What is an example of a positive punishment?

• A. Offering a treat after a good sit
• B. Removing a toy to reduce barking
• C. Adding an aversive consequence after an undesired behavior
• D. Ignoring the dog after a bark

Answer: (C)

Positive punishment means adding something unpleasant after a behavior to make it less likely to occur again. The option describing adding an aversive consequence after an undesired behavior fits this exactly, since you’re introducing a negative stimulus to deter the dog from repeating the behavior.

For context, the other ideas align with different training tools: giving a treat after a good sit is positive reinforcement because you’re adding a desirable outcome to encourage the desired behavior. Removing a toy to reduce barking is negative punishment, because you’re taking away a desirable thing to decrease the behavior. Ignoring after a bark is also a form of negative punishment (withholding attention) to reduce the behavior.