Dog Health Questions: Dogs: squirt bottle for training?

I am reading a dog training book and it says to use a squirt bottle to discourage barking... when my dog barks, I'm supposed to squirt her mouth and say NO (or "quiet).
I tried it a couple of times and she was so surprised she kind of got jumpy and wanted to escape.

Is this a good idea or not?

The book is Leader of the Pack
http://www.amazon.com/Leader-Pack-Nancy-…

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Holy cow. Well I don't use negative methods to train my puppies. I want to train them, not terrorize them. When my puppy starts barking, I say "no barking" until she stops barking, then I say "good girl". I address this again when she barks again, and say "no barking" until she stops barking, then I say "good girl" She learns barking makes me unhappy, and being quiet gets her praises. I do this until I win the battle. The time you spend in training will pay off when your dog gets older, the more you put into your dog the more you get out of them. I vote that the method in your book is a very bad method, for the reason you yourself mentioned. This negative method did not stop your dog from barking, it just made her frightened of you. Dogs want to please you, so you have to teach them what behaviors make you happy, and which ones don't and remember to praise the behaviors you want from them.

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• It's a good idea if you don't do a lot of grooming. I wouldn't want my dogs to associate a spray bottle with a correction. . . they might develop an issue.


• It works for some dogs, not others. Some dogs love being squirted with water, so it's obviously not going to work. Dogs who hate it will learn to stop barking. Your other alternatives are to say "no bark", or you put either gravel or coins in the bottom of a plastic bottle and throw that in her direction. The idea is you throw it close to her to startle her and she's not to see that it's you throwing it - she just thinks it happens when she barks. If you do it right, you should only have to do it a couple of times. Or you could get a shock collar.


• it worked on my german shepard


• I don't agree with that method.
  
  Check out these websites from Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer).


• Wouldn't work with my guys, they'd be getting attention, they don't really care what kind of attention it is, its still attention.
  
  Ignoring them when they bark and giving loads of attention when they're quiet has done wonders.


• It works for my parrots but I wouldn't use it on the dogs. I find that props are not that good with training, you don't always have it handy when you need it and that just confuses the dog. Voice commands are better.


• It doesn't actually fix the problem it only temporarily fixes the issue and the dog will go back to barking when the threat of punishment [the squirt bottle] has been removed.
  
  If you insist on using the squirt bottle then you should use it in conjunction with positive reinforcement training for example if you squirt and say "quiet" when she is quiet you reward with a treat and say "good quiet" personally I'd just practice using quiet when she barks, when she does you can say loudly quiet, when she stops immediately reward. Over time she won't stop barking at things but she will shut up quicker. Reinforce the behavior you want [quiet] and ignore the behavior you don't want [the barking] or redirect her to a behavior you can reinforce [the quiet].
  
  I've used the word before my dogs get "out of control" at something I know is going to set them off. My weim will just grumble but she won't actually bark and if she looks at me when I say quiet I instantly praise. This takes time but will help.
  
  However, if you own a yappy dog like a Pomeranian then I'm afraid barking comes with the territory. I suggest reading "The complete Idiots guide to Positive Training" it'll tell you that punishment methods such as squirt bottles actually don't work unless you always have the bottle with you.
  
  Personally I found the squirt bottle didn't work, they just ran out of squirting range, but quiet works much better.


• It depends on why the dog is barking. For example, this method works great to stop my schnauzer from continuing to bark when I have guests. In my opinion, the dog can bark at first, then needs to stop when the guest is let in.
  
  Why is your dog barking?


• I tried this for my dog, but it had the opposite affect. She LIKED the water and thought it was a game and would bark more in hopes of being squirted.


• I have used a method like this where I squirt water in the dogs face when they bark and tell them quiet. You are leaving out an important part of the process though. You should always praise the lack of barking the dog gives you after the squirt. I wouldn't try to squirt the dog in the mouth because to do that you would have to put your hands on the dogs face to get the squirt into the mouth. That would take to much time from the time the dog barks to the correction of squirting it in the mouth and can also make your dog shy away from you hands. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to groom or put a leash on a dog that is afraid of your hands. So if you are going to continue to use the squirt bottle aim for the face and tell the dog quiet and praise the dog as soon as it stops barking.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training question?

I have a 10 month onld maltese and he is not trained at all.. actually he does what he wants and is extremly spoiled, mainly because of my mother, i plan to take him to obedience classes but is it too late?, any advice for me?

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It is NEVER too late to learn how to properly train a dog... I have had six year old dogs in training classes... my present b*tch who is a ch/cd/sch dog wasn't even leash trained until she was almost four years old! haha And she learned very fast and has been excellent in all she has performed in... Good luck...

add: In over fifty years of training dogs and people to train dogs, I have yet to run into any dog that was 'hyper' -- when people called their dog that it always indicated that the people had not trained the dog or had poorly trained it and they were making excuses for their own shortcomings... your dog is not 'hyper' nor likely 'spoiled' -- simply poorly trained in some areas and untrained in others...

