Spray bottle Training

[Ayoka]

Hi everyone, I'm reading a book that suggests using a spray bottle to help discourage dogs from bad habits such as barking, garbage digging and jumping.

Seems reasonable to me...but I was wondering if anyone out there can think of any potentially negative things about this form of deterrance?

[Anne]

My guess is it would be better to train the dog in good habits rather than squirt them with water for bad habits.

The dog has to know how to behave and it won't know if you don't teach it.

Training, training, training is what makes a dog well behaved. Squirting water at the dog won't teach it much at all if it doesn't know why it's being squirted. It will however make the dog rather nervous of the person doing the squirting.

[Ayoka]

Any other maybe better ideas for for how to train a dog not to dig in the kitchen garbage?

When I catch him sniffing or diogging now I say "no" very loudly and he gets a spray in the face, then I get him to do a sit or down and give him a more appropriate toy to play with.

I'm at a real loss. Am I going to have to lock up my garbage for life?

[Sargeant_C]

Place garbage can under kitchen sink where dog will not get to it.

It is better to positive train instead of sayin NO NO NO NO work on a lot of YESSSSS YESSSSS YESSSS

[Ayoka]

thanks for the advice!

[JonandMichelle]

I agree. Some things are avoidable

[scooterjohansen]

Originally Posted by Sargeant_C

It is better to positive train instead of sayin NO NO NO NO work on a lot of YESSSSS YESSSSS YESSSS

This is very good advice and will effectively save you a hell of a lot of work.

[spidey]

It is better to positive train instead of sayin NO NO NO NO work on a lot of YESSSSS YESSSSS YESSSS

Definitely. And another way of saying this is that it's easier to train a dog what TO do, than what NOT to do.

[MonteRiehl]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

Hi everyone, I'm reading a book that suggests using a spray bottle to help discourage dogs from bad habits such as barking, garbage digging and jumping.

Seems reasonable to me...but I was wondering if anyone out there can think of any potentially negative things about this form of deterrance?

IT also really depends on the dog. S'Dragon would take being sprayed with water as a reward. He loves to play with the hose, waterguns, and shower heads. So spraying him for digging, barking and messing with the garbage would be rewarding him with a fun play. It would reinforce the unwanted behaviours.

just my $.02

[damp]

I prefer to use my voice (tone) and body language. It's always within reach and available when a correction is needed.

[hmeadq]

We use a spray bottle sometimes and when Doc is doing something wrong and sees it he'll run to his crate. But sometimes our dog will want to drink water out of the end or play with the water!

Basically it works no better then anything else, but at least for us has done no harm or made him scared, but then he is fearless...

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

Hi everyone, I'm reading a book that suggests using a spray bottle to help discourage dogs from bad habits such as barking, garbage digging and jumping.

Seems reasonable to me...but I was wondering if anyone out there can think of any potentially negative things about this form of deterrance?

I think it's silly, myself.

Negative aspects? What purpose does it really serve? What respect are you building with this 'neat' trick?

Doesn't it make more sense to deal with your dog personally, and guide him to proper behavior to learn control and learn to look to you for guidance, rather than to attempt to 'scare' him with water? Things that make you say, "hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm".

The only thing I'll use a spray bottle full of water for is to dispense water to my dogs while in the show ring, or to spray on their coats to cool them down.... Those are 2 good uses for a spray bottle full of water.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

Any other maybe better ideas for for how to train a dog not to dig in the kitchen garbage?

When I catch him sniffing or diogging now I say "no" very loudly and he gets a spray in the face, then I get him to do a sit or down and give him a more appropriate toy to play with.

I'm at a real loss. Am I going to have to lock up my garbage for life?

We have a garbage can with a lid on it. Before that, our can sat on a chair above eye/nose level of the dogs. It wasn't pretty, but in 12 years, we've never had a dog in the garbage.

One should use common sense when they have dogs in the house. Just as you would child proof a home, you should also 'dog proof' areas in which your dog has free roam.

Digging is a boredom filler, which means your dog is likely outside too long unattended. Play with him when he's in the yard, it's good for both of you.

If your dog wears a collar, then jumping up should be easy to solve.

The thing is, until you have a relatively reliably trained dog, you should never issue a 'formal' command unless you can reinforce it. That means, training with a leash, and working with the dog this way each day, if for but a few minutes.

The issues you're having are easily fixed with a better understanding of the need to teach your dog good behaviors, in a positive manner. Correction and compulsion should only be used when necessary. Keep your emotion out of verbal corrections; a simple 'no' will suffice, then guide the dog to an appropriate behavior which you can reward.

Good luck, hope this helps.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by damp

I prefer to use my voice (tone) and body language. It's always within reach and available when a correction is needed.

I very much agree with this one. I'm not fond of spray bottles because I've seen dogs continue to misbehave until "OK, now I've got the spray bottle ready".

[Stubby]

Never saw a wolf carry a spray bottle...

I'm with Damp, use what you have with you all the time. Of course, for them to respect your tone and body language, they must understand that you are the boss!