The Lure of Control
In the world of dog training, there’s a growing divide between two camps: those who follow evidence-based, reward-driven methods, and those who promote what’s called “balanced training” a model that blends rewards with punishment tools like prong collars, e-collars, lead corrections, and verbal reprimands.
At first glance, “balanced” sounds reasonable. After all, don’t dogs need consequences? Isn’t discipline part of love?
That’s exactly why this approach is so appealing not just because of what it claims to do for dogs, but because of what it speaks to us.
The Human Appeal of Punishment
Balanced training appeals to core human biases and psychological needs:
1. We crave control.
Dogs who lunge, bark, pull, growl, or disobey trigger a deep discomfort in us. We often interpret it as a failure of training, of respect, of order. The promise of instant results using “corrections” feeds our desire for quick, clean control.
But control is not the same as cooperation, and suppression is not the same as understanding.
2. We mistake compliance for learning.
A dog that stops barking because it’s been shocked isn’t calm, it's quiet. These aren’t the same.
Punishment often shuts down behaviour, not because the dog understands what’s right, but because it’s afraid of getting it wrong.
The result? A dog that “listens” on the outside, but becomes conflicted, fearful, or unpredictable underneath.
3. We’re conditioned to believe in dominance.
Much of modern balanced training is based on outdated “pack leader” theories that have long been debunked. Still, they appeal to our cultural myths: the strong leader, the obedient follower, the hierarchy.
But science tells us dogs don’t operate that way and humans shouldn’t either.
The Viral Problem
Why does this training style go viral?
Because punishment looks effective.
A dramatic before-and-after video where a snarling dog becomes silent in minutes is emotionally satisfying. It provides instant visual payoff. There’s rarely any context about the emotional cost to the dog or what happens off-camera.
Reward-based training doesn’t go viral in the same way because it's slower, more subtle, and requires nuance. It doesn’t satisfy the craving for dominance or immediate obedience.
Fear and confusion are common drivers of behaviour. Punishing a dog for reacting doesn’t resolve the root cause. It only teaches them to suppress communication.
Over time, this often leads to:
Increased anxiety or shutdown behaviour
Sudden, unpredictable aggression
Eroded trust in the human-dog bond
Reduced welfare and quality of life
Education Is the Key
We don’t need to shame dog owners who fall for balanced training, we need to educate them.
It’s easy to follow someone online who promises quick results and posts compelling videos. But quick fixes often ignore the dog’s emotional wellbeing and can make things worse over time.
Ethical, science-based training is about empathy, understanding, and communication not control.