punishing dogs

[Immi666]

my mum has a staffy cross puppy, who is really boisterous. whenever i come down, my mum and her lodgers are always smacking him when he misbehaves. i know u have to let a dog know he's doing wrong, but surely there are other ways? i hate seeing this dog smacked, and it always makes me wince the way they do it. its really loud, and really hard. is there another way to punish the dog that i can teach them?

Today we had another incident. he got hold of a duvet and ripped it open, the lodger smacked him and then chained him to the washing line in the back garden. she was sewing the blanket back together and i can understand that she didnt want him in the house. but then it got really cold and started to rain too. we just had a load of the local lads, opening the back gate and threatening to call the RSPCA, telling us that we should bring the dog in or they'd take him away. i went out and the dog was shaking and shivering. i brought him in, i didnt know what else to do. now everyone here is really angry with me.

was i right to bring him in? is there a less violent way to punish a dog? i feel really bad now.

[maggie01]

In my opinion, you should never hit a dog or punish it in this way. How would they like to be stuck out in the rain. He probably doesn't know what he has been punished for. If they are not happy with his behaviour, then they should think about training classes. They may love the dog and think what they are doing is ok but I am sure a lot of people on here will disagree. If I saw a dog tied up shivering in the rain, I would report it. Sorry

[RATTER15]

The dog should be taken away from them, that is cruelty!!

[Carakeel]

Immi666, looks like you are the only sensible person in your house. You were right to take the dog in from the rain. May I ask how old your puppy is? I have to tell you I don't think your mother or her lodgers are suitable people to have a dog. They are obviously not willing to put in the effort and go to training classes with the puppy. Clicker training classes for puppies are wonderful and great fun for both dog and owner. They teach the dogs gently how to behave and the dogs are NEVER hit! I will honestly tell you that if I were a neighbour of your Mum's I would report her to the RSPCA. I think the only thing you can do is to try and talk her into giving the dog up, as what she and her lodgers are doing is totally unfair to the puppy and in reality cruelty! Well done to you though for caring and taking action to help the puppy. By the way, you could also buy a book on clicker training. They usually come with the actual clicker. Trouble is though, if your mother and her lodgers are already hitting the dog, it is unlikely that the clicker training will work as well as it normally would. Good luck with this though. Let us know how you get on. :o)

[gelda]

I aggree with Ratter on this one,this is absolute cruelty and they should be reported asap!

[lankeela]

Can't you get those local lads to come and take the puppy away? Or get it out of there yourself and not tell them? Doesn't sound to me as though they would miss it.

And Carakeel, good as your advice is, I really can't see these people bothering to go to training classes, or using a clicker.

[Carakeel]

You are right lankeela. I too doubt that they would bother. Hope Immi666 can get someone to come and rescue that poor pup. People like that should be properly punished for this kind of behaviour. This is hard for Immi666 though and I commend her on looking for help.

[CrazyWolfman]

Perhaps I'm being naive, but I recon that your mum'll be more than happy to stop hitting the dog when she realises just how much more effective other tactics are. Dogs are naturally keen to please and love attention, so one of the best things you can do is ignore them when they do something wrong and give them attention when they do something right. If you are consistent and really do ignore them fully then this works amazingly well. In situations where this isn't suitable (eg. if they're biting you or something of similar urgency) then shouting is often enough. Don't shout their name as they may associate it with punishment - instead shout no, down, or even heel or sit (works especially well if they're running away but make sure you've trained the dog with these commands before). Use a deep voice as higher pitches are associated with reward. If this doesn't work then you can do what a dominant wolf will do to a subordinate one in the wild when the subordinate wolf really oversteps the mark. This technique is called muzzling (not to be confused with nuzzling) and basically consists of grabbing the dogs jaws in your hands (thus holding them closed), turning them on their back and pinning them to the ground. If you want to go for the full effect then put your face close to theirs and growl or snarl at them. This should be used only as the most extreme form of correction as it is always worth bearing in mind that however you punish a dog is liable to be the way in which the dog punishes lower ranking pack members, such as small children who are, by default the lowest rank. In short, hit the dog, and it will bite people when they do something the dog isn't allowed to do. Muzzling should be done firmly, but not so hard as to hurt them as you must be careful not to hurt their back or neck. The dog should then show their submission by exposing their throat and/or placing their paw on your chest. When they do this let go of them and ignore them for a while (if possible).

