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Physical,
Non-Painful Corrections
Unfortunately,
people tend to use
slip collars inappropriately.
If you don't couple the
short and quick tug-release with
praise when the dog looks at you
or by telling the dog to "sit"
to help the dog gain control by
lowering the dog's arousal, then
the dog learns to gradually
ignore the collar correction
and, in fact, pulls more from
confusion and frustration.
Because of this we do not
recommend slip collars.
A
gentle physical correction
is using a water spray
bottle. Some dogs don't like the
surprise of the water. Most are
at least interrupted by it
allowing the owner to praise
this response and redirect
behavior. Others seem to like it; some
even want to play with it.
These types
of corrections are really
interruptions of the
inappropriate behavior so you
can teach them what is right. If
they do not interrupt the
behavior the first time they
should not be used again.
After
Any Correction
After
any correction or reprimand, act
"neutral" for 5+ seconds as a
"start over" and then
crouch down in a non-threatening
position with your arms open
wide and call the
dog to you. Praise him for
coming.
If the dog won't come, he may be
too intimidated. Instead, ask him to
sit. If he sits, it means the
correction was well received.
The "make up" allows the
dog to do something positive to
restore the relationship.
Remember that an occasional
correction if delivered in a
clear, non-threatening manner,
does
reinforce your position as leader and has a positive
bonding effect with your dog.
Anticipate
and redirect behavior to avoid
corrections. Use lowest correction
needed to redirect the behavior.
Never
cause your dog pain! |
Corrections To Avoid
Here are five corrections you
should NEVER use to punish or
correct your dog's behavior.
-
Never hit your dog. Dogs don't
understand being struck, and
their confusion and fear causes
them to distrust and dislike
anyone who does it. Your dog
won't see you as a reliable
leader if you hit him.
-
Don't slap a
newspaper loudly into your
hand to correct the dog
unless it is in your hand at
the moment the dog
misbehaves.
-
Don't ever kick or in
any way physically cause
pain. Dogs
don't understand pain as a
correction; it confuses them.
may be interpreted as
aggression which often leads
to an aggressive response.
-
Never stand over and yell at the
dog. He doesn't speak
your language, and understands
only a few carefully-taught
verbal Instructions. (See "Instructive
Reprimands") Once you
lose your temper with your
dog, you lose your dog's
respect and trust and
therefore the dog's
willingness to learn and
respond to you.
-
Do not do an "Alpha
Roll Over" (pin the
adult dog on his side or
back). This behavior on your
part is too often misunderstood by
the dog. And, in an otherwise
passive dog, you might incite
an aggressive response.