First let’s clarify some terminology and behavioral-science basics, so it’s easier to follow what’s going on. - Fear is an emotional response. It’s not a behavior per se. It involves physiological reactions (e.g. increased heart rate, trembling, panting), thoughts, feelings, etc. - Behavior is what the dog does in response to fear (e.g. trembling, hiding, barking, running away, etc.). Those are observable actions. - Reinforcement in behavior science means: after a particular behavior, something happens which increases the likelihood of that behavior happening again in the future. So only behaviors (not pure emotions) can be “reinforced.” Many misunderstandings come from conflating “fear” (emotion) with the behaviors it produces (like avoidance, hiding, etc.). What the Experts Say & What Studies Suggest Here are the findings from current behavior-science and animal behavior literature: 1. Comforting a scared dog does not reinforce fear Various trainers and behaviorists state that giving comfort—petting, calm voice, letting the dog come to you—is not “rewarding” fear. You are not teaching them it’s good to be afraid; you are helping them cope in the moment. Tufts University, in material for caring dog owners, says “comforting an anxious dog will not reinforce his fearfulness.” 2. 3. Emotions vs Behaviors Because fear is an involuntary emotional response, you can’t “punish” or “reward” it. But you can reinforce what a dog does when they are afraid. For example, if the dog hides, and hiding leads to the scary stimulus going away, hiding is being negatively reinforced (because avoiding the scary thing reduces discomfort). If someone comforts a dog after a fearful behavior (say trembling, barking, hiding) and that comfort or attention makes the dog feel a little safer, there might be a chance that the dog will repeat the behavior that got comfort, because that behavior has come to mean “if I do this, the scary thing might stop / comfort might follow.” But that’s about the behavior (hiding, etc.), not reinforcing the fear itself. Many articles emphasize that what we can reinforce are behaviors, not the emotion of fear. 4. 5. What seems to help Counter‐conditioning + desensitization (gradual exposure + pairing scary stimulus with something positive) is well-supported as a way to reduce fear responses over time. Comforting helps the dog feel safe, helps reduce stress in the moment, and builds trust. Then you can use behavior modification (CC&D) so that over time the dog expects better outcomes rather than only scary ones. 6. 7. Risks / Things to watch out for Comforting in a way that forces the dog or overrides its boundaries (e.g. picking it up if it doesn’t want to be handled, hugging when the dog seems overwhelmed) can add stress. Being gentle, letting the dog choose, respecting signs of stress is crucial. If the dog is kept in the fearful situation for too long, or at an intensity beyond its threshold, you can create additional distress or risk worsening the fear (sensitization). So it’s not comforting per se that’s bad; it’s the context and how the exposure to the fear is handled. 8. 9. Evidence & psychology Some studies in human fear show that counter-conditioning tends to reduce fear better than simple extinction (ignoring or trying to fade out the fear stimulus without replacing it with something positive) in many cases. In dogs, there are studies (though somewhat fewer) showing that presence of a trusted person / owner, calm interaction, gentle petting can reduce measurable stress (e.g. lowered cortisol, decreased fearful body language) especially during veterinary exams etc. 10.

🎉 Welcome to The Dog Mom/Dad Academy! 🎉 Hi everyone! I’m Tiffany aka Tee Lynn and I’m so excited to have you here. 🐾 The Dog Mom/Dad Academy is a community for dog parents who want to: - Train their dogs positively and effectively - Build a stronger bond with their furry friends - Learn holistic practices for health, behavior, and wellbeing - Share wins, challenges, and tips with a supportive pack of fellow dog lovers Whether you have a tiny pup or a big goofball, a rescue or a lifelong companion, this group is for anyone who wants to raise happier, healthier, and more well-behaved dogs—without harsh methods or stress. 💌 Let’s kick things off! Introduce yourself in the comments: - Your name & your pup’s name(s) - Your dog’s age/breed - One thing you hope to learn or achieve here I can’t wait to meet all of you and start this journey together. Let’s make it fun, educational, and full of tail wags! 🐶💖

Training isn’t about control — it’s about connection. 💕 Every ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ is a chance to build trust with your dog. What’s one small win you’ve had with your pup that made you smile