Hondentraining & gedragstherapie Marlise van Haperen

07/08/2026

"Spanking" a dog isn't spanking. It's hitting. And hitting is abuse.

Would you hit a baby for soiling its diaper? Hitting a puppy for eliminating in the house makes as much sense. While physical punishment is conventional wisdom to people who were taught this way, it's a poor way to modify behavior in animals as well as people. Physical punishment doesn't teach a dog what to do—it only teaches fear, confusion, and distrust.

I recently heard about a dog who is being hit every time he has an accident in the house. Sadly, this doesn't solve house-training problems. In fact, it often makes them worse.

Dogs don't understand that you're punishing them for eliminating in the house. They're more likely to learn that it's dangerous to eliminate in your presence, so they may start sneaking away to hide when they need to go. The accidents continue, but now you've also created anxiety and a damaged relationship on top of your house training problem.

House-soiling isn't a training diagnosis—it's a symptom. Before assuming it's a behavior problem, ask why it's happening.

Is the dog fully house-trained?
Is the dog under constant direct supervision?
Is the dog being taken outside often enough or too often?
What's your feeding schedule?
Are you thoroughly cleaning up all residual with an enzymatic cleaner?
Is there a medical problem such as a urinary tract infection, diabetes, an anatomical cause, cognitive decline, or another health issue that requires a veterinary evaluation and treatment?
Is the dog anxious or frightened?

Puppies are like babies and dogs are like young children without verbal language. Babies and young children have to learn to control their bodily functions and where to go to eliminate. Dogs do too.

Dogs don't understand houses and the concepts of "inside" and "outside," and they certainly don't understand punishment the way many people imagine they do. They need us to teach them where to eliminate, reinforce them for getting it right, and manage the environment so they can be successful.

This is the way dogs learn - through reinforcement, not punishment.

Animal behavior science has shown repeatedly that punishment is not the best way to train or modify behavior. If your goal is a confident, reliable dog who trusts you, focus on teaching the behaviors you want instead of punishing the ones you don't.

Focus on the finite, not the infinite.

Your dog deserves a teacher—not someone who inflicts pain and instills fear.

Stop trying to soften the blow by calling what you're doing 'spanking.' If you're hitting your dog, you're hitting your dog. Changing the word doesn't change what you're doing any more than what you're doing change your dog's behavior.

Cindy Ludwig, MA, BS, RN, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Owner, Canine Connection LLC Willard, MO
Serving southwest Missouri and beyond

04/08/2026

"IS MY DOG PROTECTING ME?"

In 99% of my cases, the answer is "mmhhhh no".

Many guardians often tell me that their dog is protecting them when they bark, growl or lunge at other dogs or people who approach them and their family at home or at coffee shops, parks and restaurants. Others react this way on a walk while being leashed. But off lead, they seem to not be "protective". While this behaviour can occasionally be guarding in nature due to typical behaviours of some guarding type/breed dogs, it is far more common for this behaviour to be driven by emotional responses such as fear, anxiety, vulnerability and insecurity.

Your dog may have learned that adopting threat behaviours causes the other dog or person to move away, which can reinforce the behaviour over time...distance creating behaviour brings safety. Some dogs are uncomfortable with unfamiliar people or dogs entering their personal space, while others become stressed when they feel vulnerable and restricted by a lead and therefore to control the interaction.

In some cases, dogs may become possessive of a guardian and attempt to keep other dogs or people away. However, even this behaviour is often rooted in underlying emotional states such as anxiety, insecurity or a lack of confidence rather than a conscious desire to "protect" the guardians.

What are some of the feelings associated with this behaviour?
• Fear or apprehension about the approaching dog or person.
• Anxiety about an uncertain social interaction, liked being petted by an unfamiliar person or sniffed by another dog.
• Vulnerability due to lead restraint.
• Over-arousal, frustration or excitement.
• Insecurity and a need for increased distance.
• Concern about losing access to a valued resource, such as their guardian...resource guarding.

These behaviours can be rooted in poor socialisation, previous negative experiences, lack of choice when on a lead or possible pain.

The key message is that behaviour is communication. Rather than asking, "How do I stop my dog reacting?", it is often more helpful to ask, "What is my dog feeling and why?"

Understanding the emotion behind the behaviour is the first step towards creating lasting behaviour change.

Remember that behaviour is not simply what animals do; it is a reflection of how they are coping with their health, environment, unmet needs and emotional experiences.








📷 PetMD

27/07/2026

IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON FROM CORRECTIONS

I often hear guardians speaking about or having behaviour corrections listed as their main objective when considering my services. They may not know better but this concept comes from aversive and balanced professionals on TV and social media who prioritize compliance over the long term wellbeing of the animal. It is these types of concepts and words that create expectations of instant results in training and behaviour modification...cue the ear pinching, yank, choke and shock collar brigade. When guardian expectations or trainer promises are not met, frustration, irritation and anger can set in which impacts the animal in front of them. It puts humans first and animals second, as in many cases corrections in behaviour are achieved through force, fear and coersion which ultimately impacts the welfare and wellbeing of the animal.

