Many people assume that punishment stop undesired behavior. Is this always true? Psychologist have learned that the effect of punishment depends greatly on its timing,consistency and intensity.
Punishment suppresses behavior best when it occurs as the response is being 5 made , or immediately afterward (timing) and when it is given each time a response occurs(consistency). Thus a dog that has developed a habit of constantly barking can be effectively(and humanely) punished if water is sprayed on its nose each time it barks.
Ten to fifteen such treatment are usually enough to greatly reduce barking. This would not be the case if punishment were applied occasionally or long after the barking stopped. If you discover that you dog dug up your flower bed while you were gone,