[Mayzoo]

I use about 80-85% positive training. I use about 10-15%% harsh tone corrections when needed. And for the severe, repeated issues that he rarely does such as puppy style biting/scratching my kiddos hands or attempting to get at human foods (he knows better for both issues but gets excited), I use verbal correction with firm but gentle pats on the bottom and crating. Mario was beaten/abused before we got him, so I never want to hurt him, but I do want to convey my severe displeasure with behaviours that can harm him or others. Even play biting on my daughter's hands affects their relationship and ability to work as a team together, so it is not allowed, period. I suspect with time and maturity, this will no longer be an issue at all, but Mario is still very young (maybe 15-18 mo old).

Not correcting certain behaviours can result in a dog's death from more than euthanasia such as digging in the trash, eating off the table, running off and not coming back to recall, fighting with other dogs, uncontrolled jumping out of the car in parking lots, etc......

Adopting a dog is a responsibility and a commitment. We are taking on the responsibility of another life and we are committed to doing everything we should do to protect that life and make it the best we can make it. Just like with a child, we are accepting responsibility for their safety and their happiness. Their happiness is not more important than their safety, nor is their safety more important than their happiness.

When we got Mario, we completely revamped a piece of furniture to enclose our trash can so he has no chance to get to it. It took me almost two days to finish the project and included cutting up and rebuilding the piece then sanding and repainting it. I did not want to attempt training digging in our trash can out of Mario, since a single slip up on that training could result in his death, so I did the next best responsible thing and made it never accessible to him. I did this before he ever got into the trash can to begin with. For all I know, he may have never tried, but also he may have tried once and died.