Does Gentle Parenting Work for Dogs?

by Mary Simpson

Published: December 16th, 2025

This new-age style of child parenting includes empathy and emotional validation. But will it work on dogs?

(photo credit: Akifyeva S / shutterstock.com)

It started with an Instagram post that quickly went viral. A couple in Vancouver posted a video clip of their new Golden Retriever puppy, named Moose. And contained within was their attempt at introducing something called “gentle parenting” into this new relationship.

If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s an approach to parenting young children that focuses on empathy, understanding, and respect. No punishment involved. Simply guiding the child’s behaviors by using patience, consistency and emotional validation to help encourage the child - in this case, the dog – to self-regulate and thereby make more appropriate decisions.

Okay, stop laughing.

While the clip is cute and it does deserve a chuckle as Moose the Golden ignores and then nips at his pet parent’s fingers as they try to get him to empathise with the toy he’s mangling - “Moose, you hurt me, that’s not nice,” – it does raise the question of whether this type of training could be effective for dogs under the right circumstances. The experts say yes, it can.

Here’s how. It works off the principles of positive reinforcement, setting boundaries, and redirection. All part of dog training:101.

Gentle Parenting Tip 1

When training your dog, including on the five basic commands of sit, stay, down, come, and leave it, never punish when your pooch chooses to do everything but listen. Reward him with his treat of choice when he does respond to your request. And because every neighbourhood walk or visit to the leash-free park is going to require him to heed one or more commands, you have many opportunities to instill a little “gentle parenting”. Yes, showing how good behavior gets rewarded is where you build an ongoing bond with your dog. He knows how happy you’ll be when he gets it right and will automatically want to please you, the keeper of treats.

Gentle Parenting Tip 2

For young dogs and puppies like Moose, don’t scold when he destroys anything and everything in his path. Redirect his chewing energy to something from that arsenal of toys you’ve assembled. While this one may require practice and a lot of patience as he strolls around with your favorite shoe in his mouth, you might be surprised at how easy it is to entice him away when something more appropriate is provided. And note that “something” should never include a treat or food item which he might construe as rewarding him for his last escapade with your shoe.

Gentle Parenting Tip 3

Establish boundaries and expectations – then be consistent. This can include Tip 1, where you reward his behavior when it’s good. For example, if your pooch is notorious for barking or jumping up on visitors as they enter the front door, you need to use redirection to shift his attention away from the issue at hand, then reward him when he remains calm. Don’t provide treats as a distraction while he’s misbehaving. This tells him that his behavior is not only acceptable but reward-worthy. Instead, redirect him and when he continues to remain silent and well-behaved as your guest moves into the house, and realizes this more respectful behavior is what you’re seeking, he gets a good boy treat or toy.

In the end, set your pet up for success. Have rewards handy, keep items that may attract chewing, up and out of reach. And exercise patience. Whether you’re working with a puppy, a rescue dog, or a senior pooch who’s never been trained, appreciate that he’s counting on you for cues as to when he gets it right. Now that’s gentle parenting.

Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and 2 felines who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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Does Gentle Parenting Work for Dogs?

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