Expert advice on why shouting at your pet is counterproductive
On Monday evening, One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce interrupted an interview with the ABC. 7.30 homeowner Sarah Ferguson yelling at her dog.
In a clip that has since gone viral, the One Nation leader began responding to a question about Pauline Hanson’s “intolerance and racial discrimination” by looking off camera and yelling, “Sit down.”
“I am sorry.” he said and then regained his composure. “Just the dog.”
“Don’t worry about the dog,” Ferguson said. “Just answer the question.”
But maybe she should have worried a little more about her dog, a young border collie mix named Stella. Because according to experts, yelling is not the best approach when it comes to training your pet.
What a dog hears when you yell
“Dogs love predictability, and when their guardian suddenly becomes angry and yells, they are not learning to stop a behavior, but instead they are learning that his personality is scary and unpredictable,” says Cath Jennings, a certified professional dog trainer, behaviorist, and veterinary nurse.
“A single stressful event floods a dog’s system with stress hormones and cortisol bars. There is so much stress associated with living in our human world, and most dogs never really get a chance to recover from stress. We, their family, should be the only thing they can count on to be sensible and always kind.”
Joyce has since revealed that Stella has been under the deck of her home and barking constantly.
RSPCA Australia chief scientific officer Dr. While barking can be annoying to the human ear, a dog’s hearing is much more sensitive than ours, which means barking can be surprising, according to Suzie Fowler.
“But it’s not just volume. Voice tone, body language, and overall emotion contribute to how a dog experiences the interaction,” says Fowler. “In general, dogs respond much better to calm, consistent communication and positive encouragement for good behavior with these well-deserved treats.”
What should dog owners do instead?
Advice on the best way to train or treat a dog has changed over the years.
Although there was a tendency towards punishment – scolding them, rubbing their faces in the mess they made – but this approach is now very outdated. Now it’s more about patience, consistency, empathy, and understanding what our dogs are trying to communicate.
“Dogs are loving animals that give us so much joy and companionship, it’s only fair that we reciprocate them with equal respect and affection. That’s what the community expects and also what helps strengthen the positive relationship between you and your dog,” says Fowler.
A live television broadcast may not be the easiest time to train a dog. Ideally, Joyce would organize for Stella to take a nap or play with a toy in another room.
“For people who have a significant event, we recommend finding a safe, comfortable space for your pet,” says Fowler. “This could be a room with some toys, treats, and water for them to rest in, so you can focus on what you need to do. If you want your dog to be close by, reward them with treats and attention when they’re exhibiting the behavior you want to see.”
If this isn’t possible or you forget, there are ways to respond to dogs’ unexpected interventions.
Australian Veterinary Association president Dr. “Most of us have experienced those moments when our dog decides to bark at the worst possible time,” says Diana Barker. “The best approach is to stay as calm as possible.”
“Barking is a form of communication, so it’s worth thinking about why your dog is barking in the first place. Is he alerting you to something, looking for attention, anxious or just excited? If you can’t resolve the problem immediately, calmly moving them to another room with something appropriate to keep them occupied is often more effective than reacting in frustration.”
And if you raise your voice, there are ways to compensate.
“Unfortunately, we can’t just apologize to our dogs, but there are things we can do to help them de-stress after stressful events,” says Jennings.
“Decompression walks are my favorite because allowing and even encouraging our dogs to exercise their big noses and use their superior sense of smell is extremely relaxing, satisfying, enriching, and also exhausting for our dogs.”
That and a promise to be better prepared next time.
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