[ryuen90247]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here so forgive me if this question has been asked 8,478 times lol...

I have a 6 month old puppy, and my partner and I have totally different beliefs in how to discipline/train a dog. I strongly believe in showing dogs what the correct action is (i.e., right before using the bathroom on the rug, picking him up and running to the pad, then adding positive reinforcement), but I'm also the type to either scold (not necessarily yelling, but definitely louder and more firm), and sometimes spank depending on what he does.

Does anyone else spank or scold their dogs? Does it work?

My dog doesn't seem to listen to my partner, and only seems to respond well to this method. Your thoughts?

I also noticed that putting him in the bathroom for time out after making a mistake seems to stop it from happening. Does that work for anyone else?

Thanks in advance=)

Robert

 

[TooneyDogs]

Scolding and hitting the dog don't work. There's certainly nothing wrong with a sharp No! to interrupt an action. But, to threaten the dog and make it afraid is not the training you want. You want a calm confident dog...not a fearful, cringing one.
The time-out techinque is a very powerful behavior modification device. You put the dog into social isolation and are looking for a NEW behavior when they come out. This is NOT like sending a child to their room to 'think about it'. You must reward/guide the dog in the new behavior that is being displayed otherwise it's useless.
Here's an example of how it works....dog is constantly jumping up to say Hi. You walk away....leaving the dog isolated with no one else in the room. You come back in 2 minutes and now he's just standing there. That's the new behavior...exactly what you want (no more jumping) but, you have to work with that...reinforce/reward it.

 

[cshellenberger]

Spanking is not very effective, and can, in fact, cause a dog to become fearful and aggressive.

I highly reccomend you read this article and get to truly understand HOW dogs learn.
Open Paw's No-Frills Explanation of How Dogs Learn

 

[KBLover]

"Scolding" can work if the scold is the behavior you'd rather have. Like if Wally's trying to eat something off the ground when I tell him to go potty - a sharp "go potty" will get him back into what he was to do. But just saying stuff like "I told you not to do that, what's the matter with you..etc, etc" that's not going to work. He doesn't know what any of that means. Any reaction is probably from the tone (sounds like loud, harsh barking, and your body language)

I never spank, at least not physically. The most "spanking" I'll do is with my eyes and body language. I might lean over a little and move him back if he tries to just bolt out the door, or if he's trying to eat off the ground, I'll approach whatever he's about to eat and back him off it. Then it's over - we go back to doing whatever and I'm back to being neutral/positive.

Never physically grab or hit him in punishment. My physical interaction is "tickling" him and such during play.

 

[Tricia_88]

How do you spank a dog???

Something I have come to realize is that dogs do not relate at all the way humans do. You have to learn what they respond to. Mostly positive reinforcement. If a dog is doing what you want or something good, praise them. Don't give a lot of attention when they are "bad". The people here give great advice. I have no experience with the pee pads. I crate train. Take the puppy out often and when you can't supervise, it is crated. Almost foolproof.

I also agree about the "time out". Another thing I have learned, dogs live in the moment. Time outs do not work with dogs. Especially with crate training. Never use a crate as punishment. It should be their safe place.

I'm no expert, just sharing what I have learned.

Tricia

 

[ColoradoSooner]

If a dog isn't doing what you want it to do, it's most likely because it doesn't understand what you want from him. And if he doesn't understand what you want from him, then you need to spend more time working with him in a positive, fun way. Spanking does nothing to teach. It's very confusing to the dog and counter-productive.

Think of it from his perspective. You're in a room with people who speak a different language. They are barking orders at you. You have NO idea what they want. And because of that, they hit you. Does that make you understand any better what they want from you?

Remember, it takes time and patience to learn one another's "language." Again, if your dog doesn't understand, it's YOUR responsibility to learn how to communicate with him more effectively.

 

[DobManiac]

I don't punish. But I do say a sharp "No" when they are getting in to something. Then when I have their attention I distract the dog with a good thing to do instead and praise. The farthest I get with scolding is giving Olivia a "harsh" look when she jumps up on the bed. It freaks her out and she scurries right off. But there is nothing physical in that, it is just body language.

 

[Mdawn]

I've never once spanked my dogs. They don't understand what it means, only that I'm hurting them and its doesn't accomplish anything but relieve our frustration.

If they do something that they aren't supposed to do, me saying their name sternly or with "warning" is all that is needed to communicate what they are currently doing is not allowed.

