Communicate with care: 7 reasons to stop yelling when you train your dog

Your tone of voice and volume play a significant role in your dog’s development and how you bond. Yelling at your dog can make your dog nervous and fearful.

How you communicate with your dog speaks volumes about your personality and style. Unfortunately, just like with a child, your tone and volume play a large role in your dog’s development and how you bond. Yelling at your dog can make your dog nervous and fearful.

Yelling also can make your dog less likely to respond to your commands, which makes you more frustrated and likely to yell.

New research and most dog-training experts recommend using a soft, quiet voice when you talk to your dog instead of yelling.

That doesn’t mean you have to use baby talk. It doesn’t mean you can’t be firm or discipline your dog.

It just means stop yelling at your dog.

Here are seven reasons why yelling at your dog is detrimental to both of you.

1. Yelling stresses dogs 

Multiple training strategies can be grouped into two general approaches: aversive-based and reward-based.

Yelling at your dog does not provide positive reinforcement. Scientists studied stress behavior and cortisol levels in dogs’ saliva to determine the most effective strategy for managing stress.

When their owners yelled, the dogs’ behavior showed signs of stress, such as yawning and a higher cortisol level.

2. Yelling affects training

Another reason to stop yelling is that it affects how your dog responds to your commands.

If you constantly yell, your dog doesn’t understand what is essential.

Dogs hear better than humans, and yelling or repeating yourself works against you. After a while, your dog will start to ignore your commands.

Train your dog like CIA agents do, and teach her to respond to commands when you use a conversational tone.

Doing this will make obedience training sessions more productive and reduce behavior problems.

3. Yelling is confusing 

Most dogs understand only a few words. They pay more attention to the tone and pitch of your voice.

Yelling at your dog can confuse her and make her hyper or aggressive as she tries to imitate your actions.

A classic example is when you yell at your dog to stop barking. The dog focuses on the fact you are yelling rather than the words you are saying.

The dog thinks you are barking, too, and will likely only bark louder.

4. Yelling prevents an emergency response

If you constantly shout at your dog, your dog doesn’t know when something is essential.

If you typically talk calmly, when you raise your voice or give a short, simple, stop command, your dog is more likely to respond.

For example, if your dog gets out of your yard and wanders toward the street, she’s more likely to respond if you yell wait or stop, rather than walk into the street.

5. Yelling affects your image as the leader

Dogs are social creatures. They are eager to accept you as the leader but expect certain behavior.

If you are yelling or, worse, abusive toward your dog, you won’t establish the trust and respect you need.

Leaders must know that being aggressive and trying to scare others does not earn trust or respect.

6. Yelling encourages bad behavior

Constant yelling will create a pattern of negative reinforcement.

For instance, when you call your dog, and it takes a long time for her to respond and come back to you, do not respond by yelling at her again.

That shows your dog she has no incentive to come back.

Instead, call your dog, and when she comes back, praise her and give her a treat.

Why would your dog want to please you if all you do is yell?

7. Yelling inhibits learning

Dog owners should understand that dogs do not speak human and angry tirades won’t convince the dog that she behaved badly.

She also does not connect your anger to what she did hours ago.

Make your tone a distinguishing factor to make sure the message to your dog is clear rather than confusing.

Teach your dog what you want by speaking calmly and giving rewards.

This helps your dog understand the link between your command and the desired actions.

Speak softly, calmly 

Dogs are sensitive and emotional. 

They sense even the most subtle tone and body language changes. 

Communicate with your dog softly and calmly to build a strong bond. 

Pay attention to body language

Body language plays a crucial role in how your dog perceives you.

When communicating with your dog, maintain an open, relaxed posture. 

Avoid crossing your arms or making sudden movements to keep your dog from feeling anxious or intimidated. 

Keep your shoulders relaxed and stand tall. Avoid towering over your dog.

Use positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is crucial to successful communicate with your dog. 

Instead of yelling or scolding your dog when she misbehaves, use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats or praise to encourage good behavior. 

Speak slowly and softly

When speaking to your dog, remember they may not understand every word but do recognize the tone of your voice. 

Speaking slowly in a calm and soothing tone conveys a sense of reassurance and comfort. 

Shouting or speaking quickly can seem aggressive or intimidating, which may scare or confuse your dog.

Avoid punishment

Punishing your dog by yelling or physically reprimanding them can negatively affect their behavior and mental well-being.

It can lead to fear-based behaviors such as hiding, cowering, or aggression toward you or others. 

Instead of punishment, focus on rewarding good behavior while calmly redirecting undesirable actions.

Match your tone to your words

Ensure that your tone matches your words when talking to your dog. 

Using a calm and soft tone while commanding your dog to do something will convey a sense of authority and confidence, making it more likely your dog will obey.

Similarly, praising your dog with an excited or high-pitched tone makes her feel appreciated and motivated.

Be responsible 

Speaking calmly and assertively when teaching commands to your dog is better than always shouting at them. This training method is always more productive.

The bottom line is your dog wants to please you.

Before you yell, consider if something you did incorrectly provoked your dog’s behavior.

Do not punish your pet for your mistakes; you will both be happy!

Elizabeth Skinner always loved animals and started a career as a police dog trainer while studying at a college. She decided to buy custom research papers sometimes as the help of experts allowed her to dedicate more time to her true calling in life.

Stubborn puppy training: 7 tips to teach your disobedient dog