Dogs are like children; they can be mischievous at times. Some owners yell at their dogs whenever they misbehave. While this method of discipline may seem normal, it has a negative impact on the dog. A recent study found that yelling at your pets frequently puts them under immense stress.

▼Researchers at the University of Porto in Portugal recruited 42 dogs that received positive training and 50 dogs that received aversion training to conduct a comparative experiment to observe the effects of different training methods on the dogs.

▼Researchers collected saliva samples from dogs in a relaxed state and tested the cortisol levels. Cortisol, known as the "stress hormone," plays a crucial role in coping with stress. The dogs then began training, and researchers collected saliva samples again, comparing the cortisol levels with the previous tests. The results showed that dogs that had experienced barking and rough handling were more stressed. Their saliva contained higher levels of cortisol, and they exhibited more frequent yawning and lip-licking behaviors, all signs of stress.

▼Aversion training not only stresses dogs but also has long-term effects. One month later, researchers brought the dogs back for another experiment. They placed a bowl in the room; when the bowl was on one side of the room, it was filled with delicious food; when the bowl was on the other side, it was empty.

▼Researchers placed bowls in different locations to test how long it took dogs to find the pattern. If a dog found it quickly, it meant it was looking forward to the food; if it found it slowly, it meant it wasn't very hopeful. The results showed that the longer aversion training lasted, the slower the dogs found the food.

If owners constantly scold and yell at their dogs, they may seem obedient, but they're actually afraid of upsetting their owners and live in constant fear. Dear owners, try training your dogs using positive reinforcement methods like encouragement and rewards. Give them more love and patience, and they'll surely become the well-behaved children you envision!

Reference source: https://www.fluffytw.com/article/76633?fbclid=IwAR3ZZUyyFKM7u6ZUFiwXHxF6eSSxXJkaGOO--mQejP1diJCM4OtJV9TE7UQ