The Truth about Dogs Repository

A curated, evidence-led repository on humane, force-free dog training — peer-reviewed studies, official positions, and expert voices, with sources you can check.

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Peer-reviewed2021Open access

Aversive training can darken a dog's outlook

Judgment-bias findings consistent with a more negative underlying mood state in dogs exposed to multiple aversive methods.

Dogs whose owners used two or more aversive methods were slower to approach ambiguous locations.

Source details

Source

Dogs are more pessimistic if their owners use two or more aversive training methods

Casey, Naj-Oleari, Campbell, Mendl & Blackwell

Scientific Reports

Evidence level

Primary evidence

Credibility

Last reviewed

May 30, 2026

Why we included it

Welfare includes emotional outlook, not just compliance.

WelfareReactivity