[yorkietalkjilly]

I personally just don't find startling a dog with noise or clapping or throwing things or spraying water in its face is at all necessary to connect with a dog. I wonder what they must think when we take a bottle and suddenly spritz them with water in their eyes? Adrenaline rushes into their bloodstreams from those things, most likely. To me, using these methods just tends to amp a dog up, makes him a bit wary of his trainer and a little more unsure than he was to start with and he may behave that trainer, but not for the reason I want.

I'd much rather have one trust me, look to me to always care for him and make his training fun, positive and upbeat in all ways. Now if he's misbehaving and crossing boundaries, I'm going to show him some gentle discipline with a claw hand on his neck or going over to him and using a couple fingers to poke at his shoulder or hip to snap him out of his out-of-control state but usually that method is only for a pretty wild dog early on in training as he's focusing in on another animal or growling, baring teeth IF just standing/sitting in front of him and raising a finger and telling him to "watch me" doesn't have any effect. Usually that nanny stance works well to get a dog focusing off another dog or cat - but not always!

I watch momma dogs treat their pups who are hanging onto another puppy's ear like this - they stand and stare at the puppies at first, warning the offender - and if that doesn't work, they go over and bump the little biter on the shoulder/hip/ribs or put their mouths over the pup's neck and let the recalcitrant pup know he's crossing a boundary that is not acceptable in their family. But she doesn't startle the offending puppy or douse him in the nearest puddle of water or bark him out or use any startle techniques at all - she uses her attitude, a warning stance, then walk over, a touch and a stern look out of the eye - but there's love back there, too, in that stern eye.

Dogs out-of-control or trying to take control of a situation don't mind some discipline as long as it's gentle, natural and fairly quiet, which keeps the fear-response or nerves from entering into the issue. I don't want to start a response in a dog that rushes adrenaline into its system, such as shocking things like water, loud pennies, scent sprays in the face and e-collars are want to do. I want training to be calm and matter of fact, where I'm always looked at as the one in control, quiet, loving and gentle like their momma was - showing them the way and correcting or disciplining with quiet hands when they go ballistic. Dogs will trust you and do just about anything for you when you train them that way and make their obedience fun and gentle and positive, kind of like their momma trained them or an alpha will train them in the wild or feral situation.

Obedience training that keeps it short, fun, positive, rewarding and a game for the dog will cause him to associate training and learning to do what the trainer says with good things and even when he doesn't want to, if the trainer tells him "No" or "uh oh", he will stop because he's conditioned to the good things that are associated with that trainer and he knows no fear or unpleasant situation has ever happened between the two of them. That total trust and positive conditioning will find you with a dog that loves to do what you say 98 - 99% of the time.

But as I always say, I don't recommend using the hand claw technique, the touching etc. with big powerful or midsize biting dogs. To me, that situation requires the abilities of a person with a long history of dealing with that type of situation and is prepared and ready to deal with all possibilities.