How To Show Your Dog You Are Angry – Telling Off A Dog
How To Show Your Dog You Are Angry?
I hate to break it to you, but living with a dog isn’t always sunshine and roses! While dogs are without doubt amazing, loyal, and affectionate companions, they’re not perfect, and there are times where their behavior will need correcting…no matter how cute they are!
The question is, what is the right way to do this? Should you tell off your dog like you would a child? Do they understand when you’re angry and what it means?
There’s no doubt that it’s a difficult thing to get right, particularly if you’re unsure what you’re doing is the right way to discipline your four-legged friend. Some dog owners are of the opinion that punishing a dog is the only way to instill good behavior. In contrast, others favor positive reinforcement that teaches good behavior through a reward-based system.
Showing your dog that you’re angry typically won’t have the same impact it would have on a child, for example. Getting angry with a dog is more likely to make them scared than helping them learn what they did wrong and that they shouldn’t do it again. Of course, some dogs may associate your anger with specific behaviors, but getting angry in the conventional sense, i.e., shouting loudly, being aggressive, etc., is never the best way to disciple a dog.
Do Dogs Know When You’re Mad At Them?
One question we’re asked a lot is, ‘Does my dog know when I’m angry at them?’.
Surprisingly, the answer to this question isn’t strictly black and white.
Ultimately, it depends on how you react to their incorrect behavior and the methods you use to correct said behavior (s). If you shout at them, they’ll no doubt be scared and may well associate being scared with a certain (incorrect) behavior. While this may stop said behavior, it may also have a physiological impact on your four-legged friend – something that will likely have an adverse effect on them and your relationship.
Centering the discussion around whether your dog understands whether you’re angry or not is probably not the best angle to come from. Instead, your focus should be on how to communicate with your dog when they’ve done something wrong and how you can reinforce good behaviors.
In short, if you shout and become aggressive, your dog will know you’re mad at them. But this isn’t the best way to deal with bad behavior.
Can Dogs Sense A Human’s Anger?
Dogs have been around for a very long time, and as a result of centuries of interaction with humans, they’ve learned to understand our facial expressions, body language, and our voices to help them recognize how we’re feeling…including anger. There is no doubt that your canine buddy will act differently towards you when your happy compared to when you’re angry – particularly when your anger is directed at them!
Here are some of the tell-tale signs that a dog knows when you’re angry with them:
Their Eyes and Eye Contact: Dogs are well aware that when they give us their ‘puppy-dog’ eyes, they can get what they want! They will use it in the hope of melting our hearts, feeling sorry for them, and making us less angry.
Furthermore, when we get angry with our dogs, we will typically shout at them. Knowing we’re the ‘alpha,’ they’ll often exhibit submissive behavior such as avoiding eye contact, tucking their tail between their legs, or even rolling over onto their bellies.
Your dog may also avoid looking at what they’ve done. I’m sure you’ve seen videos on YouTube of dogs looking away from something they’ve done, which is no surprise given that it is a relatively common behavioral trait when a dog is uncomfortable, scared, or feeling guilty.
Crying: A dog who is sad or afraid may also whimper or cry as this is a natural way for dogs to exhibit their emotions, i.e., their discomfort. In some cases, they may even respond to your sounds (shouting, etc.) with their own noises!
How To Let A Dog Know They Did Something Wrong?
As we mentioned above, some dog owners feel that punishing their dog is the most effective way to let their dog know they have done something wrong.
We couldn’t disagree more with this approach. Punishment implies some form of physical or mental harm, which is never acceptable no matter how badly your canine buddy has behaved.
Obedience training can be split into two types: positive obedience training and adverse (negative) obedience training. The former focuses on humanely using positive reinforcement to show your dog when they’re behaving correctly and incorrectly. In contrast, the latter focuses on using methods that will typically inflict some form of (physical or physiological) harm on the dog – something should be avoided at all costs.
Telling Off a Dog – A Complete Guide
When done correctly, disciplining your dog doesn’t have to be negative. Constructive punishment methods help your four-legged friend learn correct behaviors through positive conditioning, allowing them to grasp what’s allowed and what isn’t allowed quickly. Here a few examples of disciplinary techniques that are typically considered both positive and beneficial:
- Having time-outs.
- Using a commanding tone rather than physical force to eradicate unwanted behavior (s).
- Removing their toys or reducing their access to them.
- Refraining from giving your dog attention when they’re misbehaving.
All of the above are effective and humane. Your dog won’t feel frightened when you use the above methods, which should always be the aim of your training, i.e., everything should be as positive as possible.
When they display correct behavior (s), your dog should be rewarded with affection, love, treats, toys, and play. This will help them to quickly learn which behaviors are allowed and which aren’t. They’ll associate desirable behavior (s) with love, toys, and treats, and undesirable behaviors with time-outs, no access to toys and treats, and no affection and love from you.