Abstract

Dog training is imperative because it strengthens the bond between dog and owner, which makes life together more manageable and enjoyable. Furthermore, the widespread practice of dog training will keep more dogs out of shelters by lowering rates of behavior related surrenders and giving people confidence to take on higher maintenance dogs. Though there are varying opinions on what methods of dog training are most ethical and effective, scientific evidence proves that aversive training methods cause stress in dogs that lasts outside of the training environment, which damages the dog’s relationship with its owner and desire to learn in the future. All dog owners should be educated on canine body language and spend time training with positive reinforcement methods, which are arguably the most effective and least stress-inducing to the dog.