New puppy owner...discipline question
 

My husband & I say, "NO" very firmly when we catch Rocky in the action of doing something bad. Sometimes, he'll stop when we say it, wait a few seconds & go back at it again.....so then we'll say it a little louder, till he gets the point, but nothing too crazy.
My question is this. I have done some research online about the best way to discipline a new puppy. They said that while you say no, you are supposed to tap firmly on their head......is this true? I can't imagine lifting a finger to my puppy.....I don't want to hurt him or make him see me as a monster. What is the best way to discipline a Yorkie puppy when he won't stop nibbling or tries to go after the wires in our living room???

Thanks....didn't think it was right, but wasn't sure...this is my first puppy, so I'm still learning....thank you so much!

Hi, We tried puppy school at our local pet store to learn what to do. I'm no expert but it worked for us. She's a puppy, she needs toys or something to do to burn off her energy. When she did something wrong we would scold her, usually with normal voice but at a lower octave saying "bad girl". She knew she did wrong and looked like she understood me. I would pull out a toy and offer it to her and when she would play with me with the toy instead of the phone wires I would keep telling her "good girl". She loves to play tug -a - war and after a 1/2 hour of that she's tired out and curls up next to me and takes a nap. We got her to shake hands at 7 months old, it took a week of intense work and it was like watching Helen Keller understand and put 2 & 2 together but when she did it right I made such a big deal of it and gave her a treat. Now she will shake hands whenever I ask! Also remember....she's little and young, what you wouldn't leave around for a 2 year old child you don't leave around for our furbabies, they find everything! Enjoy your little one and have fun!

This worked for me!
Something else I do when he has something he shouldn't (sock, wrapper, etc) I have a treat cup that I shake to get his attention and trade him a treat for the item - take the item with one hand and offer with the other.

If I'm sweeping in the kitchen or, he's at the garbage bin, or something like that, I yell at the object! 'Bad dust!' or 'Bad garbage!' or 'Bad whatever' I don't look at him, and I point at the thing. He then avoids it like the plague. Usually I don't have to do it more than once.

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the input!!!

I don't think you should ever hit them, even a tap to the head. I guess with some dogs they think you have to do that to get their attention, but most will give you the attention without hitting. Many people have found success using an aversive noise, a clap will do it with a young puppy. For an older puppy, if you put some pennies in a can or a "tin" and shake it, this sound is usually enough to get their attention. Always say the word "no" first, and shake the can. The word "no" becomes associated with something bad, and has more meaning. Don't overuse the word either; pick your battles. I didn't really need to use the pennies in the can until Joey was older, 6 months or so, and this is very effective in reducing barking.

For wires, I would try to hide them, it could be dangerous. Make sure they have plenty of good things to chew on.

I have to disagree with the whole hitting thing. Don't get me wrong I don't beat my dogs, nor do I condon hitting hard. If Lexi (or any of the other dogs for that matter) do something really wrong, they get a smack on the butt.

When mine would bite on me I would say no bite and put a toy in their mouth. Now when they are doing something I dont want them to do I clap my hands and that gets their attention. For barking I use pennies in a can

If you do more reading about this, you might change your mind. Injures from butt smacking are not uncommon, dogs really don't have a butt like humans, no real padding, and even small "pats" can turn into spinal injuries. If you are hitting because you think it's effective punishment, you're wrong here too. Dogs associate you with the hitting, and the behavior will sometime stop when you are around, but in your absence, the behavior will occur. Dogs who have been hit also have been shown to have more aggression problems and are fearful of their owners. There are much better ways to control behavior than corporal punishment.

Nancy, I can see how people can take smacking too far, but I can assure you I'm doing none of my dogs harm by the way I discipline.

I'm glad to hear that, and it just that when someone "recommends" a method, they really need to be sure of all the repercussions of the method.

Well... just as with human children. There are people who feel that you should never lay a hand on your child and those that feel you should... IMO..do what ever is best for you and yours :)

Please remember that dogs aren't built like human children, of course you are all free to discipline anyway you see fit, I think it's important to understand the risks you take with any punishment. Just as important, experiment after experiment shows it's not effective. Behaviorists don't say this because they "love the dogs", and don't want to see them hurt, they do clinical trials, and look for what's effective, and there is no question about it, corporal punishment is probably the worse method you can choose. Not only is it not effective, in reducing bad behavior, it has terrible side effects. So you have several things going, possible risk of injury to spine, and it's not as effective as other methods including noise aversion. That coupled with the fact that dogs become much more likely to become aggressive after being hit by their owner, it makes me wonder why people still insist upon doing it. While there may be no one "best" way of disciplining a dog, they is one "worse" way. You never want your dog afraid of you.

So far I've had relatively decent results with a quiet but lower-pitched and disappointed sounding "NO" and then a distraction with a cool chew toy like a bully stick. They smell a little gross, but I keep one non-chewed side down into my pocket like all the time for this reason. The second chewing commences with the bully stick instead of the bad object, I praise the crap out of my boy: "oooooo it's so delicious oooooo you just love it so much oooooo you're such a good boy." I've started noticing now that when he just chooses on his own to chew on a bully stick, he looks up at me like, "aren't I doing good mommy?" Hahaha, and we've only had him a little less than two weeks. :-)

Lauren & Nikko

hey thanks, this was a very good thread to read with my first yorkie puppy

Chiming In About "Hitting"!
 

