Is slapping a dog across his nose animal abuse?

Question

I have a 2 yr. old personal protection trained german shepherd & he hates other dogs (hes already attacked 3). He always charges at the dog next door & tonight when he did this i pulled him back & said no. He didn't listen & charged again this time almost making me fall so i pulled him back again said no & gave him 2 slaps across the nose. A old lady that lives up from us said i was abusing him & is going to report it to local police department. My dog is 110 lbs. or more i am 125 & its hard for me to hold him back at times so i pop him & say no. This works everytime but am i wrong for doing it. Please help.

Answer 1

First off, i am curious as to what level of training your GSD was taken to. Did the trainer insist on trainign obediance first and then bite work or did they jump into bite work right away. Also, when you say protection work, do you mean executive protection, property protection, or a sentry dog? There are BIG differences in the options. Sentry dogs are made to trained and bred to be handled by one person or a small group of people and not allow anyone or anything near his "zone". Sentry dogs are the dogs people in general need to fear because of the type of training. Property protection is one step below a sentry dog but is used to having more than just one handler such as your kids or husband or boyfriend, etc. They are more accepting to SOME strangers but always wary and cautious. Personal Protection or excutive protection or "civil" trained dogs are dogs taht are taught to bite and react at certain instances. These usually let friends you know shake your hand or give you a hug but will jump up instantly if they feel you or they are threatened in any way. So, i'd go back an look at what type of trainign your dog was given. Did you buy him and train him from a pup or did you get him from a breeder after he was trained? This plays a role. Socialization, or lack there of, may have played a role in your dogs current standings. I personally own 2 sentry dogs as well as 2 executive protection dogs and each are used when and where they are needed. Then again, i've had the 2 sentry dogs since they were pups and i trained them for sentry work because of where i work and live. The 2 executive dogs are purchased with titles or training already accomplished.

Now, for your real question, (sorry to ramble on about the types of protection work), no, it is common for some trainers to tap the noses of their DOMINANT dogs. It is a same action taht dogs and wolves do amongst themselves when in a pack environment and one tries to establish dominance or test their position in pack heirarchy. I'm not saying its good to just walk up to the dog and hit him on the nose or snout but when some situations call for it, for example growling at you or your kids, it is common for trainers to do it. Also, trainers may tap the dogs nose to break their concentration or test their consentration. Again, it is an act that is done naturally by dogs and wolves anyway. The only dfference is that dogs and wolves bite each other while we just hit them when they need QUICK adjustment. I do not, however, recommend getting accustomed to doing this, especially if you have a dominant dog. Eventually, they will take it offensively.

I suggest you go out with your dog or you spend time with your dog doing something that enforces YOUR position and title as the ALPHA member of the family/pack. Remember this, a dog can love you but that doesn't mean he respects you. Respect from a dog is very different than the love he shows. Love is licking your face or palms or even humping your leg. Respect is when they obey commands instantly (when trained). Also, respect is when they no longer try to jump on you or try to take things out of your hands or when they no longer stare at you. WHen none of this happens, you have the dog's respect as their superior.

SO, to close, No, you did not do wrong. Sometimes, in quick instances, a tap on the nose is a good way to break the dog's train of thought and aggression. DON'T get used to doing that though. It can cause aggression towards you. Only done when COMPLETELY NECESSARY. Again, spend time with him and establish your place as ALPHA member. No jumping on you, no barking at you, no staring at you, no taking food out of your hand, no trying to take toy from your hands. Remember, a dog can love you but not respect you. A dog can respect you but not love you. And, a dog with respect and love for you will die for you.

Answer 2

Slapping Dogs

Answer 3

Yes, plus it's useless - just going to make for a fearful, hand shy dog. You train a dog by positive reinforcement, not by hitting or yelling. If he's doing something undesirable, you redirect --- as in get him out of what he's doing and direct him to something constructive. Look up a good dog training book, what you're doing is not constructive in the least. I've rehabilitated and trained literally dozens of dogs and haven't had to hit one yet, on the nose or anywhere else - that's just dumb.

Answer 4

NO IT IS NOT IF YOU SMACK IT ON HIS NOSE FIRMLY BUT NOT TO FIRM AND SAY NO BAD DOG I THINK PEOPLE USE ANYTHING THEY CAN TO GET PEOPLE IN TROUBLE THESE DAYS!

Answer 5

I don't see it as abuse; it's not like you're knocking his brains out. A big dog sometimes has to have something that will get his attention. A pop on the nose is no different than a shock collar. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

a dogs breathing canals are on top of the nose and does not have much protection so,by slapping him on top of his nose, you can really damage them. If you feel necessary to slap your dog do it on the side of the mouth. A husher or a gentle leader will reduce you german shephard to charge when you walk him, even a child could walk your dog with ether of these products. Good luck

Answer 7

It is not abuse, it will make him headshy. Why ever do you have a dog trained for protection but have no idea how to handle him? If you were in charge, he wouldn't have done it once, much less twice.

Neither your size nor his makes a bit of difference when it comes to controlling him.

And you shouldn't be asking here, most of the other posts are completely clueless 'furbaby' owners

Answer 8

I don't think so. Dogs and wolves learn in the wild by touch from the pack leader and his mate. You don't have to actually slap them though, if you cup your hand like a mouth and "bite" at there nose they will respond even better and some stupid old lady won't cite you for animal abuse

Answer 9

Though maybe not abuse ,it serves " NO PURPOSE" It does nothing but teach the dog that you may hurt him.Your dog is 'not' "Protection TRAINED' he is simply aggressive . A real trained dog responds to 'Your Commands' he does not decide on his own who or what to attack. I strongly urge you to speak to his??Trainer?? and explain this behavior. This is not acceptable behavior in any dog **Let alone a dog allegedly professionally trained. Dont ,hit slap, or kick your dog ,there are far more effective ways of establishing yourself as the pack leader.

Answer 10

That is not animal abuse. I know that sometimes dogs can get out of control. So thats the only way you can do for stopping it. Just explain to the lady what really happend. Animal abuse is when dogs get bruises and stuff, so your not abusing him. Its dicipline. But dont slap him everytime he does something wrong.I hope this answers your question.

Answer 11

If your dog is so out of control that you have to resort to slapping across the nose, you have a much bigger problem than someone calling the police. Violence begets violence in dog training, and you need a different strategy to bring your dog under your control. Slapping obviously isn't working, and if something isn't working, why keep on doing it?

My best recommendation for you is to find a professional dog trainer who specializes in protection work and ask for some help -- ASAP. If s/he tells you to hit the dog or use any form of violence, find yourself a new trainer.

In a conflict between you and the dog, the dog is stronger, faster, and has much better teeth. You will NOT win by strength alone, so you need to work on training strategies that make the dog want to cooperate with you.

I hope this doesn't sound rude, but if you can't control a protection-trained animal, then you may need to reconsider owning one.