Study finds that yelling at your dog has a destructive impact on your mind

It is normal that, many times, when faced with a moment of irritation, we lose patience with our pets. The question is how each one reacts to this type of situation. Some just can’t control themselves and end up yelling at their pets. It so happens that, according to a study carried out in Portugal with the participation of 92 dogs, yelling at animals can cause lasting negative effects on their mental state.

We, from incredible.club, we want to raise awareness of these findings. So today we share the results of that survey with you.

Researchers from the University of Porto, led by dr. Ana Catarina Vieira de Castro, conducted work with dogs to determine whether yelling and the use of hostile or aggressive training has a negative effect on the animals.

For this, the researchers selected the aforementioned 92 dogs and divided them into 2 groups: those trained with reward-based methods, such as games and treats, and those trained with methods considered hostile, such as yelling and pulling the leash.

Scientists began to observe the behavior of animals during tests. In this way, they were able to detect the signs of stress in dogs, such as yawning, raising their paws, barking and licking their lips, as well as their level of tension or relaxation.

The researchers also collected saliva samples from the dogs in the 2 groups to identify chemicals related to anxiety and nervousness, such as cortisol, known as the “stress hormone.” Using these samples, the scientists were able to calculate the stress level of the dogs in each group.

It is not surprising that the animals trained with the punishment method showed higher levels of stress than those in the other group, but the consequences of the experiment go further.

The researchers visited the dogs a month after the test to monitor the extent of the impact, according to the type of training received. For this, they developed a simple experiment. Dogs trained with positive reinforcement had to enter a room on numerous occasions where the food bowl always had a treat in it.

Meanwhile, dogs trained with negative reinforcement were taken to rooms where the food bowl was always empty. Within minutes, the animals in the first group began to recognize that the bowl in the room always held a surprise treat for them, but the dogs in the second group learned that nothing was waiting and began to approach the bowl with increasing reluctance.

According to the researchers, this indicates that the use of positive reinforcement with games and snacks, for example, is more effective in long-term training than the adoption of negative measures for the conditioning of animals.

“The results made it clear that, in the case of dogs trained with aggressive methods, the worsening of welfare occurs both in the short and in the long term”, highlighted the researchers.

Dogs in the first group were more stable and relaxed while those in the second group had higher levels of cortisol and stress, which had a detrimental impact on their well-being for weeks or even longer. Therefore, the way a dog is trained produces influences for a long time. Think carefully about how you are going to treat your pet today.

What training methods do you use with your dog? Do you have any advice on how not to lose your temper? Share your tips with us in the comments.