Features of psychology
Since ancient times, dogs have been considered pack animals that are owner-oriented. Animals quickly socialize and try to please humans in everything. They have a fairly simple psyche, incapable of complex thinking processes. But dogs understand cause and effect relationships very well. This is what is considered the basis of training and proper education. These pets are not capable of revenge, but they remember well a person’s attitude towards them. Cruelty to animals and aggression towards them have a negative impact on the psyche of animals, they become fearful, and deviant behavior predominates.
Trained and educated dogs
The first month of living in a house is considered the most important. It is at this time that the issue of dominance, defining the boundaries of permissiveness, and the role of the leader is resolved. But after a year, the animal will already get used to the requirements of the owner, family and will become a reliable friend and protector.
Note! Dogs can interpret many nonverbal and verbal cues from humans.
Dog packs
Should you punish your dog for bad behavior?
Dogs have always been guided by the behavior of their owner. These are pets that go through a period of socialization very quickly. They are loyal to their owners and always strive to please them. The peculiarity of the psyche of dogs is that they cannot think in complex structures. But at the same time, they are good at capturing cause-and-effect relationships. In this regard, the basis of competent education is training.
Important! Dogs have no sense of revenge. But the cruelty shown to them by the owner leaves a serious imprint on the psyche of the animals. Such pets become fearful, they show pronounced apathy towards everything.
Features of pet psychology
The most important period for establishing a relationship between a dog and its owner is the first month that the pet is in the house. At this time, issues of dominance will be resolved and the boundaries of what is permitted for the dog will be determined. Gradually, the animal completely gets used to the owner’s requirements.
Small puppies are better trained than adult pets
Why rewards work better than punishment
How to stop your dog from pulling on the leash while walking
How to punish a dog so that it does not harm, but for good? Beating or cruelty to an animal is a useless measure of influence in the training process, in contrast to encouraging or rewarding the animal.
The carrot method has a number of advantages:
- The dog sees how to behave correctly through understanding what a person likes and what he does not approve of. For a good deed, the pet receives a treat or a stroke, for bad behavior - ignoring.
- The animal understands that for certain actions it gets tasty food, so it will repeat them again and again.
Dogs need praise and encouragement; it is with this approach that they become more disciplined, while remaining kind and affectionate.
How to punish a dog
Pets are great at picking up edifying intonations. By a stern voice, the dog realizes the owner’s dissatisfaction and, unlike cats, can see the relationship between bad behavior and punishment.
If a verbal warning turns out to be ineffective, you can move on to symbolic punishment:
- A light slap of a rolled up newspaper. Such cotton does not cause pain, but it can be used to express dissatisfaction with the animal’s behavior.
- Pouring with warm water. If your four-legged friend behaves inappropriately, you need to splash water on him or spray him with a spray bottle.
The listed measures will be applied for minor offenses. If a dog bites a person, harsher penalties should be used.
Forceful impact does not involve blows to the face
Methods of punishment for a bite
If an adult animal has caused physical harm to a person, the pet’s behavior should be corrected. The best option would be to contact a qualified dog handler. If you are bitten by a puppy, you can correct the behavioral problem at home.
Initially, you need to establish the triggering factor. In most cases, a dog communicates its dominance through a bite.
The most effective way to influence is through behavior:
- Do not let your pet go outside for a short time.
- Use verbal threats.
- Force commands to be executed.
- Isolate from any communication with family members.
The most effective is point 3. You should give the puppy one of the simple commands, for example sit, and reward him after completing it. This will give the owner the opportunity to demonstrate a leadership position. The pet, in turn, realizes the benefits of following the rules of good behavior.
From an early age, it is necessary to prohibit stealing food from the table
It is advisable to prevent attacks of aggression. To do this, the dog must learn a number of basic rules of behavior:
- Don't take food from the table.
- Do not take the owner's place.
- Don't lie on the couch.
- Always follow commands.
- Listen while walking.
Having accustomed your puppy to these simple dogmas, you will not have to resort to corporal punishment in the future.
By paying due attention to raising a puppy, there will be no need to punish an adult dog.
Punishment for aggression
Hostile behavior by a dog should be nipped in the bud. Otherwise, the pet will get out of control and begin to injure others.
Approximately 65% of people bitten by canids are children or elderly.