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• You need to at least train him to sit, stay and come.


• It is never too late to train. It just might take longer because of the age. Good luck and God bless


• if he is hyper..training will do no good. he needs to be a calm dog..and not spoiled..otherwise no training in the world will help. and he wont obey period. he needs to be walked every day to release energy. stop spoiling him. he is not a person or child.he is a dog. no matter the size, a dog should be treated like a dog. make him earn everything you give him. and to earn something..he must be calm..its sort of positive reinforcement training. once you can control his behavior..you can get him trained..and remember..training is NOT alterting behavior. training is simply commands.


• It is never too late to train a dog. Maybe obedience classes could wait until he is even a little older and has settled down a bit, but in the meantime work on teaching him basics such as sit, stay, come, etc. Also, the spoiling should stop immediately. He won't benefit in the slightest if he is spoilt, you can still cuddle him, and let him know you love him but no spoiling. He's gotta know that you're boss, so laying down the law and beginning some basic training will teach him this.
  Helping him to let off some of his energy will help a lot in calming him down and training him. If you live in town with a small backyard i suggest you take him for 2 walks a day (if this is possible, of course) to release his energy because he is still young and a bundle of energy by the sounds of it. if you do have a lot of space, don't leave him tied up for long periods of time (like some dogs i know), let him run!


• It isn't to late however it wll take a lot of patience as you will need to break bad habits already taught.
  If you have family make sure they know about the training and htey back this training. teh dog will be very hard to train if only one in the family does the right thing and the rest continue the spoiling.
  Patience and consitancy

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Dog Health Questions: My friends dog, has bad behavior and influences mine! Help!?

I have a 22 week old Boxer. Ive had her since she was 8 weeks old. We take all kinds of classes, shes well socialized, well behaved and listens. My best friend has a 24 week old Beagle, who sits in a kennel all day, never socialized around other people or animals. She invites me to play dates all the time for the dogs. But when my dog gets around hers shes badly behaved because the Beagle doesn't listen to a word. Hes cooped up all day so hes so excited to see my dog at night he cant just mellow out for a minute! Then my dog wont listen to me because shes always being malled by the other dog. How do I nicely tell my friend that her dogs a pain and is hindering my dogs training without sounding mean??!! I love to hang out with her but when we do the dogs do!

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You don't need to be nice, honest blunt words often get through best when the person is that dim-witted. Tell her why you don't want her dog around yours. How about inviting your friend and her dog to join you for an obedience class? They can never go to too many classes, and it might really help the Beagle.

I really know the problem. I foster dogs for a purebred rescue, and finally had to take my own dog back to beginning obedience class because the foster dogs were so untrained.

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Dog Health Questions: I have an agressive dog. Please help?

My 3 year old Australian shepherd is very aggressive towards other dogs. She was taken from her litter when she was 6 and a half weeks old and i think this is part of the problem. She is really smart and I do dog training with her, but off leash things are really hard with such an aggresive dog

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Recommended Answer:
Have you tried a dog behavioralist? Many will come right to your house to work with them. I've seen them work wonders on some troubled dogs. Your local rescue, vet or even the dog club would know. Good luck!

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• Don't let her off the leash, most communities have leash laws anyway.


• get some professional training! The dog will rule your life for the next 10 years if you don't.


• Don't let her off the leash. If she injures another pet or a human the dog could be destroyed and you could face legal issues.


• You have to show her that behavior is NOT okay, but at the same time, don't hit her or treat her too harshly. Do you have cable? Check out Cesar Millan's show on National Geographic Channel. He features a lot of so-called aggressive dogs. It has to do with how she was trained more than her past - you can overcome it!
  
  His website should also help you.


• You need to understand the aggression. Here's a link to a website that offers innumerous articles, podcasts, DVD's, etc. on dealing with aggressive and dominant dogs:
  
  http://leerburg.com/dominantdogs.htm


• sometimes dogs just act like that. i had one dog who was a complete angel who loved other dogs, and another a demon who was the exact opposite. the latter once tried to pee on a standard poodle, hump a beagle (both were nuetered/spayed, thank goodness), and eat a great dane. idiot dog. but eventually, his behavior changed for the better. your dog might just be trying to protect you, but you definitely need to show her that you're the boss of her and not the other way around (but don't do this violently!). keep a firm hold on her leash; stop, keep her still and give a dissapproving sound when she attempts to run after other dogs, and give her treats when she calms down and acts positively. hopefully, eventually she'll get the lesson.


