[lisaly]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

You're absolutely right, but I believe in doing both. One's a deterrent, and the bully stick or other chewing toy gives them a suitable alternative. To the person who says their trainer sprayed products in the mouth to stop certain behavior, I would not do this without a trainer present. I think you have to be very careful how you punish, and when you need to put other things in their mouth, dental sprays or other products, you don't want them to think they are being punished for something.

You are absolutely correct, Nancy. I am the one who wrote that, and I didn't think about this. I never did this myself, and I'm such a softy that I don't think I ever could. I always prefer using positive reinforcement to negative with animals and people. My father and his wife live in California, and I live in New York, so I haven't seen the trainer that they hired do this. I don't think they have had to do this themselves to their dogs; I think it was so effective with the trainer doing it, that they stopped the behaviors enough. My father loves his dogs, calls them his kids, but his wife is the one that is the huge animal lover. She helps out with dogs and wild animal rescue, and is such a loving, compassionate person. I don't believe in negative reinforcement, so I will ask her about this. I don't like putting coins in a can to stop them from doing something; it's scary for them, and I don't think it stops a behavior. I do know that fox terriers are very strong-willed and aren't for someone new to dog training. I am certain she would never do anything that would harm them or hurt their mental well-being, and I am going to ask her if this is having an effect on giving them medicine or the like. Thank you for pointing this out to me.