I truly think the only thing physical discipline accomplishes with a dog is aggression. (I'm no expert either!) Just watch your dog's body language and I think you can prove my theory. Puppy rearing - just like child raising is a long and often frustrating process. I tried socialization class - which was great when I first brought Bennett home. I tried Petco training - which was a joke. Now - Bennett is enrolled in boarding school/boot camp for training. Sometimes - you have to leave it up to the experts! I owned a Yorkie (now - that is never/ever possible!!) 30 years ago with no problems at all! Fit right in to the family - never a problem. Bennett was born with a love for life that is a bit overwhelming - but I surely don't want to squash that special qualify. But - just as children - dogs need limits. Keep us posted on your progress!

thank you, and yes i know the problems with new puppies, and that they are very differnt, this little one is a little doll, just having the puppy rough play issues right now, but Zoe seems to be trying to do her best for me, so i will continue with her training as best i know how, and i am sure with help from the experience of others here, we will be ok, have a great day

You're gonna get MUCH better results with positive training rather than negative training
Just correcting him and telling him no ... no matter how loud or sternly you say it isn't going to do much
in fact he's going to think... HEY Mom makes noise and does this funny jumping up thing when I do this :aimeeyork
Maybe I oughta do it some more

Instead calmly say no
and when he does what you want him to .... pet him and praise him and tell him what a good boy he is :p

Consistent
 

If you say that word NO .... twice


You've lost the battle
Once and correct ..... Dogs don't have conversations with their masters

Thanks for this thread! It's really helping out with the way I discipline Baxter.

I never hit Baxter. I agree that that will only cause aggression and I don't want to teach him bad things. The only trouble I'm having right now is him biting my fingers, ears, and hair. He likes to lay on my pillow in the bed, and chew on my hair. I don't mind him biting my hair, but then he'll find my ear and start nibbling at it. Sometimes he bites it too hard and that's when I get mad.

I guess I should not let him do any of this, and that's what I've been doing lately. If he starts biting my fingers I say 'No Biting' and then get him a chew toy. It seems to be working, but occasionally he will revert back to biting my fingers. Any suggestions or input?

I did what you are doing with Joey, and since they are teething he continued to occationally bite. Those little puppy teeth are sharp, and I read that you should just take your hand and push it further into their mouth and say "no." You are trying to acomplish a slight gag reflex. This was all it took, he never bit again.

discipline and puppies
 

When I first got my little yorkie girl, "Sophie" I didn't know alot; however, I did know that I wanted a calm , patient , approach. I was 62 yrs old when I got her and she is now 3 yrs old and comes to work with me, travels with me and there are no disicpline problems.

The first thing I did was hire a personal trainer to come out and train me. I learned so much. Then, I read " Cesar's Way" by Cesar Millan and bought his CD's and watched his show. I learned that all problems were caused by me not teaching the dog what I wanted. Everything that I learned from the Dog Whisperer worked! I didn't need language, I needed to meet her needs as an animal and that meant two to three walks a day, initially getting a comfy crate/house ( I use it at work, it is open and she goes in by herself) feeding regularly, and teaching her by association and with much patience what I wanted her to do . After hundreds of hours and rarely raising my voice, just using praise, she will go "pee Pee potty" on cue and "Poopy potty" on cue, she will walk without a leash in a heel and will be off heal when I say, "ok", she will not come to me or anyone to play with toys at work, playing is when we get home, she sits quietly in her car seat which enables her to see out of the window ( not the safest). She does not do yappy barking, when she started barking at things outside, I would get up, go to her and praise her for letting me know, then sit down. Now she runs to me when there is an animal outside or a person. She is not allowed to be aggressive with the cats and this was done with a constant interfering of her space, not yelling or ever hitting her. She will also, off leash, not go after squirrels, groundhogs or anything else unless I say. She has a signal that I use with my hand that means it's ok to play with my hand and nip, then it's "all done." and another signal. They are so smart. One last thing ....when I eat, she does not come near me because she is not allowed to. I have never fed her from my plate ( one exception means months of undoing) When I finish my last bite , she comes running and sits to hear me sa y it's ok to come up.

so.....exercise, teaching, affection. Watch tone of voice, they don't understand English or German or Chinese but they do understand tone. When I leave the house, I tell her I will be back and wait, when I get back, she used to be so excited because I was using an excited voice. Now, I just say, "good wait." This dog is the joy of my life and it has been very painful to acknowledge that my ineptness was the cause , at times, of her not learning. Sorry to go on and on. Good luck!

this is amazing the things you get her to do, and not do, i know training is the key, but the correct trainning is also very improtant, you have done a wonderful job,

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Great post!

any helpful hints for those oif us that no personal trainers near by??

The biting of your hair isn't such a good idea
Dogs don't know where you end and your hair begins
to them it's you because it smells like you
I have puppies ... so I know you have to deal with a certain amount of mouthing
They get hyper and will start to bite too ahrd sometimes
But if they bite too hard just go AH! ... and pull you hands away
and I say NO BITE! and put my palms into the air
and thats the end of the game
when they bite you .... thats when the game ends
they'll get the idea y y

thank you, very good info, that will be very helpful

I agree completely..i feel there is NEVER a reason to hit a dog. All the experts will tell you that positive reward is a much better way to train dogs.
i seem to have mentioned Jan Fennel a lot lately, but her book and DVD called 'the dog listener' is the only training book i have needed. My first rescue dog was very disturbed after a life of beatings. After following Jans methods, my little dogs life was transformed.