When my Mastiff was a puppy, I did kind of put him in "time out" but then not really. If he was driving me up the wall, sometimes I'd put him in his crate so I could take a break but there were no negatives associated with it, like I didn't yell at him or anything. I just put him in his crate with a toy with as little fuss as possible.

 

[jbsmomto1]

hands are not nor will they ever be for hitting. Hitting and animal is pretty low in my opinion and if that dogs happens to fight back, that dog is going to be the pne penalized....keep your hands to yourself or use them to pet the dog...never ever hit with them. they are for loving only.

 

[AkiraleShiba]

+1 JBS

I also wanted to add that yelling at a dog will only increase his treshold and when yelling becomes normal, you'll have to yell for everything.

6 month is a hard age so your pup may begin to act up, remain calm and consistent in your training and you'll have a well-behaved dog at 1 yo !

 

[KBLover]

I also wanted to add that yelling at a dog will only increase his treshold and when yelling becomes normal, you'll have to yell for everything.

If I suddenly yell at Wally - oh I'll get his attention because I don't do it (often).

If you ALWAYS yell - then yeah, he'll think it's your normal tone.

But to say Yelling = Yelling never working - it depends on how the communication has been.

If you whisper all the time, I bet a normal tone of voice will startle them. Just like speaking in a neutral volume - then you go higher or lower - it gets their attention faster because it's different.

 

[Erick Aguilar]

I gave my pup a little tap in the butt whenever he would try to hump legs, with a firm NO after it, he no longer does, but it is probably because of the NO, because a tap in that furry butt can't be felt for sure

 

[Entwine]

I've never spanked my dog and never thought it worked.. Pretty much the same story as many others here.

My methods of "punishment" (if you want to call them that) are to give Misty a sharp "No" and redirect her to doing something acceptable. It's gotten to the point where if I say "No", she'll look at me and focus and wait for a command. If I don't give one, she will walk away from what she was doing (about to investigate the trash, food, etc) and pick up a toy or something that I've previously redirected her to do.

 

[poodleholic]

does anyone else spank or scold their dogs? Does it work?

no, never!

 

[jbsmomto1]

I gave my pup a little tap in the butt whenever he would try to hump legs, with a firm NO after it, he no longer does, but it is probably because of the NO, because a tap in that furry butt can't be felt for sure

If as you say he can't feel the tap then why even bother? Why not just use the firm no instead. Hands are NOT for hitting.

 

[Jessieanne]

Me and every one I know spanks there dog from time to time. But I have seem what to many spanks have done to a dog (makes her cower) and that makes me keep my spanks to a minimum beacuase I never want my dog to cower from me. But I see nothin wrong with a swat on the butt when they are being really bad, as long as its not an all the time/daily thing

 

[LittleFr0g]

Does anyone else spank or scold their dogs? Does it work?

Nope, never, ever, not once. As others have said, hands are NOT for hitting. I've never laid a finger on Kuma, and never will, and he listens to me just fine. Training is far more effective when you teach your dog what you want it to do, instead of hitting it for doing the wrong things.

 

[Corteo]

I...would...never...

 

[novachampion]

i will use spank to discipline on some occassions but only when the dog is out of control or going after the cat or has robbed and raided the bins, he knows it is wrong and will not listen to me at all.

 

[jbsmomto1]

i will use spank to discipline on some occassions but only when the dog is out of control or going after the cat or has robbed and raided the bins, he knows it is wrong and will not listen to me at all.

to me this is disguting...you are not teaching your dog to listen, instead you are teaching the dog that when you raise your hand EVER, even if it is to give a pet that it needs to be guarded because you might hit him. Poor dog. Hitting is a cowards way out, instead of doing positive things, you result to hitting a poor animal..one day that animal will fight back, than who's gonna be in trouble? surely not you....the poor dog will be. How many times does it have to be said HANDS ARE NOT FOR HITTING, they are for loving, for petting, for snuggling, but NEVER for hitting.

ETA: I realize my reply sounds snarky, I am just so sick of hearing people resorting to violence instead of the more sensible and practical options.

Instead of hitting him, make the litter box inaccesible, cats are smart they will figure out how to get in it, especially if you show them. Put him on a leash and when you see him go near it, pull him away and say "leave it" he WILL get the message eventually. if my 3.5 month old pup is capable of learning leave it than so is yours....Hitting is taking teh lazy way out, "instead of training him I will just smack him"...what a way to live.