How do you punish your pup?

Question

Just curious on how most people punish their pups, I have a 6 week old pitbull pup and I treat her just like my kids...I never hit her, I tap her on the nose with one finger if she bites with a stern NO! and it works just fine, she learns so fast :) i also spoil her rotten I think because she cuddles with me in bed all night long and kicks it on the couch....she is just like a furry kid to me :) So How do you punish your pup?

Someone said she is too young to be away from her mother....I have had her since she was 4 weeks and it was either she comes to live with me or they sell her to a dog fighter...didnt want that to happen :)
And I would NEVER shover her lil nose into her urine, that is just cruel and unusual punishment, anything I wouldnt do to my kids I wouldnt do to my dog :)

Answer 1

Sounds like you're raising her right. Like you said, never hit her or do anything other than a stern no. I don't even like the idea of having to tap her nose but being a Pit and a stronger breed you need to do it. 6 weeks IS too young and 4 is just appalling. Obviously you did the right thing given the circumstances but a puppy isn't even weened till 5-6 weeks. Then socialization period from 6-8 weeks.
Edit: For whoever said you need to be sterner with pups than kids I think they have it reversed. Kids should be beat, not dogs. I was spanked as a child and I turned out just fine! *evil leer* :-)

Answer 2

Saving her life by taking into your home was a great deed but the breed it's self has bred in problems that at 6 weeks you can't see. Be very careful with her and stern when she does wrong. I use a spray bottle to correct (not punish) my pets, puppies, kittens, ferrets etc.

A spray bottle filled with water is a great long distance correctional tool. You are not having personal contact to associate you with the evil water that comes from no where. Simply adjust the spray to where it will spray as far as you can get it. Sit back and watch and use that spray bottle any time she does something wrong and follow through with a low deep voice (like the growl of a mother) and say 'NO'. Soon all you will need is the word 'NO' and you will get results.

You will need to be a lot sterner with the pup than you are with the kids. And instead of using one finger on her nose use two and make sure that when you correct her that way for biting it is hard enough and not just a tap. You can come down harder and if she sneezed then your have got your point across. Pit's are very strong, hard headed, stubborn and hard to tame when the parentage has been for fighting. It is bred into them and can be a very big problem cause alot of things can trigger a serious bit when older.

As a Canine Behavioralist, Master Trainer, and dog Groomer I would not trust that breed especially with children.

Answer 3

First off tapping the nose and a stern no is great stuff. I've had four dogs, from Pup to grave. And I have never allowed my dogs on furniture. But to each there own. When I discipline not punish them I have a place that i put them only when they need to be disciplined. If you have a pen or there house. Never use it if they miss behave. take them to the bad dog spot they will learn real fast.

Answer 4

I'm not really sure "punish" is a great word to use in connection with dogs. For me, the need to punish exists where someone has intentionally done something wrong or undesirable. When a dog does something you may class in that category, it's usuaally because he doesn't know better or understand how he's supposed to behave in the environment he's found himself in. Once you've shown him very clearly, it's usually ok.

Sounds like you're having a great time with your pup - although I don't envy you one day having to share your bed with a full grown pitbull! Good luck.

Answer 5

You sound like you're doing great so far. The main suggestion I have is to make sure you don't ever punish her three hours later. e.g., shoving a dogs nose into their feces when they go in the wrong spot. That is cruel, and animals don't understand unless you catch them in the act. I would guess a stern no and stiff body language are good. - if you have company over maybe some time in a crate would be good too. I'm glad that you you care about your dog so much!

Answer 6

I don't do any kind of "hitting/tapping" with my Border Collie as they tend to be pretty sensitive to this kind of treatment and can bring about issues in them later down the line.

We address the biting issue as our trainer and vet both suggested, the same way momma dog disciplined our pup when she was still with the litter... gently grab by the scruff of the neck, shake gently and in a growl tone say "no bite". It's been very effective at stopping her biting and these days, we don't need to do anything but say "no bite" to get her to let up.

Answer 7

I have never had any problems with my dog in the past, he is 10. If something would turn up in the future, I trained him with the place command and he knows it, and he would be put in his place (which is his bed) for 10 minutes. I am a very lucky pet owner, I have a dream dog.

Answer 8

me & my boyfriend have a 5 1/2 month old american bulldog pup. if she's done something really bad (which isn't often) she gets a time out. When she's in time out she has to stay on the couch without any toys for a few minutes...she absolutely hates it haha.

Answer 9

Good job! Just don't put your dog's nose in her urine... this is a common misconception. All it does is get your dog's nose full of pee... they do not make the connection that they did something wrong. Keep doing what you're doing!

Answer 10

I've had puppies for an awful lot of years, both puppies I've bought and ones I've bred and I've yet to punish one. They get disciplined when necessary, but never punished. Teaching a dog to be afraid of you is never going to give you a reliably trained (or safe) dog.