Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, together with colleagues from the University of Edinburgh, surveyed 500 dog owners in the United States about the methods they used and their views on animals. Positive methods such as treats, toys and verbal praise were widely used, while punishment-based methods, including verbal reprimands or physical correction, were used less often.
The study grouped participants by their animal ethical orientation into three types: an anthropocentric orientation, an animal welfare stance, and an animal rights orientation. The findings show a clear relationship between ethical orientation and training choices: owners with an anthropocentric stance were more likely to use punishment-based methods.
Peter Sandø, a professor at the veterinary and animal sciences department at the University of Copenhagen and senior author, said that punishment users tend to view dogs as existing primarily for human purposes. The study is not representative of the general population but it helps explain links between ethics and training choices.
Difficult words
- researcher — a person who studies something and reports findingsResearchers
- survey — to ask questions to many people for informationsurveyed
- method — a way of doing something, usually plannedmethods
- punishment-based — using penalties or corrections to control behavior
- verbal reprimand — a spoken criticism or scolding to someoneverbal reprimands
- anthropocentric — seeing humans as central or most important
- animal welfare — concern for animals' health and good treatment
- representative — typical of the larger group or population
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Discussion questions
- Why do you think an owner's ethical view might affect their choice of training methods? Give one or two reasons.
- If you had a dog, would you prefer positive methods or punishment-based methods? Explain your choice briefly.
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