Imagine you are running a race with your dog - which is essentially what rehabilitation is like - every time you allow your dog to do something undesirable, you are taking a step back.
In order to keep moving forward with our dogs so we can get to the finish line as quickly as we can, we need to eliminate these backward steps as much as possible.
The more a dog practises the undesirable behavior, the more it is reinforced, and the harder it will be to break such a bad habit.
You don't want to take two steps forward then three steps backward.
We need to stop the dog whenever the dog tries these undesirable behaviours.
We need to put a negative consequence to these behaviours so the dog will stop trying them.
Unless we can completely stop the dog from repeating these undesirable behaviours, they will never be reliable in the real world.
Many such behaviors are self rewarding so ignoring them will still reinforce them. Also, avoiding them will not stop the dog from trying them once the opportunities arise - and they often do, usually at the most unexpected moment, with potentially tragic outcomes.
That is why we need punishment.
Punishment does two things. Firstly, it connects a negative consequence to the action so that action is no longer self rewarding. Secondly, it eliminates repetition of such a behaviour - without repetition, there will be no reinforcement - and the behaviour will then become extinguished.
If you have problem with your dog barking incessantly at strangers, reacting aggressively to other dogs and so on, please ask yourself two questions:
1) Have you taught your dog the meaning of "no"? When you say "no" to your dog, will he/she stop their action right away without objection?
2) Have you convince your dog unequivocally that those undesirable behaviours are absolutely unacceptable? Does your dog know that barking, lunging, snarling, growling, and biting are terrible decisions that they should never contemplate no matter what?
To achieve a consistent "yes" to the above two questions would require you to have a very meaningful and believable "no" with your dog.
Having such a powerful "no" is the secret sauce to having a trustworthy and reliable dog. It is the missing piece of the puzzle of being able to enjoy having fun with your formerly reactive dog without worrying that he/she may injure someone.
Hope this makes sense.
Thank you.
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