Dog punishments and collars?

Question

I was curious what everyone's opinion was on the amount of force which they consider acceptable to punish a dog. No physical force? Sharp "bites" like Cesar Millan? Dropping them on the floor on their backs? Anything more?

Also, do you believe in pinch collars, e-collars or choke chains?
(This one I am curious about cause my dog is on a pinch collar and so many people give us dirty looks, even though it is necessary because if she is on anything else she either turns herself blue pulling, will run at other dogs, or will jump all over people).

I know how to use a pinch collar correctly, and I know that it is also not a permenent solution to any issue. My dog was raised by a young girl and we have only had her a month. In that month she has learned to walk without pulling and has learned to avoid jumping. I doubt that 3 months from now she will even see the pinch collar.

As for the other methods, I don't use them, I was just curious about people's opinions on them. So many people have different ways to teach dogs.

And for using a "stern voice" I would like you to come see my dog and use a stern voice. She has a very dominent personality and it doesn't matter how calm or stern you are, she will just ignore you if she is anywhere outside of the house.

Thanks for all the comments so far!

Answer 1

Hi, as a trainer I am proud of you that you have a "training collar" on her. My worries are if you know how to use it properly. It sounds like you really want your dog to fit into your schedule. SO.... Call your local Canine Club and enroll in an obedience class. It will be wonderful for your pet. Socialization and teaching her the "ropes" so to speak. All dogs want a job and if she in in class she will learn her "jobs". People who give you a weird look due to the collar do not understand that when a mother dogs "grabs or picks up her pup" that this is the same motion given by a training collar (pinch). A "CHOKE" collar is the evil doer..... this collar can actually collapse your dogs trachea and a slow death. Do not use this!!! E-collars are the same...you and your pet need to be trained in the use of the collar. You can not just "slap" a pinch or an E on a dog and expect them to understand. This is where obedience class comes in. Please take a class if you are going to use any of these training collars. Classes don't cost much, but hold a ton of knowledge for you! In general you begin with the "pinch" and then (inside out to start and then prong down) after a few weeks you graduate to the E-collar.
Millan makes his bucks by us viewing the things that he WANTS us to see, not by the ones that DON"T work. Sign up for a class and learn with your pet, not about your pet from a TV personality who is making a ton of $$ as we view all the things that work the firstime..I am a trainer (30 years) and things never go that smoothly for any pet with problems. It takes time and patience. Remember, Millan is a TV show, much like "Funniest Home Video"!

Answer 2

I don't care for Cesar Millan's techniques. The sharp "bites" are plain silly. DO you honestly think your dog is equating that to his mother's mouth? Give me a break!

Dropping them on the floor on their backs is also based on a falsehood. Real "Alpha" dogs just don't do that. The only dogs that squabble or use force are the wannabees, the middle management that want to rise up. But that basically makes them bullies and bullies don't get to be "top dog".

All that does is teach dogs that humans are scary and unpredictable, so the dog doesn't learn to look to the human for guidance. The dog learns to shut down and not offer any behavior, good or bad.

I've helped lots of people "fix" dogs who were "trained" using force. Dogs who came in biting every time a human touched them because of alpha rolling, tssting, helicoptering, excessive choke chain popping, etc.

True training comes when you and your dog are a team. when your dog trusts that you won't let harm or pain or fear be part of the equation.

I use head halters mostly for control. If you have a dog that lunge/barks, a prong collar is a bad choice. While you may have more control, the dog will learn to associate that pinching with the dog it is looking at and become even more reactive on leash.

If you dog merely pulls, but doesn't have any leash aggression issues, a prong collar, properly sized and fitted sometimes has a place.

I loathe choke chains. My pitbull was trained with just a buckle collar and treats. She is my Agility dog and will do anything for me.

I personally would never use an e-collar. Studies have shown after a dog is shocked, when the dog is in the environment where the shocking happens, the dog experiences a sharp rise in the stress hormones, even if the shock collar is not present.

When the shock collar is used appropriately, by a very experienced trainer, the dog will experience much less stress, but still has some physiological indicators of stress.

I think any e-collar should only ever be used in the hands of a very experienced trainer, and only if necessary to save the life of the dog.

Answer 3

It's viable you would be charged with theft. You did not sincerely turn the dog in - as promised, you dropped the ball. (You very nearly gave it away.) You could have stood proper there and made certain the person carried it inside, but rather.... You just left. You have been loopy to get involved. If your friend had the dog all they (or you) had to do used to be call Animal control to return get the canine. (they are going to try this totally free.) You will have to certainly not have exposed your youngsters to an unknown canine. You don't know if the canine might were aggressive or unwell and so on. And also you most absolutely don't attempt to take a dog anywhere and not using a leash on it. It could have been hit by means of a automobile within the parking lot on the shleter, or escaped & run out into the street. You seem to have exercised undoubtedly NO customary experience. Maybe a tough lesson will make you extra careful in the future.