Table 4. Types of aggressive behavior and methods of neutralizing them
| Type of aggression | Description | Method of influence |
| Domination | Occurs mainly in males. Expressed through grins and growls. It gets worse when looking at the animal for a long time. | Make your pet follow the established rules. The following actions are not recommended:
|
| Mischievous Hostility | Initially it looks like innocent biting and growling. However, over time, the animal loses control of itself and can cause pain. |
|
| Food | Displaying threatening behavior while eating. This instinct is practically uncorrectable. |
|
| Territorial | Quite typical behavior for canids. Manifests itself in the form of barking when strangers or animals appear. |
|
| Possessive. | This behavioral failure is observed in every fourth pet already at 13 weeks of life. It is expressed in the manifestation of hostility when trying to take any object from a four-legged friend. | It must be shown that the things in the house do not belong to the dog. A light cotton tap with newspaper will be appropriate in this situation. |
| Maternal | The mother's innate instinct can push the female to demonstrate aggression in order to protect the puppies. | Care from the owners will help the animal feel in its comfort zone. |
| Predatory | One of the most dangerous forms of aggression. It is expressed through attacks on small children, animals or passing cars. | Undergoing training from an experienced dog handler. |
To suppress hostility, do not hit the dog
How to punish a puppy
Punitive measures are not applied to children under 5 months of age. The main task of the owner during this period is to provide the puppy with good living conditions and teach the basic rules of behavior. The maximum permissible forceful impacts are considered to be clapping between the ears, splashing with water and pulling on the leash.
Spray water will help correct behavior
Methods of punishing a pet
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The most powerful tool for correcting an animal’s behavior is timely punishment. How to punish a dog? Correct punishment allows you to get rid of a number of behavior problems and prevent their development in the future.
Note! Representatives of different breeds have different attitudes towards this or that type of punishment. For example, German Shepherds and Labradors require more supervision than Huskies or Toy Terriers.
Punishing an errant pet
Acceptable Methods
How to properly punish a dog? The most common and humane methods of training include reprimand. How to scold a dog if it ruins something in the apartment, chews shoes, or goes to the toilet in the wrong place? You should not scream, the animal may perceive this as aggression and begin to defend itself: growl or even try to bite the offender. The owner must behave calmly and explain to the dog step by step:
- Calling your pet to you by name should be done in a stern voice and with a serious facial expression.
- Look the dog in the eyes, leaning forward a little.
- Explain to the animal in a serious tone that such behavior is unacceptable.
- You should not wave your arms.
The dog is deprived of walks and communication for a couple of days if the offense is serious. If this is just a small prank, then the punishment should not exceed a couple of hours. You should not respond to the animal’s attempts to make peace at this time, but after the allotted time you can forgive.
Physical punishment in the form of a spank is possible only if the dog does not respond to a verbal remark. Under no circumstances should you hit an animal. Constant beating can turn an active and healthy dog into a nervous, fearful animal, which, as soon as it sees its owner, hides under the table and begins to whine. He may start to bite if someone wants to pet him.
If an animal, while walking on the street, does not respond to commands, rushes at passers-by, neighbors, trying to bite them, ignores comments and behaves aggressively towards elderly family members and children, tears the upholstery of the sofa, chews slippers, ignoring comments, in this case physical punishment cannot be avoided.
Note! The dog can growl at the owner when he reprimands him for an offense, and behaves in the house like a leader. In this case, you need to take the animal by the neck and press it to the floor. This will show who is boss.
If the dog does not obey, you can spray it in the face with a spray bottle or pour a glass of water on the angry pet. Dogs don't particularly like contact with water.
How to properly punish a puppy
How to properly punish a puppy? After the owner has reprimanded the puppy, you should not react to his attempts to make peace; you should definitely give the puppy time to realize the cause-and-effect relationship of his behavior.
Prohibited Methods
Prohibited methods of punishment include:
- screams;
- hunger. If you deprive an animal of food, it will become even more offended by the owner and continue to ignore his demands;
- beating;
- expulsion from home;
- use of special means: collars with spikes, stun guns;
- drug therapy.
Some owners, after several unsuccessful attempts at training, decide to poison or euthanize the animal.
Note! In a situation where the pet froze in a submissive pose - lowered its head with its ears flattened, turned over on its back - then the owner must stop the punishment. This pose shows that the animal submits and admits its guilt.
Pose of a dog realizing its guilt
How to properly punish a dog
Knowing the right ways to scold a dog for bad behavior, you can correctly correct its behavior. This allows you to eliminate a number of problems that arise against the background of incorrect upbringing. When choosing methods of punishment, you need to focus on the characteristics of the breed. Not all dogs respond the same way to this type of training.
Allowed Methods
There are ways to punish a dog for disobedience that are legal and humane. You should not raise your voice at your pet, even if it chews your shoes or damages the furniture in the apartment. The owner must remain calm. For the dog to understand everything, you need to explain everything to him sequentially:
- Call your pet in a stern voice. The expression on the owner's face remains serious.
- Looking the dog in the eye, explain why its action is bad. You cannot swing your arms at the same time.
- If the behavior is very bad, you can deprive the dog of sweets for several days. It is recommended to ignore her for several hours and not respond to attempts to reach a truce.
- Spanking or any other type of physical punishment should only be used as a last resort if the pet does not respond to words.
Note! You absolutely cannot be an animal. This will lead to the fact that even the most sociable and active dog will become lethargic and timid. Often such pets immediately hide at the sight of their owner and whine. When you try to pet them, they may start to bite.
