Yelling: Good or bad?

[alaskayorkie]

In obedience school, we never yell, so why is yelling the first thing so many people do when their dogs misbehave? Eddie tried leaving the yard the other day, and when "Come" didn't work, I screamed "COME, NOW!" It worked.

My question: Is it good or bad? If bad, what's the alternative when not coming is not an option?

[Precious' Mom]

I'm guilty of being a yeller from time to time...I guess I think maybe she'll hear me better!?!?

[Latuya]

I am so guilty of it as well. Just like with the kids. They just wont listen when I ask them something. Boy if I yell I get their attention real quick and they jump because they know mom is not happy when she has to yell. And mom don't mess around like that! I think it's the same for dogs. The only time I have to yell at Gus is when he's barking at something outside. He runs like a mad man back and forth from door to door barking. I say Gus it's ok stop it. But nope, never works. But if I yell "Gus I said to stop it!!!!" He sure listens. He'll come to me and sit by me and do his little grunts,,,,, as if he's saying "gosh mom you wont let me do anything,,, I was only having fun"

[hunniebunnie]

there's only a few commands i yell to get his attention... "NO" and "NO WHINING" the latter of which i yell from the bedroom so he can hear me in the kitchen and will shut up when he hears the command. everything else, i say with a mild volume but changes my tone.

i did the "NO WHINING" command at my friend's place once. bunjee was getting a timeout and was in his crate so he started to whining. i yelled "NO WHINING" from the kitchen (he was in the living room) and he quieted down immediately. my friend thought it was a "neat trick" and wondered if it'll work on kids as well as pets.

[Jaspermom]

It's a hard thing because I grew up in a family of yellers, and yelling was simply a way to communicate.

But because I am a YT fanatic, I know fully well that yelling does not work. Wosie is being raised in a totally different manner from my other 2, and I think it's working. She is much better behaved, and I think even happier than my old pups. Wosie only gets scolded if I catch her doing something bad, and I never yell, only show her with facial expression and tone that she is doing something unacceptable, and then I redirect. No yelling. Tone is an amazing thing. Hey, they don't truly understand what you are saying anyway, it's how you say it that gets the message across.

I know if there was danger involved, there is no way I could stop myself from yelling if it meant that I was communicating urgency. Last resort yelling is fine by me.

[rrosenberry]

I think the yelling is more for ME,, not him, when I'm at my breaking point, because I know, it doesn't work for Bailey, he will definatley not come when I yell. So I have to do the high pitched, Baby voice, and he gets all excited,,and will come..
For us,, If he would COME,, life would be perfect at our house, that is the worst thing...

[Jaspermom]

[QUOTE=rrosenberry] it doesn't work for Bailey, he will definatley not come when I yell. For us,, If he would COME,, life would be perfect at our house, :/QUOTE]

I work on "come" all day long. I carry tiny bits of treats in my pocket and when Wosie is out of my sight, I will call, "Come, Wosie" and when she does come, I have her sit and treat her. She LOVES to come when called!!

[red98vett]

Hmmm...GOOD Question - I never yell normally for any reason - but when Cheri snuck out the front door as I was leaving one day I SCREAMED at her to STOP and she DID ! Then....she came flying back to me - so I'd have to say in a pinch - it worked for me !

But as far as dicipline - I don't think it's productive nor good for them - it just makes them afraid of loud voices -

[JUDY's2yorkies]

My openion on yelling at a yorkie is the same as yelling at children,it has to be a life or death situation,meaning going in the street,a BIG dog is on the prowel,or lawnmower is going to eat you,other than that yelling is just showing that you know you are not in control,now if there are in another part of the house fussing, then I will raise my voice so it can be heard, but yelling is not an option for a happy kid,hairy or not,love and control go so much farther,plus the treats for doing what I want,whatever the issue

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by JUDY's2yorkies

My openion on yelling at a yorkie is the same as yelling at children,it has to be a life or death situation,meaning going in the street,a BIG dog is on the prowel,or lawnmower is going to eat you,other than that yelling is just showing that you know you are not in control,now if there are in another part of the house fussing, then I will raise my voice so it can be heard, but yelling is not an option for a happy kid,hairy or not,love and control go so much farther,plus the treats for doing what I want,whatever the issue

Nicely put!

Another way that yelling at dogs is like yelling at kids is that if you do it very often they learn that you don't really mean business until you yell. Result? They don't obey when you correct them softly. There's no reason to. They know you'll give them another chance, only louder.

Do I think yelling is a good thing? No. Do I occasionally do it anyway? Yes, I'm afraid so.

[cindy0721]

I found that two qucik claps of my hands together seems to work to stop them dead in their tracks. 3 claps gets them running to me....yelling gets them scared...

[Lexi Rae]

im italian, of course i yell, try not to though.. when i talk i yell.. sick huh?
no i just talk real loud... just used to it..

[KELLYLYNN]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

im italian, of course i yell, try not to though.. when i talk i yell.. sick huh?
no i just talk real loud... just used to it..

You took the words right out of my mouth, i'm italian too, that's all i've learned all my life we yell not talk.....

[artierae]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

im italian, of course i yell, try not to though.. when i talk i yell.. sick huh?
no i just talk real loud... just used to it..

My husband was Italian. I know what you mean. It becomes a part of you, and you don't even know you are yelling. I try not to yell at the dogs, but sometimes it just pops out. And believe me, a loud "hey" stops any kind of mis-behaving! And I have also heard trainers say to NEVER yell hey at your dogs. But we do, and it works. Clapping hands also works, and with the babies, a rolled up newspaper hitting yourself on the leg works wonders!! (I never hit the dogs, although I do threaten them occasionally LOL)

[KELLYLYNN]

Originally Posted by artierae

My husband was Italian. I know what you mean. It becomes a part of you, and you don't even know you are yelling. I try not to yell at the dogs, but sometimes it just pops out. And believe me, a loud "hey" stops any kind of mis-behaving! And I have also heard trainers say to NEVER yell hey at your dogs. But we do, and it works. Clapping hands also works, and with the babies, a rolled up newspaper hitting yourself on the leg works wonders!! (I never hit the dogs, although I do threaten them occasionally LOL)

i have to admit Harley got a smack once, i was downstairs washing clothes and i came upstairs and he was eating my grandmothers rocking chair...