• dogs form their social bonds in their first 16 weeks so theres only so much you can do after that. you have a dog bred for hearding so she is compelled to be dominant over her peers (you dont want your herd dog submitting to a sheep when it wants to run away from the heard).
  
  my parents have a dog that loves my dog with every fiber of her ugly little being, occasionally they have some quarrels over food and who gets to bark at the mailman, but every other dog on the planet is her mortal enemy. it boils down to the pack mentality, shes most likely percieving them as a threat to her pack, aka you, and attacking. youre prob better off just keeping her on the leash.
  
  if the problem is with another dog thats in house you can show affection to her first and then the other dog after that and as long as she isnt looking for a kill theyll establish their own heirarchy from there.ALSO, dont feed into any of that new aged hippie dog training.


• You need to get professional help with this... someone who can help you redirect her aggression. It can be done, but it is a lot of work. Don't undertake any aggression modification on your own or you could end up hurt or in a lawsuit. If you don't know of any good trainers, check with your vet for a reference to a certified behaviorist. Also check out Patricia McConnell's website www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com for some ideas... she's a phenominal behaviorist and raises border collies, so knows tons about herding breeds! She even does phone consults (or at least she used to).

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training: clicker or my voice?

should i use a clicker for teaching the dogs tricks? or should i use my voice? also, can i stop using the clicker after the dog learns the trick?

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1. Clicker or voice? Yes.

Look, it's not about a clicker. It's about a marker--something that explicitly, clearly MARKS at an exact point in time that the dog unequivocally associates with "you done good." About 99% of humans are incapable of EXACTLY matching their voice every time. They say "yes" but it's in a slightly higher pitch. Or louder. Or more drawn out. It's different in some way. But I use a clicker. And I use my voice. And other trainers have used a key-light (for a deaf deaf) and another used a thumbs up sign. SeaWorld trainers use whistles (since the click doesn't carry underwater). It's all the same--it's about a "marker". It's not that a clicker is magic, you need to "load" the clicker (so the dog associates the click with a reward and thus the click means "you done good" and you need to get the timing down PERFECTLY. Ditto with your voice. Or whatever you use to mark with. The reason that clickers work so well with dogs is that the clicker doesn't get louder or longer, it doesn't change smell, it only makes one sound. But humans change their expression, we focus on something different, we give off pheramones, we get louder or softer. And the dog gets a mess of signals in there, only one of which is the "yes" that we say. So it tends to get lost in the mess of other messages. Because dogs are more visual and olfactory based when it comes to humans--our voice commands and language comes in a distant third in their perceptual focus.

2. Read up on operant conditioning and behavior shaping and you'll find out all the answers to this issue as well as how to train your dog. But in the meantime, of course you can stop using the clicker, just like you can stop rewarding or stop using your voice.

Example: when I was training my dog to heel and not pull on the leash when walking, we'd walk 5 steps, I'd click and treat and praise. We stopped clicking at 5 steps and moved it to 8, then 10, then 15, then 20, then clicked when he stayed focused on me during the walk instead of going for the squirrel. And variable reinforcement also applies--research shows that you get a better response if you don't treat every time.

For more details, check out Shirley Chong's website (www.shirleychong.com) or read Karen Pryor's book on operant conditioning (Don't Shoot the Dog). Or google "behavior shaping" for dogs.

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• it doesnt matter what method of reward you use its the timing, it has to be perfect for the dog to learn what they are doing is the right way. after the trick is learned you can stop using the clicker.


• I use my voice for commands done very close because I can give her a treat straight away but if Im doing target practise where she has to go and touch an object I use a clicker to pin point the behaviour at the right time so she knows

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training: Shepard/Chihuahua mix?

My dog is 3 and a half months old and he whines CONSTANTLY. He whines when:

1. He is left outside alone
2. He is put in his kennel
3. He is left inside the house (when I take a shower)

He whines instantly, as in within 5 seconds of being outside alone. I want him to learn that I don't want to be with him constantly when he's outside to go to the bathroom. My friends dog is a bulldog, same age and the dog is fine being alone. But my dog whines like he's being attacked:

1. He starts by whining (a high pitch squealing noise)
2. Then he barks (a small high pitched bark)
3. Then he barks loud (a large, lower pitched bark)
4. Then he shouts kind of like a monkey (i don't know how to explain it)
5. Then he howls (sounds like a wolf pup)

I want him to grow up. I know he's only 3 and a half months old, but he is old enough to stop that by now. I'm tired of hearing him screech and squeal when he's by himself for more than 5 seconds.

How do I get him to stop this?

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Recommended Answer:
you do no have a SHEPHERD x CHIHUAHUA

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• He's part Chihuahua he may never stop. This is part of there breed. I have a Jack Russell Terrier it drives me crazy how she digs and digs and digs and jumps and jumps and jumps she's a JRT that what she does I gotta love her You may just have to learn to tune out the things that bother you about the bread of dog you have and love the best of her traits.


