[Fdmnrnba]

I got the idea for this thread through the other thread and I am curious, have you ever/do you hit your dog? If so, why? What kind of action preformed from your dog deserves a hit?

[LSDDSL]

No I personally do not seriously hit my dog.

If she is being bratty, I might give her a little smack on the rump. Not hard, my purpose isn't to hurt her, it's to emphasize my communication. And by smack on the butt I mean with the same force that people playfully smack their dogs on the butt.

Other than that I believe hitting a dog is unnecessary. It doesn't make me feel like a good person or a good dog trainer. I'm not sure what it actually teaches the dog other than that you are an unpredictable and dangerous person and should be feared.

I don't want my dog to fear me, I want my dog to respect me. In my mind the 2 do not go together.

I will also add the if you control your dog through physical punishment and fear you are not raising a dog that is learning to work cooperatively with you; you are raising a dog that one day may simply have enough and snap...maybe not at the person having done the hitting; maybe at someone else. Maybe with someone smaller and less scary the dog will find an opportunity to defend itself.

---------- Post added at 06:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 AM ----------

Just want to add that I also believe if you make an effort to consistently train your dog and provide appropriate management and supervision...it's also highly unlikely the dog will do anything "bad" enough to "warrent" being hit.

It is very possible to train dogs through their puppy/adolescent stages where they are feeling their oats and do a bit of challenging you without resorting to hitting them.

[sPncEjF7]

I wouldn't say I 'hit' them,but they do get a light smack on the tush,for being a brat.Its not hard at all,just enough to break focus.Its not ment to hurt them. I don't hurt my dogs,nor do I punish them in an abusive/overly physical way.Its not appropreate to do,nor is it benefical.Hitting is counter productive really.They know I'm not happy by my voice.I dont need to strike them.They know when they have crossed the line.
I also smack puppy-butts in play too.They seem to think its funny.They prance around wagging there tails and play bow to me.

[uMG6uOSo]

I also smack puppy-butts in play too.They seem to think its funny.They prance around wagging there tails and play bow to me.

I do this to neutered males. It usually results in a case of the zoomies

I hit/push my dog (GSD) when playing but it isn't enough to hurt him - based on his reaction (play bows, spinning in circles, talking, etc) I think he thinks it's fun.
When he's being a PIA, I'll 'hit' him with less force than when we are playing. It's just used to get his attention then a disappointed voice puts him to shame - that is the real punishment (his ears go back, he whines, comes up trying to kiss you, avoids eye cotnact, etc.) He does the same thing when his 'sister' is getting yelled at. Otis is very sensitive. Harsh physical corrections would be very bad for him.

[carlsberg21]

Otis is very sensitive. Harsh physical corrections would be very bad for him.

So is Liberty. She comes running to me when anyone coughs (she's scared of coughing? ), and if I'm upset she won't come near me. She just can't handle it. If I EVER did anything physical towards her, she would take it very seriously and never talk to me again.
My dogs know when they're wrong just by the way I look at them, because when you don't train your dogs through violence they become very attached to you. After that, I correct them, show them what TO do (ie when the jump up when I walk in the door I give them a correction and make them sit), that way they know what to do and what not to do in the future.

[allemnendup]

If we yell in our house our dogs get upset. So no physical punishment is needed. All I do is say look what you did. Who was a bad dog. And Odie sits and puts his head down and slumps. D.D tries to give kisses and I say oh you did it too.

[uMG6uOSo]

So is Liberty. She comes running to me when anyone coughs (she's scared of coughing? ), and if I'm upset she won't come near me. She just can't handle it. If I EVER did anything physical towards her, she would take it very seriously and never talk to me again.
My dogs know when they're wrong just by the way I look at them, because when you don't train your dogs through violence they become very attached to you. After that, I correct them, show them what TO do (ie when the jump up when I walk in the door I give them a correction and make them sit), that way they know what to do and what not to do in the future.

Otis only does it when family is upset. He could care less about a stranger yelling at him.

