Field Guide · Glossary
Aversive training methods
Methods and protocolsTraining techniques that change behavior by using something the dog finds unpleasant, either applied after a behavior or removed when the dog complies.
How it works
In the four quadrants, they fall under positive punishment, where something unpleasant is added to make a behavior less likely, and negative reinforcement, where pressure is applied and then released when the dog does the wanted thing. Common examples include leash jerks, prong and choke collars, electronic collar stimulation, spray bottles, shaker cans, shouting and physically pushing a dog into position. Whether something counts as aversive is decided by the dog receiving it. A sound one dog ignores can startle another, and the same tool can range from barely noticeable to painful depending on how it is used. That is why practitioners on every side describe intensity, timing and the individual dog alongside the tool itself.
What it looks like
A dog pulls toward a squirrel and the handler gives a quick pop on the leash. If the pulling becomes less frequent over the following walks, the pop worked as positive punishment. If the dog keeps pulling just as often, the pop was unpleasant but did not function as punishment for that behavior.
Commonly confused with
- Positive punishment
- Positive punishment is one quadrant, defined by its effect: something is added and the behavior decreases. Aversive training methods is a broader label for techniques built on unpleasant stimuli, which also covers negative reinforcement, where pressure is released to reward compliance.
Related terms
Sources