• Whatever the breed of you dog you need to leave it alone for short periods to start with, then return and reward him for being being quiet. Repeat this a number of times then slowly increase the length of time you stay out of sight.
  Or you could try giving your dog a toy or bone to chew on when you need to leave it alone or something else to keep it occupied.


• this is going to sound nasty but it is very effective.
  every time he make a noice, eaither throw a little water on him, or shake a bottle of pebbles to scare him into shutting up, this worked of both of by dogs and hope it heps yours!
  
  p.s. bark controll collars are also avaliable!


• My dog constantly does this too! Even in the same order! What i do is shake something, like a pencilbox or pebbles and say no. You should not ever respond to this no matter how annoying, but try to change it by discipline


• Take him to a puppy class, they will teach you how to handle the behavior. You are feeding into the bad behavior if you go to him every time he cries


• Shepherd X Chihuahua? Thats like mating an Elephant with an ant!

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training issues need help?

does anyone know of a dog trainer or dog classes i can take my dog to? i like in birmingham uk, i have looked at barkbusters but they have got loads of bad reviews. i have a border collie and need some help training her ASAP, thanks

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Your local vets should have a list of dog trainers or classes in your area.

Also if its issues with seperation anxiety, jumping up at guests etc...if you stop giving your dog attention for a couple of days apart from walks and feeding, she will realise she is not the centre of attention and is not the boss..stop eye contact for a coupld of days, no fussing or petting, no sleeping on the bed....etc.

For obediance training its just consistency with positive rewards , treating her and praising her good behaviour and ignoring bad behaviour.

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• Try Yourube
  It teaches you dog tricks


• PetSmart has dog training classes. I think they have group or private dog training. It should be good for your naughty pooch.


• I don't know about classes, but I know you can watch "It's Me or the Dog" on Youtube.


• This is a list of classes/schools and dog trainers within Birminghamhttp://www.yell.com/super/dog+trainers/b…
  
  

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Dog Health Questions: Petsafe dog training collar?

Should I use a the Petsafe electrical training collar on my six month old lab? The vet said to use it because of his rock eating problem and his other problems. But I don't know if it is the right way, we've done everything for his rock eating and this is the last thing. So please tell me if I should use one and if it is safe.

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Recommended Answer:
It is safe. Its better than your dog eating a rock, then paying for surgery, or worse, loosing the dog. A lot of people freak out about shock collars, but the truth is, they are not mean, and they work very well. Most dogs only need a few shocks before they learn what they shouldn't do. My friend used one of these collars on her great dane. She has only had to shock the dog three times. The dog now knows what he shouldn't and should do. When he acts up, she puts the collar on ( even though its batteries are dead, the dog still calms down instantly, and stops the behavior it was corrected for)

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• Yes, these collars are safe and they have several levels and types of 'stimulation' which means that you can adjust them to suit most dogs and situations.
  
  They generally work well on dogs who have problem behaviors that have not been 'cured' by other methods. There are some dogs that are scared by these collars, but they're fairly rare. Conversely there are some dogs that are totally unphased by them and don't respond to the stimulation, either because they're particularly stubborn or have a high tolerance level for discomfort.
  
  You would need to see how your dog accepts and reacts to the collar, and always start off with it on the lowest setting. There are also citronella-spray collars which use a spray as a correction, rather than an electrical impulse or sound.
  
  Check out these urls for lots of information, tips and advice on using these types of training collars. Best of luck!
  
  http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/dog-t…
  http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/petsa…


• My puppy used to have a rock-eating problem. I sabotaged him. I sprinkled Cayenne Pepper all over a small area of my yard (the area that he always picked up the rocks from), then led him right to that spot. He picked one up, dropped it within 2 seconds (as opposed to trying to actually chew on it, as he normally would have), and has never tried to eat rocks again.
  
  This, and most "other problems" can be solved with humane, creative training methods. I think you should consult the advice of a professional trainer on this one, before using a shock collar.


• The E-collar is a last resort. I'd use a leash and a pinch collar before the E-collar. When he goes for a rock give a stiff jerk of the leash and say "NO" in a firm voice (not yelling or frantic). If the pinch collar doesn't work, then use the e-collar. Just a quick jolt for every mistake followed with a "NO". If this sounds mean to anyone what is worse, implementing a few rules? Or dying from stomach impaction? Thanks, hope I helped!


• Electronic collars work when used properly. I wouldn't waste my money on anything with the Petsafe label. Their products are not reliable. The best brand of electronic collar is Tri Tronics. When it comes to electronic training collars you get what you pay for.


• i would never do that to my dogs and just dont leave him outside for too long the reason hes eating rocks is because hes bored hes a puppy and needs a lot of attention and walking and good luck with your new puppy they are fun and enjoyable

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