Is it ok to flick a puppies nose for disciplinary action....how about grabbing the scruff of the neck?

Question

If either if these methods DO NOT instigate hand-shy behavior, please let me know

Answer 1

Sometimes you can get away with the scruff, I have seen trainers do this, but never the flicking..
If you are going to show the dog Neither would be wise..He will shy away from the judge, which is major disqualifying fault.
I don't recommend either method and don't have need of any pain- causing discipline.
If you resort to pysical discipline, it is an indication that you have lost patience with the dog, and not an indication that he actually needs it..

Answer 2

This scruffing by mum is a bit of a myth you know. None of my bitches has ever done this to their puppies, but I suppose it may be a breed thing, and for sure, I'd not allow this to happen in any case. Basically unless you know what you are doing, and if you do, you'd probably not do this, don't! There are kinder ways to correct a puppy. Starting with prevention and avoidance!! Just gently say no, correct your puppy and divert her attention to something else. Add - something else from what has been suggested here - don't ever lift a puppy, especially a heavy older puppy by the scruff of his neck. I had some woman who should have known better, come to see one of my Basset litters and was horrified when she promptly leaned over the side of the whelping box and picked one up that way. They were around 5 weeks at the time, and being a Basset, heavy. The puppy yelled, and so did I. She never came in again!! Puppies should be lifted cupping the front legs first and then supporting the back end.

Answer 3

Did your parents flick you on the nose as a child, if so did you learn anything from it?

Grabbing the scruff of the neck is what the mother does to keep her pups in line, not to say to do this every time your dog is doing something wrong, just say NO!

If the dog hurts you do what the mother would and yelp this will get his attention and he will be more careful, these are animals and you must remember that, hitting them is wrong! I can sit down and look at my lab and shake my finger at him and that is all I need to do when he is ticking me off, never ever hit him and you know what he is the most awesome 14 year old dog in the world

Answer 4

I wouldnt flick him on the nose a Strong and sturn NO works but you have to catch them in the act,,, cause they dont remember what they did if you do it later its like a small baby a baby wouldnt understand why they are getting smacked cause they dont understand and that is just like a dog they just know that it hurts they dont associate pain with what they have done and it makes them affraid of you if you use spanking or any kind of punishment that is assocated with pain,,, I hope this helps and you can teach them the right from wrong without hitting them or flicking or snatching them up by the neck,,, Just alot of praise and a sturn NO will do the trick

Answer 5

A word of caution on grabbing the scruff. The mom will grab the scruff but she won't shake, she's just mainly mouthing the babe and pinning it. If you grab a pup by the scruff and lift him or shake him you risk tearing the skin along his neck, literally skinning him, it causes severe bruising and mild bleeding. Also you can tear the inner ear by doing this, it will never heal by itself and will need surgery and lead to ear infections.

Answer 6

Flicking is bad but the scruff of the neck is where there mother grabbed them.

Answer 7

My brother flicked my 4 month pup on the nose for putting his front feet on the table while my brother was visiting. The dog is now 10 yr and STILL thinks my brother is the boogie man - he is fearless & freindly with others.

Answer 8

correct and effective method is place your hand under muzzel and make eye contact and firmly say NO! physical pain only causes fear and teaches nothing. important to catch pup in the action then correct with a NO !. also effective to catch pup just before the bad behavior , like about to step on the room he is not allowed in and yell NNNOOOO .! i'm training 4 great danes (all ages 4months and up) to not go into a room they were allowed in last month! i moved their crates to another room and they are getting it very well. they still want to go there but when i see them head thay way i say no and they make a u turn.

Answer 9

If a simple "NO!" doesn't work, I would just give a little swat on the butt. But you can only do that *immediately* after the bad behavior... no delays whatsoever, or it would be ineffective and also just make them afraid of you. Examples: you see him doing something across the room, and can't get over to him before he stops (just yell "NO!")... OR, you come home from work and find a big mess/disaster that he created. Unfortunately, you can't do anything after the deed has been committed.

Another thing you have to keep in mind, is that you can't ever discipline a dog who comes to you williingly. For example, let's say you find your dog chewing on your favorite slippers. You say "Fido, NO!" and he (silly simple creature that he is) runs over to you happily, expecting to be pet. You cannot discipline him in this situation ... he has completely forgotten about the slippers. Just pat his head and walk away. Think about how confused he would be if he THOUGHT you were trying to make him come to you, and he did, and you yelled at/smacked him! It would ruin your relationship with the dog.

Best of luck!

Answer 10

Both are bad ideas, as is the "alpha roll". This is an old school mentality of training. If your dog is at all aggressive, then these things will especially backfire on you. Your best bet is to reward the positive behaviors you want, rather than punish the negative ones.