laugh. "I just love thunder.")
All dogs can benefit from emotions from the Happy category.
Peaceful Emotions
The "Peaceful" category is great for house dogs with loads of energy. These dogs are often easily distracted from training simply by their need to always be DOING something. Using emotions from the "Peaceful" category (along with a good training reward such as a great treat or a toy and a quiet, distraction-free training environment) rather than negative emotions of anger, frustration, or force can help calm the dog and pull focus back to the trainer. Sometimes, these dogs actually need emotions from the "Energy" category, but be careful dipping into the "Energy" emotional pool.
"Peaceful" emotions are also great for reactive dogs. If your dog starts lunging, growling or acting out toward another dog, responding by yelling, punishment and more violence will only throw fuel on the entire situation. Violence from you will only beget more violence. Pulling from emotions related to the "Peaceful" category can keep your own emotions from escalating the already volatile situation. Giving your commands ("leave it," "sit," "watch me," etc.) with the emotion of calm can do wonders in these situations.
While using "Peaceful" emotions with a fearful dog can inadvertently backfire, it also can be of help in certain situations, especially when paired with an emotion from the "Happy" category. For instance, if I need my dog to relax in a stressful situation, I might choose to use "happy contentment." This would allow me to smile softly, sigh happily, relax my muscles and let the dog know that I am happy and relaxed in the situation.
Energy Emotions
Emotions from the "Energy" category should be used with caution. Intensity will fuel more aggression from a reactive dog, and it can cause a fearful dog to feel threatened and thus "shut down" or quit working. However, some dogs will need "Energy" emotions. Examples would be performance or working dogs, such as dogs who do agility, herding, obedience, flyball and more. These dogs have to learn to work at high speeds and yet have the focus and ability to respond to the slightest cues from their handlers. Keeping them in full drive while doing these activities can require "Energy" emotions.
Dogs who are unmotivated to train and those who find training dull may need their owner to use some emotions from the "Energy" category to make training fun. Combining emotions from the "Energy: and "Happy" categories can be great for these dogs. For example, a handler who is spirited and chirpy at the same time will be far more interesting to train with than a handler exuding calm or even just confidence. Dogs who are easily distracted are very similar to unmotivated dogs, and the emotions you will need to use to get them focused on you can be similar, depending on why they are distracted.
All Dogs Need Approval and Praise
Notice that the three emotional categories don't contain the word "approval." Why? Because approval is something ALL dogs need. Approval is synonymous with praise, and all dogs need praise and acceptance. If you are not training from a position of praise, love, approval and acceptance, then you are not giving your dog the emotional support he needs.
You can add the word "approval" behind any emotion your dog needs from you: chirpy approval, serene approval, vibrant approval. Regardless of what emotional category you use, always give your dog plenty of praise and love.
Method Matters
While this article's focus is mainly on what emotions your dog may need from you in training, the training method you choose is just as important because that method will lead you to the right emotions. There should never be a "one size fits all" training method for dogs, as each dog is different.
"Positive" methods do work for all dogs, but positive methods vary greatly. Some are all positive and use clickers and treats. Some are all positive and use voice and treats or toys. Some don't lure the dog. Some do lure. Some add in slight punishments, such as turning your back on a jumping dog. Others may even give a negative marker—"No"—to dogs who will not crumble under such punishment.
When choosing your training method, it is always best to choose the method with the least amount of punishment possible. This will alleviate the emotional baggage that can come with harsh corrections.
It is important to find a great obedience instructor to help you navigate the vast array of training methods out there.
With just the right emotional diet, you can help your dog become everything they were meant to be.
Photo by Steve Bull, used with permission
Straight Down the Leash
There's a saying in the competitive dog world. "Your emotions will run straight down the leash." In other words, if you are nervous, your dog will pick up on your fear. If you are confident and happy, your dog will pick up on those emotions and be more confident and happy as well. Controlling your emotions when training can help keep those negative emotions from traveling "down the leash" to the dog. Keep your training sessions fun, happy and full of good emotions.
If you have already been training with negative emotions so that your dog is showing fear or avoidance when training, your dog has some emotional baggage that will need to be trained away before you can begin to see his true personality bloom. I suggest you look for a positive reinforcement behaviorist or trainer to help you unpack your dog's emotional baggage. This is true for some rescue dogs with unknown pasts, too. With just the right emotional diet, you can help them become everything they were meant to be.
Friendly Advice for Dog Training
So what would you tell your friend with the Labrador puppy who jumped on the elderly grandma? If it were me, I would suggest the person find a positive trainer who can help them learn how to use emotions from the "Peaceful" and "Happy" categories to get this pup's behavior under control and yet leave the pup with all of his beautiful love for life.
Knowing the right emotions to feed your dog when training will not only make for an obedient dog, it will leave your dog emotionally intact. He will bloom and become all he was born to be.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2016 Kristin Kaldahl
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Kristin Kaldahl (author) on February 13, 2017: