Bringing a new puppy into your home is one of the most exciting adventures! These fluffy, playful bundles of joy fill our lives with happiness and laughter. Just like kids learning new things, puppies need to learn what’s okay and what’s not okay in their new home. They need to understand things like where to go potty, what toys they can chew on, and how to walk nicely on a leash.
When we teach our puppies, we want to make sure they feel safe, loved, and happy. We want them to trust us and see us as their best friends. But sometimes, people use ways to train puppies that might seem quick, but actually make puppies feel bad. These ways are called “aversives.” In this article, we’ll talk about what aversives are and why using them can be a problem for our sweet puppies.
What Are Aversives, Really?
Imagine you’re trying to learn something new, like how to ride a bike. If every time you wobbled or almost fell, someone yelled at you, sprayed you with water, or pulled you really hard, how would you feel? You might feel scared, sad, or just not want to try anymore, right? That’s kind of how aversives work for puppies.
Aversives are anything that a puppy finds unpleasant, uncomfortable, or scary. They are used to make a puppy stop doing something you don’t want them to do. The idea is that if the puppy feels something bad when they do a certain action, they’ll stop doing it. Some examples of things that can be aversive to a puppy include:
- Loud Yelling: When you shout “NO!” very loudly.
- Spraying Water: Using a spray bottle to squirt water at a puppy.
- Harsh Collar Jerks: Pulling a leash very hard with a choke chain or prong collar.
- Shock Collars: Collars that give a small electric shock.
- Startling Noises: Shaking a can with coins or clapping loudly to scare them.
- Physical Punishments: Tapping them on the nose or hitting them.
Sometimes, people use these methods because they want to stop a behavior very quickly. It might seem like it works for a moment. For example, if a puppy jumps up and you spray them with water, they might jump down. But this often only stops the behavior for a short time, and it can cause bigger problems down the road.
Why Aversives Are Not So Good for Your Puppy
While aversives might stop a behavior right away, they don’t help your puppy learn in a happy, healthy way. Think about your new puppy as a little sponge, soaking up everything around them. We want them to soak up good feelings!
They Can Make Puppies Scared or Anxious
When a puppy experiences something uncomfortable or scary, their tiny brains connect that bad feeling with whatever was happening at the time. If you use aversives when they’re trying to learn, they might start to feel scared a lot. A scared puppy can become a shy puppy, or even a nervous one who hides a lot. Imagine if your Cavalier King Charles puppy starts to tremble every time you walk by their toy box because they once got yelled at for playing too roughly. That’s not the happy playtime we want for them!
They Hurt Your Friendship with Your Puppy
Your puppy looks to you for safety, comfort, and fun. When you use aversives, your puppy might start to associate YOU with those bad feelings. This can make them less likely to trust you or want to be near you. Building a strong, loving bond with your puppy is super important, and aversives can really hurt that connection. We want our puppies, like our adorable Cavapoo puppies, to run to us for cuddles, not hide from us.
They Don’t Teach What TO Do
This is a big one! Aversives only tell a puppy “NO!” They don’t tell the puppy “YES! Do THIS instead!” For example, if your Beagle puppy jumps on the counter and you spray them with water, they learn not to jump on the counter (when you’re there with the spray bottle!). But they don’t learn *what they should do instead* when they want attention or are hungry. Should they sit? Should they go to their bed? Aversives leave them guessing and confused.
They Can Cause Other Problems
Sometimes, when puppies are scared or confused by aversives, they might develop new, unexpected problems. For instance:
- Shyness: They might become afraid of new people, places, or other dogs.
- Aggression: A scared puppy might growl or snap to try and make the scary thing go away.
- “Peeing” from fear: They might pee a little when they are very scared or nervous.
- Hiding Behaviors: They learn to do the “bad” thing when you’re not looking. If you yell at your Dachshund puppy for chewing a shoe, they might just learn to chew shoes when you’re out of the room, not that chewing shoes is wrong.
They Might Not Even Work in the Long Run
While aversives can seem to stop a behavior fast, the changes often aren’t lasting. A puppy might only stop the behavior when the aversive is present. Once the spray bottle is put away, or the harsh collar is off, the puppy might go right back to the old behavior because they haven’t truly learned a better way. They just learned to avoid the punishment.
Imagine You Are a Puppy
Let’s play pretend for a moment. Imagine you are a tiny, fluffy Havanese puppy. You just woke up from a nap, and you really, really need to go potty! You wander around, sniffing, trying to figure out where to go. You find a nice rug and start to squat. Suddenly, a giant hand grabs you, a loud voice yells, and you feel a sharp pull on your neck! You are picked up and put outside. You don’t understand what just happened, but you know it felt bad. Next time, you might try to sneak away to pee where no one can see you, or you might be too scared to pee at all when your human is watching.
Now, imagine a different story. You wake up, sniff around, and your human gently picks you up, says “Let’s go potty!” in a happy voice, and carries you outside. When you pee on the grass, they cheer, say “Good potty!” in an excited voice, and give you a super yummy treat! Which way would make you want to go potty outside every time? The second way, right? That’s the power of positive, happy training!
What Are the Happy Ways to Train?
The best way to train a puppy is with kindness, patience, and rewards! This is called “positive reinforcement.” It means when your puppy does something you like, you make something good happen for them. This makes them want to do that good thing again and again! Puppy Heaven believes in this gentle, loving approach for all our adorable puppies.
Treats and Praise!
This is the super easy and fun way! When your Poodle puppy sits when you ask, say “YES!” in a happy voice and give them a tiny, tasty treat. When they go potty outside, throw a little party! Happy voices, belly rubs, and yummy treats make them feel like superstars. They quickly learn that doing what you ask leads to awesome things!
