How to punish a dog

Dog lying at home

Does your dog misbehave and do you think that by punishing him you will be able to solve it? Punishment is a basic element for education that we must know how to employ so that it works and does not become counterproductive.

Punishing your dog should always be an educational act so that he understands that what he has done cannot be repeated. Keep in mind what to use Violence to punish him can be a step backwards and all you do is make him aggressive and distrustful. Next, I explain what to do when your dog misbehaves, when to apply punishment and how to carry it out: 

When to punish your dog?

The penalty should be done immediately after the dog has done something inappropriate, never after a while, since I would not understand what is the reason for your anger. Or what is even worse: your furry could associate the punishment to something that he has done before and that is not necessarily bad.

Punishing your dog at the wrong time will only cause, over time, I am afraid and mistrust you. Let's take an example: imagine that he pees in your bed when you are not there and you do not see him for many hours. In that case, it is best to assume that it is late and that using punishment as a tool is no longer effective. Wash the sheets, change the mattress and next time be more careful not to leave any doors open if you are not inside. The formula is clear: the punishment must be immediate and very little recurrent.

How to apply a punishment?

Positive training helps dogs

The vast majority of owners do not know how to properly punish their dogs. Here are some guidelines that experts in animal behavior recommend following so that punishments are effective, clear and precise.

You must bear in mind, first of all, that if the punishments are very constant, your dog will get used to them and they will stop working. Education should be premeditated, never impulsive and irrational. Try to calm yourself if he repeats the same thing repeatedly, and thinks that doing mischief is also part of his nature, or is it that you never did it? You are a family, and your furry, on some occasions, will also do something out of place, but compare that with all the good it gives you.

Do not think that by punishing your dog too much you will earn his respect, you will only earn your fear. Never hit a dog, never spray him with water, and never use anything that might scare him, like canes or bars made of newspaper. Needless to say Spike collars or electric collars are tools of torture, and not of education.

Be an actor

The best punishment is to play a character who disagrees with what just happened, even if it sounds weird. For your dog to react to his mistake, the most effective mechanism is to exaggerate your reaction a bit right after they make the mistake, and most importantly, temporarily deprive him of something that he likes and that he was using at the time.

Let's take an example: Imagine that your dog was playing ball with you and that to get it out of your hand, it bites you. What should you do? Very simple: Make a loud sound, take the toy away and do not play with it again for a few hours. What's more, don't look at him, don't smile, don't do anything, just walk away and leave him alone, without his toy, so that he understands that this bad attitude has made him lose something he liked.

Punishments must be free from any kind of cruelty. Although sometimes, faced with the frustration that it causes you to see that that vase or sofa that you liked so much has ended up shattered, you would give it a whip on the ass, keep in mind that it is not the best option, because you will end up having regrets, because your dog will be very scared, and because violence, no matter how small, only generates violence. Remember that dogs break things, everyone does and will, your responsibility is to assume that this will surely happen, and that when it happens, it is best to use your voice, not your hands.

Create a keyword

Using your voice is good, but never say a long sentence, such as: Did you realize that this thing you just did is terrible? ' Obviously, your dog is not going to understand. Make up a word and use it only at times when you must apply the punishment. Try to keep them short and easy to say them out loud, like 'Ah', 'Eh', 'No', 'What', 'Ei', etc.

Don't repeat it many times. Just say out loud once, after he's done something wrong, and point your finger at him so he knows you're saying it to him. Obviously, do not get carried away by its charms and benefits: dogs are tender, sweet, and when they find out that they have done something wrong, they put on a face that makes us feel tender. It is important that after saying the word you have chosen you do not laugh or cuddle. Doing something like that will be contradictory and confusing for him, right? Resist and eat him with kisses a few hours later.

Turn your back

When your dog gets heavy, bites your hand, or pulls on your clothing, turn your back on him. With this you are transmitting, although it may not seem like it, a lot of information: he won't get your attention if he keeps doing the same. Go somewhere else, and don't come back to him for a few minutes.

Leave it for just a few minutes in a space where it doesn't have visual access to you or what it wants. Never enclose it in small spaces where you may feel locked in or suffocated, this could increase your anxiety and make the punishment applied extremely counterproductive. Remember that by acting quickly and appropriately in the face of bad behavior, you are helping him and yourself.

