Punishments?

Question

What are good ways to punish a dog without being violent/verbally abusing?

My dog is not behaving lately, and first couple of times I scolded at him until I read from a book telling me to take away the dog’s freedom.

I started doing what the book says by locking him up in a cage instead of letting him freely wonder around the apartment. At first, he cried to be led out but I ignored it. *I hope it is working.

I am wondering what are the ways to let the dog know that he is under punishment.

Answer 1

Fact of life - all dogs need to chew and all puppies investigate with their mouths. Your pup should be kept in some type of small enclosure (dog crate) when you can't supervise him. Like a playpen for a baby, it keeps him safe and out of trouble. It should NOT be used to punish the dog for bad behavior.

They're not born knowing what not to touch. When you have time to watch him, let him loose and show him a dog toy. If he takes it, praise him! If he sniffs, licks or begins to chew anything else - use sharp hand clapping, a soda can with pennies taped inside or a quick shake by the scruff of the neck for a correction. Then immediately get a dog toy and begin playing with it. Don't have more than three dog toys at first - too many toys convinces the dog that EVERYTHING lying loose on the floor is his to play with.

Puppies are like infants - they have a very short attention span and don't understand punishment. You shouldn't really "punish" a puppy at all. You have to actively supervise them when they are out of their crates. You have to teach them what YOU decide is good and what is bad. Punishment implies only that you do something negative when they do something you don't like. A proper "correction" is something that instantly stops the bad behavior, shows them what else to do instead and praises them for the good behavior. Keep her on a leash at all times and tie the end to your belt so you can supervise and train her.

Read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 2

This is great, your asking for assistance, and this shows how much you care about your dog. My question is, why are you wanting to punish your dog? What has he done that warrants something this drastic? Please read, and hang in there with me... First thing all dogs are made of energy. Every dog that has an owner should be walked at least 30 minutes a day no matter the size of the dog. Tossing a ball or letting the dog run around the yard does not take place of the 30 minute walk. Locking a dog up, or confining it will only compound the wrongful activity the dog is currently doing. If your dog is chewing things up, he is showing you that he is bored and too full of energy. You must get him out and walk him. Dogs are pack animals, confining him to be by himself again will add more frustration to his already high activity level. Please begin with getting him out there and walking him for at least 30 minutes a day. Do not confine him, scold him, punish him. He will not understand any of these things. Instead work with him and see how you can alter this behavior. If it is raining out and you cannot take him out, play a hide n seek game with him. As you begin, place a favorite small treat of his sort of out in the open, and guide him to it, just until he discovers it and gets it. Tell him good boy. Keep doing this until you are actually able to hide it just around the corner for him to go find. He'll love you for these activities. Please, if you would like additional help, email me. Thank you.

Answer 3

Squirt bottle works well, and also redirection works even better for example if your dog is chewing something he is not supposed to you just say NO, BAD! take it away and give him what he is supposed to chew on and praise him extravagantly for doing what you ask. This works with anything....and it is far better to teach a dog what you want him to do INSTEAD of whatever he is doing bad, that way you need no more punishment than your initial vocal reprimand. I really dont think putting him in a cage will help much.

Could you add more details about what it is he is doing bad? I will be able to give better advice if you do. I have 2 dogs and they are VERY well trained, I have perfected some techniques for training but it depends on the behaviour so...if you could give more details??

Answer 4

Don't scold. And it was good that you didn't use any force of violence with your dog.

Best thing would be to send your dog to his bed...naturally that would his crate. He will cry but it's alright because he's trying to tell you that "it sucks" being in the crate pretty much. And ignore him. No matter what you do, don't look at him...don't talk to him...just ignore him. And he will be ok.

But don't keep him in the crate for too long. Maybe 20-30min. for his misfits. That's good to learn a lesson, I believe.

You can also tell him that he was a bad boy & he shouldn't do that next time. He will understand.

From experience, my dogs know when they have done something bad...sometimes they even send themselves to their beds.


Good luck to you.

Answer 5

Any punishment that is not offered IMMEDIATELY (when the dog does something bad) is useless! Show your dog how unhappy you are with his behavior. Dogs want to keep their humans (the alpha dogs) happy. For most dogs, an unhappy leader is punishment enough.

The cage should be thought of as a safe haven for him (like a den), not a punishment area. I don't believe your approach is going to work.

Answer 6

Instead of punishing, you need to teach him what behavior you desire from him and prevent the unwanted behavior. You don't say what you are wanting to punish him for. Most unwanted behaviors are simply because the dog doesn't understand what he's supposed to be doing and not doing. For example, if he is chewing, instead of punishing him you need to supervise him carefully when he is loose, then when he starts to chew something you stop him and offer him something that he CAN chew on. This way he learns appropriate chewing behavior. If he does succed in chewing something he shouldn't, take a rolled up newspaper and whach YOURSELF with it, saying "I didn't watch him carefully enough!". :-)

Answer 7

When mine were bad, I would put them in a time out in their crate, and not pay attention to them. After doing this for some time, they learned what is was about, only my male dog would do what he knew was wrong, (chew up socks) and when he would hear me coming, would run and hide in his crate before I could make him go in. Some of them are stubborn like kids are... Good luck

Answer 8

well i punish my dogs with a rolled up newspaper on the butt it doesnt hurt them they just dont care for the noise it makes, i also do the removal of freedom, which i call grounded. it really depends what ur dog is doing.

Answer 9

Repetition. Constant repetition. Sometimes a rolled up newspaper works too. Not on the animal, but the sound of it hitting something else. ....like your wife or child.

ok, that last part was a joke.