Modern animal behaviour science has moved away from the idea of behaviour correction because it focuses on stopping the behaviour rather than understanding why it is happening.
Behaviour is a form of communication. Animals may be expressing fear, anxiety, pain, frustration, stress, excitement, simply responding to their environment or their genetic breed traits. If we only try to stop the behaviour, we risk ignoring the reason behind it. Ignoring the motivations and emotions means a missed opportunity for long term results as opposed to short term fixes.

Simply correcting or punishing behaviour may suppress it temporarily, but it rarely changes the underlying emotion or motivation. In some cases, it can increase fear, damage trust, or cause the behaviour to return in a different form.

Modern, science driven pet professionals should focus on:
1. Identifying the underlying cause of the behaviour.
2. Ruling out pain or medical conditions.
3. Preventing rehearsal of unwanted behaviours through good management.
4. Teaching alternative, more appropriate behaviours.
5. Reinforcing behaviours we want to see more often.
6. Improving the animal's emotional wellbeing and confidence.
7. Changing or improving the animal's emotional response to a stimulus with kindness and patience.

This approach is supported by modern learning theory and animal wellbeing science. It not only leads to more reliable, long-term behaviour change but also strengthens the relationship between pets and their guardians.

In summary, the question is no longer:

"How do we correct this behaviour?"

It is:

"Why is this behaviour happening?"

Animals are not our slaves. They are sentient beings who deserve understanding and compassion based on their individual needs and wants. They need kind and compassionate help on how to traverse the complexity of a human centered world within boundaries that benefit both parties.

27/07/2026

When choosing a dog trainer, always ask about their approach to emotional well-being and trust-building.

How will they protect your dog's emotional health during training?

And, importantly, how will they help you both develop a deeper bond based on trust and mutual understanding?

These questions ensure you’re choosing a trainer who respects both your dog and your relationship.

19/07/2026

Judgement Bias in Dogs: Why Some Dogs Always Think the Worst 👇

Why do two dogs react so differently to exactly the same situation?

Imagine two dogs hear an unexpected noise behind a fence. One pauses for a moment before carrying on. The other immediately barks, retreats or scans the environment, convinced something isn’t right.

The difference isn’t obedience and might not even be previous training.

It may be something behavioural scientists call judgement bias.

What is judgement bias?

Judgement bias describes how an individual interprets ambiguous information.

When neither we nor our dogs have enough information to know what will happen next, the brain makes a prediction.

Will this turn out well?

Or should I prepare for something unpleasant?

Some dogs tend to interpret uncertainty optimistically and expect good outcomes. Others are more likely to think the worst, assuming that something unfamiliar could signal danger. These expectations influence the decisions they make long before we see any obvious behaviour.

Scientists can actually measure optimism

One of the most fascinating discoveries in canine cognition is that researchers have developed ways of measuring optimism and pessimism in dogs.

In a landmark study, dogs were taught that a bowl placed in one location always contained food, while a bowl in another location was always empty. Once they understood the pattern, researchers placed bowls in ambiguous locations between the two.

Dogs showing separation-related behaviour approached these uncertain bowls more slowly than control dogs, suggesting they expected a less favourable outcome. In other words, their emotional state influenced how they interpreted uncertainty—not just how they behaved when left alone (Mendl et al., 2010).

This was one of the first demonstrations that dogs, like humans, can display measurable cognitive biases.

Behaviour is often driven by prediction

Understanding judgement bias changes the questions we ask.

Instead of asking:

“Why is this dog barking?”

We might ask:

“What does this dog think is about to happen?”

That simple shift changes everything.

A dog barking at an unfamiliar person may not be trying to dominate or intimidate. They may simply think the worst. If their brain predicts that the unfamiliar person could pose a threat, creating distance suddenly becomes a very logical strategy.

Likewise, a dog who hesitates around a novel object may simply have learned that uncertainty often leads to unpleasant experiences.

Behaviour makes far more sense when we understand the drivers underneath it.

Can judgement bias change?

Perhaps the most encouraging finding is that judgement bias is not fixed.

Research by Karagiannis and colleagues (2015) found that dogs receiving treatment for separation-related behaviour became progressively less pessimistic during judgement-bias testing.

Importantly, the researchers weren’t simply seeing fewer problem behaviours. The dogs appeared to interpret ambiguous situations more positively than they had before treatment.

This suggests that successful behaviour modification may do more than change what a dog does.

It may change how the dog navigates the whole world.

What does this mean for behaviour professionals?

