Your Whole Dog

The Pitfalls of Punishment

a practical guide for dog guardians

You love your dog. But some behaviours are testing your patience, and you're not sure punishment is the answer.

Maybe you've tried corrections, leash jerks, or stern "no's" and they either didn't work, made things worse, or just left you feeling awful. You want your dog to listen, but you also want to feel good about how you're training them.

Here's the thing: punishment might stop a behaviour in the moment, but it comes with serious risks - for your dog's wellbeing, your relationship, and the behaviour itself.

This guide breaks down exactly why punishment backfires, and more importantly, what actually works instead.

Inside, you'll discover:
- Why punishment doesn't change how your dog feels (and why that matters)
- How punishment can accidentally create new problems you didn't have before
- The real physical and emotional toll chronic stress takes on your dog's brain and body
- Why punishing the growl (or other warning signals) is dangerous
- How to teach your dog what TO do, not just what not to do
- Practical alternatives you can start using today - from management to incompatible behaviours
- How to build the trusting relationship that makes training actually work

Plus a bonus worksheet to help you understand and work through any challenging behaviour with clarity and compassion.

Whether you're dealing with reactivity, recall issues, jumping, barking, or any other frustrating behaviour, this guide will give you the knowledge and tools to train with kindness. Without sacrificing results.