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