Dogs are understanding. Often, with direct and concise words and gestures, and negative punishments: temporarily withdraw things that he likes, enough. Ignoring the behavior is also an effective method, as for example, if when you get home he jumps a lot on you and gets hysterical, he passes him olympically so that he sees that this is not the way to receive you. The only thing that we should never ignore is aggressive, chronic or unpleasant behavior, which may cause inconvenience to you or other people.

Reinforce positive attitude

Don't just react when he does something wrong. Reinforcing positive attitudes or behaviors is infinitely more effective than applying any of the punishments I have described above.. Give them small rewards (you can get them here) when he does something that is very good: like peeing or pooping in the street the first few times, or simply when he has listened to you in something you have asked him to do. Is there anything more beautiful than seeing your dog happy and content to know that what he has done is right?

Don't forget either send him to write his mischief 100 times on a piece of paper, especially if your homework has eaten away:

punishment-in-dogs

Needless to say, that If your dog is very aggressive with you or with others, it is best to contact an expert so that it works with him duly and gradually. These cases are more complex, and although they do not need to be resolved with violence either, they often require the time and knowledge that the vast majority of owners do not have.

What to do when a dog misbehaves?

The first and most important thing is breathe easy and be patient. A dog is not a human, so words are of little use when said quickly, and less in an angry tone. You must think about why he has misbehaved, and then act. For example, let's know what to do in some situations:

How to punish a dog when he urinates?

Nobody likes to come home and find urine and / or feces around the house, but why is your dog doing that? It is possible that he does not go out enough for walks, or that he is still a puppy and therefore still has those "accidents".

What steps to take? Well let's see. If you have caught your dog relieving himself in the house, then say a firm and clear "NO", but without yelling at him. From there, start taking him out more times, or teach him to do his things on a tray.

How to teach my dog ​​to use the litter tray or pad?

The ideal is to start when it is a puppy, although as an adult it will also learn it, only it will take a little longer. Basically what you have to do is take him to where you have the tray or the soaker as soon as you see that he is about to relieve himself, and place it inside.

To help you understand what you want, it helps to take some urine or stool sample and place it inside the tray or in the soaker. If you don't have underpads, you can get them here

How to punish a dog when it runs away?

Well-groomed dogs don't usually run away

A dog that escapes is usually an animal that does not usually do all the exercise it should, that does not feel comfortable in the house where it lives, or that has gone out in search of some possible prey (perhaps a bird). It is very, very important to try to take him out for a walk several times a dayas well as playing with him to keep him entertained and entertained. In addition, yelling and tensions in the home should be avoided.

What to do then? Firstly you have to ask yourself if the animal is receiving the necessary care. It is not enough to give them water, food and a roof to protect themselves from the cold. A dog needs to live in and with a family, who loves and respects him, and genuinely cares for his well-being. If this is true, then you do not have to do anything except put a network so that it cannot go out.

But if the screaming and tension are constant at home, it is best to ask for help.

How to punish a dog when it fights?

Dogs are peaceful animals by nature, but sometimes insecurity and / or fear causes them to react aggressively. If this has happened to your friend, calm down. It's hard, but trust me, it's for the best. You have to be very patient, and especially in those situations, because if the furry notices your nervousness, he will feel even more tense and the situation will become more complicated..

Therefore, put your dog on a leash and get him away from there as soon as possible. If you can't stop him, ask someone to take him by the collar (better to wear a harness) and put the leash on him. Then walk away, and when you're in a secluded area, throw bits of dog treats on the ground. This will help you relax.

Don't worry: if a minimum of two minutes has passed between the end of the fight and the moment you give him the treats, he will not associate them. Anyway, It is preferable to consult with a dog trainer who works positively to find out why your dog behaves like this and to tell you what to do so that it becomes a calmer and happier animal.

My puppy reveals himself, what do I do?

Puppies are very rebellious

Puppies are rebels in and of themselves. It is normal for them to bite and even pounce on you. But it is your responsibility to teach them that this is not okay, and again, with patience. Without patience nothing will be achieved. To teach them that biting a human is wrong for example, you have to do the following:

  1. If your hand has been bitten, don't move it. Soon he will release them.
  2. Once you've gotten her back, leave them alone and ignore them until she relaxes.
  3. When you listen to him again, grab a toy and play with him (and your puppies).

Do not make sudden movements. If you do them, you will imply that this is fine, and they will do it with you, with the consequent risk that they will harm you.

My dog ​​misbehaves when I'm not around, why?

There are several possible reasons: you are bored and / or sad, or you have separation anxiety. In any case, what you have to do is try to burn energy before leaving, either at home playing with him for a long time, or taking him out for a walk or jog outside. Also, when there are about 10 minutes left before you leave, don't say anything to him. In this way, you will help him to be calmer.

