How can you discipline your dog without being physical?

Question

My dog doesn't seem to understand the command "no!" What would help this problem? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

One training technique that works great - but takes some patience, is first to do something that will interupt the dog's thinking. If "no!" doesn't do it, try clapping or shaking rocks in a can. When your have the dog's attention, look up at the sky or turn your back on it. Dogs are social animals, and being snubbed by the pack leader is a real downer for them.

On the other hand, be sure and praise and reward your dog when it is doing what you want. After doing these things, your dog will want to please you more.

Yelling "no," over and over again is actually a form of reinforcement if the dog isn't getting attention for doing the right things. "Bad" attention is still better than no attention. Ask any school teacher.

Answer 2

I'm guessing you knew you were asking a loaded question. There are as many training methods as there are people in the world.

Here is mine:

1: Get a pinch collar: These collars look much like choke chains, but are MUCH safer and more in tune with a dog's way of thinking. (ie: The alpha nip at the neck for being bad)
2: Use short tugs at the collar as opposed to pulling.
3: Say your command *once* and tug until your dog obeys. Your dog heard you, don't be fooled into thinking otherwise.
4: Praise your dog when it does obey, even after the 30th tug on the leash. Your dog will realize that praise comes sooner if he/she obeys sooner.
2: Be consistent! The most important training rule. A dog will look at you and think "You haven't asked me to sit the last 10 times, why should I sit now?" if you are not consistent.

Methods that will not work, no matter how many people tout them:

The Yelling Method (or even raising your voice): This method means you are not training your dog to respect your command the first time you say it.

Scaring your dog with coins-in-a-jar method: Your dog should never be afraid of any object you are holding, including your own hand. This will only make your dog afraid of you and paranoid every time you reach for something.

Clicker method: I have yet to see a wild dog with a 'nun clicker', which pretty much sums up the idea that this is even considered a 'training method' at all. With proper training, you can get your dog to respond to you doing the pee-pee dance, if you wished. A clicker is a possible end, not a means.

Smack-on-the-nose (or ear, or butt, or chest, or..) Method: See coins-in-a-jar method above. Save the boxing for Rocky Balboa.

The food method: This method is in the 'it depends' category. Positive reinforcement begins with praise, not food. Although, it can be *enhanced* with food. Food should only be used as a training aid, not a training method. After all, that tiny piece of kibble will not compare to the cat your dog just ran off to chase. Would you go to work if your boss stopped paying you three weeks after being hired? Your dog is no more likely to sit down instead of chase the mailman without negative correction in training. Positive reinforcement is nice, but correction is a requirement.

All in all, your dog depends on you for keeping it safe and sheltered. Anything else is training. Don't expect your dog to automatically do something just because it knows *how* to do it. Teaching your dog it is better off doing your wishes, *every time it does it*, is the key to training.

Soon you will have a dog that no longer fears you, but respects and wishes to please you.

Answer 3

A silly thing that I find really gets my dog's attention until they pick up on the subtleties of commands and tone is I'll pair my correction with a little squirt of water from a spray bottle. This has generally been reserved for training cats, but I find it very effective in getting my dog to immediately stop the bad behavior, and also gives him a chance to learn what NO or MINE means.

Answer 4

Sounds like your dog doesn't understand who's the boss. Our vet told us that we have to dominate our dog by holding on its back and repeating the word "no" in a firm way, without yelling. Do this until the dog is calm and turns his eyes away from you. Once he does this tell him what a great dog he is. Repeat this daily, as often as you can. He'll understand you mean business without having to hurt him. It worked for us.

Answer 5

use a "crate" (a cage). I used to put mine in one when he misbehaved - sort of like a time out. Take him by the collar and say "no - bad" when he does something wrong and lead him to the crate. Close the door - abs leave for like 5 mins. Dogs have a short memory and won't know why they are in there if left long. Then let him out. Don't praise or pet too much after he comes out, but don't continue to scold. Make sure you are using positive reinforcment when he does something good - like a treat. After awhile, when he does something wrong, you can say "no - bad" and "crate" and he should go in by himself. Mine did. After that, I would just leave the cage open. We would come home and he would run in the cage if he had been bad when we were out.

Answer 6

Good Question. Well when you say "no" (say no in a firm strong voice) and your dog doesn't listen, you then proceed to the next stop by "punishment." You simply take your dog and put him/her in the kennel for 20-30 seconds. Then simply take him out.

This is kind of sending a child into his room to "think about" what he has done. For me it works. I say "no" or I show a facial expression and she jets off to her kennel. She knows "no" means "no."

Clicker training is also a good way; however, not all dogs respond to clicker training. My dog was actually scared of the clicker itself and the noise.

Good Luck.

Answer 7

Can't say what your dog's problem is without any details. All dogs understand the word "no" if used consistently and correctly.

Answer 8

The tone of your voice has a lot to do with it. If you raise you voice slightly and say it in a real deep, stern tone it will be more effective. When you obeys you need to let him know that he did the right thing by praising him in a calm, happy tone of voice that is soft but higher pitched.

Answer 9

keep a leash on him/her to use at the same time as you issue "NO". If the collar is on the right place on the dogs neck, you will not hurt it, but they'll know you mean business.

also, make sure your tone of voice is firm. if your dog is doing something you don't want it to, lower your voice an octave so its deeper.

Answer 10

Animals (and people) respond best to rewards and praise.
Give him positive reinforcement ('good boy' or a treat or his favorite toy) when he does the RIGHT thing. Don't bother reprimanding him when he does the wrong thing. Try to get him to do a good behavior when he's doing a bad behavior, and then reward him for doing the good behavior.