That is a bit of a conundrum, but I wouldn't want to 'train in' an unwanted behavior while trying to 'out train' an unwanted behavior either.
I tried the 'spray bottle correction' very briefly once...a long time ago...on kitties. The 'success' was almost instaneous, however, what I 'successfully' trained them to do was freeze/crouch and/or run in fear of the spray bottle, or any bottle resembling it. After a day or two...meaning less than a half-dozen harmless, misty spritzes...I trashed the idea completely. I had much better luck with them with subtle corrections...'gushing' over them when 'good' and nearly no response except for very subtle repetitive 'corrections'...like removing them from places they were not allowed...which worked much better and without making them 'neurotic' and fearful in the process.
My personal preference to training is subtle correction by simple repetition...me, doing the same things over and over with/to them, including using the same words in every instance, every time I want them to do something, with distractions and diversions for 'exciting nuisances' etc. I find that passive training works very well with lots of animals. I have done very active training, too, but while not all seem to respond well to active training, it seems to me that all I have trained responded very well and long term to passive (consistently repetitive) training.
I think, instead of a spray bottle, I would want some 'positive distraction' (food/treat, squeaky toy, etc.) to pull attention TO me and AWAY from other dogs. He might do better if he thinks "reward" when he sees another dog.
Good luck. I hope the issue can be quickly resolved. |