When my aunt gets extremely stressed (not at Otis, at something else), Otis comes to me. I've woken up to him in bed with me exactly 3 times, 2 of which were because of my aunt. The other was a very bad thunderstorm (hail, thunder, high winds, etc.) He's not fond of family being upset.

[V8V8V8]

JC might get a little tap on the butt, but other than that, no.

[Borrinas]

Normally all I have to do is speak sternly and they listen.
But...from time to time if the Jacks are honed in on something (prey related) I have to give them a tap on the butt to get their attention back.

[bypeTeenehalT]

Never for training purposes, But for punishment yes, if they do something they KNOW they are not supposed to, well get ready for a spanking.

[GinaIsWild]

only time i would hit a dog is for biting. (real biting, not puppy or play biting.)
a correction in my house is either a firm shake of the collar (like "wake up, stupid!!") a raised voice, or a shake can.

---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------

p.s.
puppy biting, i will screech and ignore the pup for a few minutes to show the pup that biting turns off the fun.
play biting gets the same treatment, except for repeat offenders- i'll hold their lip so they remember not to nip.

[bomondus]

Yes i do and will hit/smack/kick my dog. If the day ever comes to where he shows any HA that will be a beating he will never forget.

Just as a side note - my dog is still asleep in my bed right now

[Gubocang]

Yes i do and will hit/smack/kick my dog. If the day ever comes to where he shows any HA that will be a beating he will never forget.

Just as a side note - my dog is still asleep in my bed right now

this sums up the way thing are done in my house...

[annouhMus]

Yep.. smacked Jesse butt for not listening to me when I told her to go to her bed when she was begging. I dont see a problem with a wack every once in a while when its merited.

[GeraldCortis]

Occasionally I've smacked them on the butt if they get ornery or don't pay attention, but I've never had to seriously hit them.

[Evsltkzl]

Only for eating cat poop since he could get sick. He got slapped on the butt. Of course, this was after I told him to leave it and he went and got it while I went to get a shovel to get rid of it. I rarely even have to yell at Odin, so he knew this was serious. He hasn't tried to eat cat poop again.

Stupid feral cats are always around in my yard.

[rNr5Di3S]

Nope. She gets "wake up" nudges but nothing even close to a hit. Just redirection of focus.

The only time I could ever see hitting my dog is if I was scared enough of the situation too. It would be a totally out of control action, not something I planned. I don't see that happening anytime soon-but I have seen some people react this way to there dog and although I am generally against it I understand where they're coming from.

For example one time a friend of mine was standing over a boxer and staring down at him. The boxer reacted and leaped up to bite her face, and the owner reacted quick enough to smack the dog on the top of the head before it could reach her. It was a quick move on his part. Probably hurt the dog, but not nearly as much as everyone would have been hurt if he had successfully bit her.

[attlawqa]

nope, I do not hit my boy, a little tap on the side (basically like if you were ganna poke someone on the shoulder and I do it with like 1-2 fingers) and he listens, I guess if I were going to hit my dog there would be only one reason...he was biting me(being biteing me means I could not get a break stick or anything, you know a dog that you would then imediately have PTS), and that would never happen, and out of panic I think but just thinking of when I would do it I guess that would be when

[hujdrftgkas]

absolutely not. Verbal corrections or redirections work fine for Deuce. A guest in my home once popped him on the nose for getting in the couch (which he's allowed to do unless told otherwise) and i kicked em out.
Physical correction would be awful for Deuce since he has extreme anxiety. I just don't think it's necessary.

I hit a dog in the face who tried to lunge to bite Deuce one time, though. The owner didn't have the dog on a leash and the boxer ran for Deuce full force. It was a quick reaction to protect my baby.

[Dndjzirw]

I have never hit my dogs. They listen pretty well. I have had to yank Boozers collar a couple of times to get him in the down position. Dutch is so sensitive that all I have to do with him is "AH!" and he acts like I just smacked him