Praise or Scold? 4 Dog Training Myths to Rethink for Cafe Outings

While you wait for your order at a dog cafe, your dog suddenly starts barking. Or it tries to jump up at the person at the next table, or keeps sniffing the table. At moments like these, do you find yourself saying "No!" in a loud voice?

Many owners are unsure whether to stop it with a scolding or to teach with praise. This article revisits four common beliefs about training, using materials from overseas professional organizations, Japan's Ministry of the Environment and local governments (checked as of November 2026). By the end, you will know what to do instead of scolding the next time a problem behavior shows up on an outing.

Myth 1: "Dogs won't learn unless you scold them." Teaching with praise helps learning progress

Training does not depend on scolding. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) states that there is no evidence that methods dogs dislike, such as punishment, are more effective than reward-based methods in any context. It also says training is most effective when it focuses on teaching the dog what to do, rather than punishing unwanted behavior.

In Japan, the Hiroshima Prefectural Animal Welfare Center explains that praising rather than scolding makes learning progress faster and improves the bond of trust with the owner. According to Blue Cross, a UK animal welfare charity, dogs learn best when they are not stressed, worried or scared.

Myth 2: "A loud voice will stop it." It can backfire

If you try to stop a barking dog with a loud voice, it may keep barking. The American Kennel Club (AKC) explains that when owners start yelling at a barking dog, the dog does not stop but barks even more. The dog does not understand the words; it just sees a fun game in which it barks and its owner barks back.

A Nagoya City Animal Welfare Center leaflet also notes that saying "Hey!" or "No!" does not get through to a dog. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the UK urges owners to encourage good behavior with rewards and never to shout at or punish their dog.

Myth 3: "Praise spoils a dog." Praise and spoiling are not the same

Praise and spoiling are not the same thing. The AKC says positive reinforcement training is neither a bribe nor a gimmick. The reward does not have to be food; a toy, a game or anything your dog wants to work for will do.

The difference between praise and spoiling lies in whether you simply give in to what your dog demands (our view). The Nagoya leaflet suggests asking the dog to do something it can, such as sit, and then meeting its request as the reward. Once the dog has learned, the leaflet says to reward it only some of the time, at random, such as once in two or once in four tries.

Myth 4: "Ignore it and it will stop." Not always

Ignoring is not a cure-all that stops a problem behavior on its own. According to the AKC, ignoring does not mean doing nothing; it means removing all reinforcement for the behavior. When a behavior that used to earn a reward suddenly stops being rewarded, a dog may temporarily amp it up.

Sniffing the table is also unlikely to decrease with ignoring alone (our view). The AKC notes that some behaviors are fun in themselves and continue even when you do not respond, and advises arranging the environment so that trouble does not happen. Teaching alternative behaviors is usually more effective than focusing only on stopping unwanted ones.

Three tricky cafe moments: prevent them and reward an alternative

When a problem behavior shows up at a venue, think first about how to make it less likely and what to praise instead, before scolding. AVSAB says common issues such as jumping and barking can be managed by arranging the environment and reinforcing desirable responses.

In the moment, the trick is to get ahead of the behavior before it starts. The AKC says the easiest way to begin shifting a dog's behavior is to reinforce a different behavior that cannot be done at the same time. For example, a dog lying down at your feet cannot jump up at someone at the same moment (our view).

Pushing away or shouting at a dog that jumps up is best avoided too. According to the AKC, yelling or grabbing the paws is still attention for the dog, and pushing it away can simply become part of a wrestling game.

When problems are serious, talk to a vet or a reward-based trainer

If the barking or jumping is intense and feels too hard to handle within the family, talk to a vet or a trainer who teaches with rewards. The RSPCA advises looking for classes that use food, play or toys. It also says not to join a class whose techniques rely on fear, pain, choke chains, shouting or hitting.

The RSPCA's position is that serious behavioral issues are for a vet or a clinical animal behaviorist (someone with expertise in animal behavior problems), not a training instructor. It also recommends asking your vet for advice if you notice a change in your dog's behavior.

You can review which rewards suit your dog with the diagnosis What Is Your Dog's Reward Type? (Beginner). Test what you know about praise and scolding with the quiz How to Approach Dog Training Quiz: Advanced.

Practice for resting at your feet is covered in our column on cafe body language and mat training. For your next outing, search dog cafes or places with spacious seating, and check the dog rules on each venue's page as well.