When we understand judgement bias, we stop seeing behaviour as isolated reactions and start recognising it as part of a dog’s decision-making process.

Our role becomes helping dogs build a history of predictable, safe and positive experiences. By reducing unnecessary ambiguity, giving dogs appropriate choice and control, and carefully creating successful learning opportunities, we can help shift their expectations about the world around them.

Because behaviour isn’t simply about changing actions.

Sometimes it’s about changing the predictions that create those actions.

References

Karagiannis, C. I., Burman, O. H. P., & Mills, D. S. (2015). Dogs with separation-related problems show a less pessimistic cognitive bias during treatment with fluoxetine. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 10(6), 543–547.

Mendl, M., Brooks, J., Basse, C., Burman, O. H. P., Paul, E. S., Blackwell, E. J., & Casey, R. A. (2010). Dogs showing separation-related behaviour exhibit a “pessimistic” cognitive bias. Current Biology, 20(19), R839–R840.

Starling, M. J., Branson, N., Cody, D., & McGreevy, P. D. (2014). Canine Sense and Sensibility: Tipping Points and Response Latency Variability as an Optimism Index in a Canine Judgement Bias Assessment. PLoS ONE, 9(9), e107794.

07/07/2026

29/06/2026

STUBBORNNESS AND NAUGHTINESS IN DOGS ARE MYTHS

If dogs have emotional and cognitive abilities similar to a young child, can they really be described as "stubborn" or "naughty"?

Modern behavioural science says no.

Dogs are not deliberately disobedient, defiant, or naughty. These are human labels. A dog's behaviour is shaped by their emotions, health, environment, learning history, genetics, motivation, and past experience and not by a desire to misbehave.

Dogs make choices based on what is most rewarding at that moment. If your dog ignores a recall to chase a bird or sniff an interesting scent, they are not being stubborn. The environment is simply more rewarding than returning to you.

Learning also depends on context. A dog that sits perfectly at home may struggle in a busy park because they have not yet learned to perform that behaviour in distracting environments. This reflects incomplete learning, not disobedience.

Adolescent dogs often seem less responsive between around 6 and 18 months of age (depending on breed). Hormonal changes and brain development can temporarily reduce attention, impulse control, and responsiveness. This is a normal stage of development and not rebellion.

When dogs experience fear, pain, stress, or anxiety, their nervous system prepares them to survive through responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fidget. A dog that appears "stubborn" may actually be overwhelmed, struggling physically and emotionally.

Some breeds were specifically developed to work independently. Hounds, Terriers, and Livestock Guardian Dogs were bred to make their own decisions. What is often labelled as stubbornness is frequently the expression of behaviours that reflect their genetic heritage.

Labelling dogs as stubborn or naughty shifts attention away from the real reasons behind their behaviour. This can lead to punishment-based training, which may increase stress, damage the human-animal bond, and worsen behaviour problems.

Dogs are not trying to give us a hard time—they are communicating through their behaviour. When we ask why a behaviour is happening, we can respond with empathy, understanding, and training that supports both learning and welfare.

The concepts in this post are supported by current research in canine behaviour, learning theory, affective neuroscience, veterinary behavioural medicine, and animal wellbeing.








📷 Canva

25/06/2026

It's not because they're sick—probably.

25/06/2026

PAIN: THE USUAL SUSPECT

I think many people believe behaviourists go on and on about pain.

I do understand why. But I’ve been doing this a very long time and I cannot tell you how many times I’ve strongly suspected pain and then, sometimes years later, discovered that dog had been in pain all along.

I completely understand why people don’t always want to do a pain trial. Often they don’t think their dog “looks like they’re in pain”.

The problem is that dogs in pain often don’t look how we expect them to. They still run, they still play and they still want to go for walks. What we often see instead is behavioural change.

There are certain behavioural changes that make me immediately wonder about pain. This isn’t an exhaustive list but examples include:

• Sudden onset noise sensitivities or phobias�• Reluctance to continue on walks or wanting to turn back�• Increased sensitivity to being touched, especially when resting�• Anxiety spreading to more and more situations�• “Guarding” of space, beds or their own body�• Anxiety about car travel�• Sudden difficulties with dog interactions when there is a history of previously good social behaviour

This is especially important when nothing else has changed. There hasn’t been a frightening incident, there aren’t obvious new stressors and yet the dog’s behaviour has changed significantly.

Of course these issues are not always caused by pain. But pain is a very common contributor and one that is easy to underestimate.

Many people understandably feel reassured if their dog has had a veterinary examination. I work with some amazing vets and this isn’t a criticism of veterinary care at all. The reality is that it can be extremely difficult, often impossible, to completely rule out pain from a physical examination alone.

Pain trials can be incredibly useful but they aren’t always straightforward either.
I regularly see dogs who have already had a short pain trial before I meet them.