Answer 4

No to all of the above. I have a GenCon and a Gentle Leader for my dogs - no punishments necessary, no collapsed tracheas, or dogs who are learning to become aggressive thanks to the misuse of a choke chain. No ear pinches, collar pops, or other nastiness. It simply isn't necessary - there are other ways of getting your point across that won't ruin the relationship you have with your dog.
"Alpha rolling" has been shown to be a spectacularly ineffective punisher. The Monks of New Skete, who introduced the technique in 1976, saw that this technique was misused by the general public and stopped recommending it. It's a great way to get yourself bitten.
When I must stop an undesirable behavior, I do a time out. I will put a dog into his crate (unemotionally). All I really have to be sure of is that the reinforcement is removed from the dog's environment. Also, I check in with myself, too. Was the reward I was using good enough for the behavior I wanted to get? Was my rate of reinforcement high enough? Was I being fair to my dog (this is most important)

Remember, "Your dog is a reflection of your abilities as a trainer." (Susan Garrett) What does it say about you when you must resort to the neanderthal technique of asphyxiating your dog, or otherwise causing him harm for what is most likely YOUR mistake?

Answer 5

it really is conceivable you'd be charged with robbery. you probably did not actual turn the canines in - as promised, you dropped the ball. (You in reality gave it away.) you've stood correct there and made particular the guy carried it interior, yet as a change.... you basically left. You were loopy to get entangled. in case your buddy had the canines all they (or you) had to do became call Animal administration to come back get the canines. (they are going to try this for loose.) you should under no circumstances have uncovered your little ones to an unknown canines. you do not recognize if the canines would were aggressive or ill etc. and also you probable do not attempt to take a canines everywhere with out a leash on it. it would want to were hit through a vehicle interior the vehicle parking zone on the shleter, or escaped & run out into the line. You seem to have exercised genuinely NO ordinary experience. possibly a complicated lesson will make you larger careful interior the destiny.

Answer 6

I thought the pinch collar was a torture device until a dog trainer wrapped one around my wrist and snapped it. Didn't hurt, but it does get your attention. I couldn't walk my dog without a pinch. They are just pulling machines. I know some dogs can be trained with a pinch then after a while do not need it anymore.

good luck. and don't worry about the dirty looks.

Answer 7

I say use the minimal force necessary, but sometimes you need to use a "brutal" method once or maybe twice (dog should learn by then) if all other methods failed. I use this tactic with all different animals, not just dogs.
Some dogs- saying no in a mean tone is enough. Some need to be "bit back". One of our dogs would constantly jump on you to the point of it getting dangerous to kids (I was about 10 at the time) - my aunt kneed it hard in the back as it was jumping- never jumped up on a person again. That may have been extreme, but it worked.

There are always people who say you are abusing your animal/training it wrong etc. They do not know your circumstances and think that they are always right (no matter how knowledgable they actually are)
Animals go back with as much force as necessary. For example, our current dogs bite the horse's noses and tails. The horses started out just pinning their ears back and making gestures and raising a foot- but not kicking. The dogs stopped listening to those threats after a couple weeks and 2 days ago, one of our dogs got kicked in the head. She was definately having problems and we were going to bring her to the vet (problems cleared up in about an hour), but she leaves the horses alone now- they had to use force to get her to listen when a warning didn't work.

Answer 8

I don't belive in choke colars or the pinch ones. Just think...anything you wouldn't do to your child, don't do to your pet. I have a Siberian Husky, who is now a 1 year old. They say husky's are pretty hard to train. I've never had to smack her or use a choke colar. It takes a lot of patience, but she is a well mannered dog, other than the fact that she begs real bad cuz my fiance alway slips her food under his plate!!! I reccomend a HARNESS rather than using a regular colar when outside. I wouldn't leave it on all the time though, it could rub bald spots on her/him!

Answer 9

I used to say I did not believe in pinch collars, choke chains and e-collars.... then while at a store i saw them in real life and knew immediately that they did exist.....

Answer 10

well i don't like any physical punishment towards animals. you could just punish her by using a loud Stern voice that will catch her attention and make her think hey i shouldn't do this again or there going to yell at me in that loud voice. it usually works better then physical punishment. well good luck