I really don't think there is any way to scold a puppy. Dogs are extreeeeemley intuitive, so they sense when you are displeased anyway. In her book, "Don't Shoot The Dog" Karen Pryor who is a renowned professional animal trainer, says that it's best to just ignore what the animal does wrong, and make a big hullaballoo when they do the right thing, or even when they come close to doing the right thing! According to her that is the fastest way to get the animal to learn what they are supposed to do. Since dogs always want to please you, not displease you, scolding is really not necessary.
When Pookie pees or poos in the wrong place, she knows without us saying a word that we aren't happy. She looks at us with this guilty look, like, "I'm sowwy mommy, I did it again, I couldn't hewp it!" And she hovers around while we clean it up, looking for all the world like she's going to get swatted, tho we've never laid a hand on her or even raised our voices to her. So according to a real pro, that's the best way to handle it. Scolding is more for our benefit, not for hers. |