Sometimes that trial has only lasted a week or so. In many cases behavioural change takes much longer. We may need several weeks before we see meaningful improvement.

We also need to quantity what is happening. It’s not enough to simply ask whether the dog seems better. We need to score behaviours before, during and after the trial. We need detailed notes so we can look objectively at whether things have changed.
Sometimes we also need to explore different pain medications as part of the process.

Alongside this, imaging, physiotherapy and other investigations can all be hugely helpful.

Most of my work comes through personal recommendation, which means I often meet friends and relatives of clients I worked with years ago. It also means I hear updates about many dogs long after our work together has finished.

I cannot tell you how many times I hear that a dog I saw years earlier, where I strongly suspected pain but it was discounted at the time, was later found to have a significant pain issue.

None of us have a crystal ball and unfortunately we can’t ask dogs what hurts.

What we can do is listen carefully to what their behaviour is telling us.

Very often, pain is the usual suspect.

Laura McAuliffe, 2026, Dog Communication

16/06/2026

THE PROBLEM WITH PUNISHMENT

If you haven’t come across them before, a rattle can is a device for creating noise. It is basically a tin containing coins, stones, or something similar. Their purpose is to startle a dog sufficiently to stop them from doing something undesirable, such as barking. There are many issues with their use, along with other tools such as spray bottles, citronella bark collars, sonic collars, shock collars, prong collars, and so on.

Some might argue that a rattle can is fairly inoffensive compared to a shock collar, but all of these tools work in exactly the same way: they are unpleasant enough to stop the dog from doing something. If that outcome is achieved, then the dog has found it aversive. Adding something unpleasant to reduce the likelihood of a behaviour falls under the quadrant of positive punishment, therefore rattle cans are undeniably punishment-based, and intended to be aversive.

Let’s stay with the rattle can example, and the scenario of using it to curtail barking.

Picture this:

Fido is in the kitchen with his human, who is clattering about, making breakfast, rushing around to get out of the house. Fido is restless, and wanders around the kitchen, getting underfoot. As breakfast is cleared away, he starts to bark, and jumps up at his human. He is pushed down and ignored, so the barking increases, in order to make himself understood. He starts to climb up his human. Annoyed, they grab a rattle can and shake it, just as Fido jumps up again. He is startled mid-bark, and he moves away from his human.

Yes, the barking has stopped, but what was he trying to express?

Possibility number one:
Fido has undiagnosed separation anxiety, and as he recognises the signs that his person is getting closer to leaving, he becomes increasingly upset and begins to panic, barking and climbing up his human, seeking comfort. His behaviour is dismissed as clinginess and “bad behaviour,” and he is punished with a shake of the rattle can.

Possibility number two:
Fido is getting on a bit in years, and is beginning to show signs of cognitive decline, unbeknown to his human. Fido has toileting problems, and needs to go out more often. He tends to wander around aimlessly at times, and gets a bit worried by the feelings of disorientation and confusion. His only way of conveying his needs is to bark and jump up, until he is understood. When he is ignored, and then has toileting accidents, they are viewed as him behaving out of spite because he didn’t receive any attention, and he is punished with a shake of the rattle can. (Can you see a theme building yet?).

Possibility number three:
Despite being a young dog, Fido has started to get some aches and pains due to a sporting injury, but because of his age, his human doesn’t realise. Fido finds it difficult to settle due to the physical discomfort, and struggles with noise sensitivity. The clattering of the pots and pans becomes just too much to bear, and he tries to escape the kitchen, barking and jumping up as he panics. His human feels that Fido is being over-exuberant and a nuisance and, guess what? He is punished with a shake of the rattle can.

These are just a few reasons why the same set of behaviours might occur, all met with the same response, which will be hugely detrimental in each case. The use of punishment only serves to suppress those behaviours, and doesn’t take into account their function, or the emotions driving them. Using punishment creates and increases physical and emotional discomfort, and does nothing to address the needs of the dog.

In all three examples, the use of the rattle can will stop the barking, probably only temporarily, but will increase fear and anxiety in the process, not only towards the rattle can, but there will also be that negative association with the person using it, too. In addition, there is no knowing what else in his environment he might be associating with it. Nothing will change for the dog, and he will learn that asking for help only results in something unpleasant, and from the very person he should feel safe with. This dog is at real risk of emotional shutdown and Learned Helplessness.

The bottom line is that we cannot meet the five freedoms of animal welfare if we expose our dogs to fear and discomfort as a means of trying to teach them something. This also applies to those that say, “I don’t need to use it any more, I just show it to him and he stops”. Intimidation through the threat of use is just as damaging; it is an abuse of trust. There is no need to use threat or punishment when we have more effective ways of coaching which are kind and ethical, and do not carry that risk of fallout; our actions have far-reaching consequences.

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