If it is a dog with a problem of separation anxiety and this is serious; That is, if when you get home you have found broken furniture or things bitten, do not hesitate to consult a professional.

We hope it has been useful to you.


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  1.   Silvia said

    I have a Bichon Frize. And it doesn't obey me. He does his Needs everywhere. Already having his place with his food and newspapers. But he prefers the parquet floor. I keep cleaning. And it doesn't obey me. What I do?. I'm very tired. He only plays against my No. Y at Night. It makes whimpers. It does not let me sleep.

    1.    Omar higueras said

      Hello Silvia,

      How old is your dog? Depending on his age, teaching him to relieve himself outside will be easier or less. In any case, it is not easy and requires a lot of effort, patience and responsibility.

      I suggest that every time you take him out and pee or poop, congratulate him and pet him so that he sees that this is where he has to do it. In this case, you will have to commit to removing it regularly, two or three times a day. Don't expect him to learn it in a day, sometimes it takes months. But with patience and responsibility, you will succeed.

      Another option is that you use the newspaper to do it there. The process is simple: every time you see that he wants to urinate or tummy, take him to the newspaper and when he does it there you congratulate him. You will have to be very attentive and observe the moment when you feel like acting quickly.

      I suggest you leave a little pee in the area, so that he smells it and knows that this is the place where he has to do it. Your dog probably does it all over the house because it smells old pee, no matter how much you have cleaned it. If you see him pee where he doesn't touch, say 'NO' and point your finger at him, instead, when he does it where he touches, say 'VERY GOOD' and gently caress him. I assure you that in time he will understand the difference.

      Finally, if your dog snores, it does not let you sleep and this interferes with the quality of your rest, I suggest that you simply do not sleep with him.

      Greetings, patience, and any questions you have, do not hesitate to tell us!

  2.   Cristina said

    Hello, I have a puppy that has just been a year old, an American standford, before we always had him inside the house, but he began to destroy everything, the mattress, his bed, sheets ... we bought him a hard toy with food inside (Kong) to try to keep him entertained while we were gone but he still got tired of the toy or ate the food inside and kept breaking things. We opted to leave him in the yard, with his house and toys, but even so he has broken his house, he even opens a small door where there are materials from the house. Every time he enters, I take him to the same door, I show him what he has bitten, I yell at him that it's not wrong, he throws himself on his back, he stays still with a face of sorrow, and I "punish" him by tying him and a while later I release him but to the days or even that same afternoon something breaks again. How can I do to educate you? It is a good dog, very sociable with people although a bit rough, it obeys giving its legs, sitting down, lying down, but there is no way it can stop breaking things. I need help please!

  3.   Cecilia said

    Hello Cristina, my dog ​​was in the same situation, he came to break my sofa, and then eat his poop.
    A very successful vet told me I needed exercise.
    And if he did not have time to take him for a walk every day, he could do it at home, on a treadmill, or even throwing a ball, at specific times, and the truth is, if he had a stressed dog, and if you do Running or walking means that it is not enough for you, and you need more exercise.

    1.    The Luis said

      Hello cecilia. My dog ​​did that too. And we sleep it. I hope this advice helps you. Kisses, Laura

  4.   nadia said

    My dog ​​is 7 months old and every time we leave home and come back we find broken shoes or clothes, it is quite stressful for him to do that because when he knows that I will go to the place where he caused that, he leaves, I don't know what to do sometimes my father punishes him but until now keeps doing it ...

  5.   Rober said

    Hello, my girlfriend and I have a French bulldog and what happens is that sometimes he gets aggressive when one of the house leaves, or sometimes when my girlfriend and I are playing he gets aggressive with me and we do not know what is wrong with him or what to do with that attitude, I would appreciate if you would help me with the subject, greetings and thanks

  6.   Alex said

    Thank you very much, I have learned something very important. What is how to educate and take care of your dog. Well, it is very useful before I did wrong things that I regret, but this will help me do what is best for the dogs.

  7.   Paulina said

    Hello! I have two grown dogs, Jacob and Chesnut. Chesnut does not allow Jacob to eat, drink or be comfortable. He is very jealous of him and always causes a fight. Jacob is very afraid of him and prefers to be patient and do nothing in order not to cause problems. I do not know what to do ??? I always punish Chesnut by leaving him alone or ignoring him but then he takes it out on Jacob.