Jess' Dog Training

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05/09/2026

Most people are far too quick to assume that when a dog runs over to us holding a toy, they’re bringing it TO us. “Oh, you’ve brought me your toy!” *reaches for it*

And then we take it, and suddenly the dog who was happily trotting around with their toy is jumping all over us, barking, mouthing and struggling to cope.

That toy is actually helping them manage all of the excitement of seeing you, especially in breeds who have been bred to ‘hold’ (like gun-dogs). It gives them something to do with all those big feelings, rather than directing all of that energy into jumping up, barking or mouthing you.

So if your dog comes to greet you with a toy in their mouth, let them hold the dang toy.

You don’t have to take it. You don’t have to play. You can just say hello and let them wander around with it until they’re ready to put it down.

You don’t have to assume that every time they bring you a toy, it’s an invitation to take it, especially during a greeting.

📚Heberlein et al. (2009), How do guide dogs and pet dogs (Canis familiaris) ask their owners for their toy and for playing? Animal Cognition.
📚Somppi et al. (2022), Dog–Owner Relationship, Owner Interpretations and Dog Personality Are Connected with the Emotional Reactivity of Dogs. Animals.
📚Pongrácz et al. (2022), Audience effect on domestic dogs’ behavioural displays and facial expressions. Scientific Reports.

A note on language: Inherently aversive tools change behaviour through the application or threat of discomfort or pain. ...
03/09/2026

A note on language:

Inherently aversive tools change behaviour through the application or threat of discomfort or pain. In learning terms, they typically operate through positive punishment and/or negative reinforcement.

In other words, the unpleasant sensation is the mechanism that makes the tool work. If it did not feel bad to the dog, it would not change the behaviour.

Not inherently aversive tools are not designed to change behaviour through pain or discomfort. Their function is management, safety, or equipment attachment, not behaviour suppression.

These tools can still be misused, and a dog may develop a negative association with them due to past experiences, pain, or handler error. However, the aversion is not required for the tool to function.

Claiming a harness is as aversive as an e-collar shows a misunderstanding of how these tools actually work.

It is a bit like claiming a wooden spoon is as aversive as a cat-o’-nine-tails. One is a neutral object. The other is specifically designed to cause pain.

📚 Carter, A., McNally, D., & Roshier, A. (2020). Canine collars: An investigation of collar type and the forces applied to a simulated neck model. Veterinary Record, 187(7), e52. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105681
📚 Guilherme-Fernandes, J., Olsson, I. A. S., & Vieira de Castro, A. C. (2017). Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare? A literature review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 196, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2017.07.001
📚 Pauli, A. M., Bentley, E., Diehl, K. A., & Miller, P. E. (2006). Effects of the application of neck pressure by a collar or harness on intraocular pressure in dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 42(3), 207–211. https://doi.org/10.5326/0420207
📚 Schilder, M. B. H., & van der Borg, J. A. M. (2004). Training dogs with help of the shock collar: Short and long term behavioural effects. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 85(3–4), 319–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2003.10.004
📚 Vieira de Castro, A. C., Fuchs, D., Morello, G. M., Pastur, S., de Sousa, L., & Olsson, I. A. S. (2020). Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive

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