[CrazyWolfman]

Finally, do as several other people have suggested and go to a training class. I've only scratched the surface and demonstrations are loads more helpful then reading stuff. Also, try to teach the basic commands like the recall, sit, heel, lie down and so on. These are invaluable later on and make correction almost unneccesary in my experience. Rewards are always better, more effective and nicer than punishments, for dog and owner alike. I've got a dog and I've only had to punish him for doing anything on about three occasions throughout his life. Funnily enough he's never bitten anyone, he rarely misbehaves, he's happy, responsive and what's more he's incredibly tolerant of the most annoying of children. Even to the extent of putting up with having a hand part way down his throat to retrieve a jagged stone which he tried to swallow but which had got stuck. Let us know how it all goes and keep looking up alternative techniques, even if the few I've said don't work, someone somewhere will know more which do. It all depends on the individual dog. Just don't hit it.

[Immi666]

Thank you soooo much for your comments and support guys. Max really is such an adorable dog. He's just over a year old and he responds well when I try some training techniques with him. I get them off the telly. It's Me or the Dog, or Dog Borstal.

I've been tempted on more than one occasion to take the dog away with me, but I wouldnt know what to do. I can't take him to my flat as its 200 miles away and I also have a cat in a small flat. Im thinking about calling the RSPCA.

My mum gets influenced too much by her friends (and the lodger) I might see if I can sit her down seperately and have a talk with her. If that doesnt work I will probably call the RSPCA.

Thank you guys, for your support. I feel sometimes like I overreact when they punish Max, and I'm glad to know that I'm not.

[kita1]

I agree with all the other answers, yes, it would be good for the dog if it could just disappear (be stolen), but there is nothing to stop the mother or lodger going out and getting another!

The main thing is to make sure you can convince your mum NOT to get another dog.

Try and make her see the dog is too much hassle and more trouble than it is worth. Point out it will need medical treatment at some point and vets fees cost a lot of money, it will need walking in all weathers, it might bite someone and she will be taken to court (a kid might come into the garden and get bitten). The threat of a visit from the RSPCA and/or the police might also work.

In other words try and get her to realise it is all too much hassle and it would be better to give the dog over to a rescue home (RSPCA, local animal rescue centre, etc.) If you can have the phone no. or rescue centre ready all the better (in case she changes her mind).

Good luck

[boxerboy104]

There is absolutely no reason at all to hit ,hurt ,or ill treat any pet. Pick your yellow pages and look for a local dog trainer.Or visit your library and ask them if they know of a dog training session.They are very common and quite cheap.

[myravelu]

First of all I think your relatives should read the answers that are here and secondly they should't have a dog because they obviously dont know how to treat one. I have a staff and after all the chewing and jumping about and numerous other things she is a wonderful dog. Let the dog go to another home where she will be loved.

[Immi666]

I've told my mother I posted this question, and left the link in her favourites. She's said she'll check it out. If nothing improves, I will call the RSPCA.

I dont want to upset my baby sister, she loves the dog, but I also dont want to see Max mistreated.

Thanks for your help guys :-)

[divegirl]

Hi, well done Immi, your Mum should be proud of you, you are so obviously a very caring person. I hope all works out well in the end.

Lisa x

[robotics]

I've read and reread this post, and I cannot believe what I have just read.

A hand that smacks is a hand to bite

[Immi666]

Thanks again for your support guys. I've spoken to my sister, and my friends, and everyone thinks that calling the RSPCA is a good idea.

You're all really great people and you just make me proud to be an ABer.

[Nemarino]

Hiya,

Only just read this - well done you for standing up for Max.
It seems to me that your Mum really dosn't want the hassle that comes with a young dog - I doubt that she realises how much anguish she is causing the poor little chap, I am sure that she does not intend to be cruel.
I think giving him up is the best solution for all concerned - especially Max! Not goign to be easy tho.
You may be better off contacting a staffy rescue - they will have suitable families waiting to rehome dogs.
Very best of luck

[mackeymay]

Sounds to me like the dog needs disipline, maybe putting it in the garden was too much, but smacking does not hurt the dog as much as you think. Obvoiusly if they are really putting the boot in then that's too much, but a smack can sound loud and actually not be very hard. Also the type of dog you described is built for far harsher treatment than a smack.