You need to punish a dog calmly, without raising your voice or intimidating the animal.
What to do under no circumstances
Along with the permitted techniques, there are ways to avoid scolding a puppy for bad behavior. Prohibited methods include:
- Screaming, display of aggression.
- Hunger. If a pet is deprived of food, it will take offense at its owner and continue to disobey his commands.
- Use of strict collars with spikes and stun guns.
You can't kick your dog out of the house. All these actions will lead to serious disturbances in the animal’s psyche. He will be afraid of the owner, and due to constant panic and feelings of anxiety, the pet will not be able to adequately perceive commands and understand what they want from him.
You can't hit your pet
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The use of physical violence during the training process can seriously harm the relationship between dog and owner. The animal may begin to experience a constant feeling of fear and insecurity, will distance itself from the owner, will not want to contact him, and will behave aggressively. By beating a dog, a person does not solve the problem, but only creates a number of new ones. An animal will not behave better because it was hit. It might run away completely.
How can you punish?
When punishing a dog for disobedience, you cannot use a leash, collar or other things. Even if you punish your pet with one of these items once, it may make him reluctant to use them further. A regular newspaper will work very effectively.
The slap of rolled paper is completely painless, but is accompanied by an unpleasant noise. And in combination with a menacing voice, this measure will become a truly serious punishment. If the situation develops in such a way that it is impossible to do without physical force, then you can lightly spank the dog with your palm. At the same time, it is important that she does not see the owner’s hands in action, and, of course, she should not swing at the dog. Otherwise, she will begin to be afraid of you, and the swing of any person will provoke aggression and attack.
Don't know how to punish your dog? Under no circumstances should you hit or kick an animal. Firstly, this is absolutely inhumane, and secondly, it can cause a negative attitude towards the owner and his shoes. It will be very difficult to walk next to such an animal, since she will expect a trick from your feet. It is also unacceptable to kick a pet in the stomach, hit it on the head, pull the tail, or cause other types of pain.
How to behave correctly after punishment
How to scold a dog? How to punish a dog for disobedience and what to do after that? Having received a reprimand, the dog must leave, under no circumstances the owner.
Another common mistake is behavior when punishing puppies. How to punish a puppy and behave afterwards? Shepherd puppies and others are little suckers. After they have received punishment, they begin to play with the owner, climb on his hands, lick them, twirl his tail, and seek immediate forgiveness.
However, you should not follow the puppies' lead. By immediately forgiving the animal, the person lets it know that it was not he who was right and the puppy can continue to be naughty. After reprimanding your dog, you should behave aloof.
Note! If, after punishment, the owner receives a bite, this means that the dog wants to dominate, to be the leader. However, other factors that led to such hostile behavior should not be excluded.
Dogs are our faithful friends
Acceptable Methods
When choosing punishments for your pet, dog handlers advise preferring those based on psychological impact, and only in the most extreme cases - on physical pain. Let's consider each option in more detail.
Bad Dog
Many animal psychologists are convinced that the easiest and safest way to influence a four-legged pet is to verbally reprimand it for its misdeeds. However, this must be done correctly, otherwise the owner may be bitten. Follow these steps during the reprimand process:
- make a stern face and call the dog by name;
- lean down and look into her eyes. Don't look away and try not to blink. Prolonged eye contact is perceived by the animal as an act of aggression, but it is important for the owner to show that he is the master of the situation;
- start scolding your pet in a menacing tone, pronounce the words clearly, use phrases more often: “Bad dog”, “Ugh” and “No”. It is these commands that the dog associates with prohibition and bad behavior;
- Do not wave your hands or fingers in front of the dog’s face, this may provoke bites. If this is really necessary, then it is better to take a newspaper or slippers.
This measure of influence can be supplemented by the fact that the dog will lose a long walk and communication with the owner or fellow tribesmen for a couple of days. It makes no sense to restrict the dog for a longer period of time, since he will probably forget why he was punished. If the prank committed by the dog is insignificant, then its punishment should be minimal. Tell your pet off and don’t respond to his attempts to suck up for 3-4 hours.
Is it possible to do without punishment?
Clicker training is a type of training that completely eliminates punishment. It is based only on constant encouragement of the animal. It is focused on the mechanisms of the conditioned reflex. For every good deed, the dog receives a treat or praise. Over time, this behavior becomes the norm for the animal.
This method requires a lot of time and constant practice. However, dog breeders who use this technique claim that their pets learn very quickly. And the absence of punishment eliminates stressful situations for both the dog and the owner.
Correct behavior of the owner and timely punishment of the animal are the key to a successful and productive relationship. The animal must understand who is boss in the house and who should be obeyed. However, without love and care it is impossible to achieve the desired result. Punishment, like a bitter pill, should appear rarely and only when absolutely necessary.
