If you've ever googled dog training, you've probably come across both camps. On one side: treat-based, patient, reward-driven methods. On the other: dominance theory, corrections, "you have to show them who's boss."

If you've ever googled dog training, you've probably come across both camps. On one side: treat-based, patient, reward-driven methods. On the other: dominance theory, corrections, "you have to show them who's boss."

You've probably heard it before. "Don't comfort your dog when he's scared — you'll only make it worse." It sounds logical. It even sounds scientific. But it's wrong, and here's why it matters.

The belief that comforting a fearful dog reinforces fear comes from a misapplication of learning theory. The reasoning goes: if you give attention when your dog is anxious, you're rewarding the anxiety, which means more anxiety. It makes sense on paper. The problem is that fear doesn't work that way.