Clicker Training
A clicker is a tiny tool that makes a short, clear “click!” sound. It’s like taking a picture with sound! When your puppy does something you like (like sitting perfectly), you click the clicker right at that moment, then immediately give them a treat. The click tells them “THAT was the exact moment you did something great!” It helps them understand exactly what behavior earned them the reward. It’s a super precise way to tell your smart Mini Doodle what they did right!
Fun Games
Learning should be fun! You can turn training into games. For example, playing “fetch” can teach them to come when called, and hide-and-seek can help them learn to stay. Making it a game keeps their little brains engaged and happy.
Showing Them the Right Way
Instead of just saying “no,” show them “yes!” If your Coton de Tulear puppy is chewing on furniture, gently guide them to a puppy-safe chew toy and praise them when they chew that instead. If they jump on guests, teach them to sit politely for attention, and reward them when they do.
Awesome Tools for Happy Training
Just like you need pencils for school or a bike for riding, there are some great tools that help with happy, positive training:
- Soft Collars and Harnesses: These are gentle on your puppy’s neck and body. A harness is especially good for puppies learning to walk on a leash, as it distributes pressure evenly.
- Leashes: A regular, flat leash (about 6 feet long) is perfect for walks and teaching your puppy to stay close.
- Treat Pouches: A little bag you wear that holds tiny, yummy treats so they are always ready for quick rewards!
- Puppy-Safe Chew Toys: Lots of different kinds of toys to keep their busy mouths happy and away from your shoes!
- Puzzle Toys: These toys make your puppy think to get a treat. They are great for keeping their brains busy and happy, especially for intelligent breeds like a Schnauzer puppy.
- Comfy Crates: A crate can become your puppy’s cozy bedroom or den. When used correctly (making it a happy place with treats and comfy bedding), it’s a safe space and helps with potty training.
Comparing Training Methods
Let’s look at the differences between aversive training and positive training side by side. You’ll see why one way makes for a much happier, well-adjusted toy puppy!
| Feature | Aversive Training (The “Scary” Way) | Positive Training (The “Happy” Way) |
|---|---|---|
| How it Feels to the Puppy | Scary, confusing, uncomfortable, sometimes painful. Leads to fear or hiding. | Fun, rewarding, clear, makes them feel clever and loved. Leads to happiness and confidence. |
| What it Teaches the Puppy | “Don’t do that!” (but not “Do this instead!”). Teaches what to *avoid*. | “Do this! It’s great!” Teaches specific, good behaviors. |
| Friendship with Human | Can weaken trust, make the puppy nervous or wary around you. | Builds strong trust, strengthens the bond, makes the puppy happy to learn from you. |
| Long-term Results | Can cause fear, shyness, aggression, hiding bad behaviors, or shutting down. | Happy, confident, well-behaved puppy who loves to learn and is a joy to be around. |
| Example Tools Used | Choke chains, prong collars, shock collars, spray bottles, loud yelling, hitting. | Soft treats, clickers, favorite toys, happy praise, gentle guiding, comfortable leashes. |
Important Tips for Being a Great Puppy Parent
Being a puppy parent is a big job, but it’s also the most rewarding! Here are some tips to help your new best friend grow into a wonderful adult dog, whether they are a tiny teacup puppy or a larger standard puppy:
- Be Patient: Puppies are like little kids; they won’t get everything right away. They need time and lots of practice. Never get mad if they make a mistake.
- Be Consistent: Everyone in your family should use the same happy rules and methods. If one person uses a spray bottle and another uses treats, your puppy will get confused.
- Start Early: The younger they are, the easier it is to teach good habits. Your new Boston Terrier puppy is ready to start learning from day one!
- Keep it Fun: Training sessions should be short and happy. End on a good note, even if it’s just practicing one easy trick.
- Get Help if You Need It: If you’re stuck, or your puppy is showing tricky behaviors, look for a professional dog trainer who uses positive, reward-based methods. They are like puppy teachers!
- Love Them Unconditionally: Most importantly, love your puppy no matter what. A loving, patient home is the best environment for any puppy to thrive.
Your Puppy’s Bright Future
When you choose to train your puppy with kindness and positive reinforcement, you’re not just teaching them good manners. You’re building a relationship filled with trust, love, and understanding. You’re helping them become a confident, happy, and well-behaved member of your family. This way of training makes sure that your puppy feels safe enough to explore, learn, and be themselves, without fear.
A happy puppy is a confident puppy, and a confident puppy is much easier to live with! They are less likely to be fearful, less likely to show aggression, and more likely to be a joyful companion for many, many years. Imagine all the fun you’ll have with your well-trained Cockapoo puppy, whether you’re playing in the park or cuddling on the couch.
At Puppy Heaven, we believe every puppy deserves the best start in life in a loving home. That includes teaching them with gentle, positive methods that help them grow into the best versions of themselves. Choosing a puppy from our healthy, happy puppies means bringing home a little friend ready to learn and love.
Conclusion
The problem with aversives is simple: they can hurt your puppy’s feelings, make them scared, and damage the special friendship you share. While they might seem like a quick fix, they don’t truly teach your puppy what to do, and they can lead to bigger problems down the line.
Instead, by using positive, happy training methods, you’re creating a lifetime of joy, trust, and understanding with your furry family member. You’re teaching them with love, making learning fun, and building a bond that will last forever. Every puppy deserves to feel safe and loved while they learn about the world.
Ready to welcome a happy, healthy puppy into your family and start your positive training journey? Explore the wonderful puppies available at Puppy Heaven today, from playful Corgi puppies to charming Cavachons, and prepare for a lifetime of happy moments!
