5 Things You Should Know Before Hitting Your Dog

Sahajo Nervarke says:

In regards to the “best way to hit my dog for bad” search result situation, I found my way here with a search for “violence is effective” through HotBot. As a member of society, I know that violence is very prevalent, if not always out in the open. I also know that the internet provides acess to many different viewpoints. I was origionally trying to find a serious article instructing one on how to use moderated violence as a training tool for dogs, but kept comming across articles recommending against it. Finally, in frustration, I widened my search to that basic phraze, exiting any specific catagory about dogs or anything else. I am trying to keep away from the extremist websites, and wanted to find, you know, a serious rational article dealing with the idea in a promotional manner.

What I want to say, is that it seems to me that violence is something that is an unescapable part of the world, happening to different races, animal, freinds and neighbours, permeating every walk of life and every nation, but there is little atempt to aknowledge and integrate it into the mainstream as something to be taught and controled. The fellow who was searching for the right way to hit his dog probably ended up failing in his search, and right now is probably hitting his dog the wrong way because of the social taboo against such acts.

Taking his request at face value, he is going to hit his dog to train her, and that is that. The police and the animal authorities simply cant track them all down and stop them. Those people themselves probably do it on occasion. (a “who will cast the first stone” scenerio). So what should he do? Should he use a light facial slap no more then 4 times a week, with at least a 24 hour grace period in between? Would a medium kick to the rump (a more durable part of the body) be more effective? As he does not seem to know for himself, perhaps, because all he could find were websites condemning such actions outright, make a mistake and damage the poor dogs eye, or cause a hip injury. These thing things happen many times, every day, I am sure…

And why? Because people that are going to do it anyway are being told that it is bad and not to do it. While a world without violence is certainly a world that we can all agree would be for the best, the people who will inevitably use violence for whatever reason simply do not have acsess to responsible recommendations on they can (for example) hit thier dogs without going overkill.

Here is a scenario where I have hit my dog that falls within guidlines that I would deem acceptable to those that choose that route:
We were hicking through the bushes, and she took a route that led into an area that I knew I would have a hard time following. When I politely suggested an alternate route, she ignored me. I started after her, speaking in an angrier, sterner fashion, and keeped going until I started swearing and yelling outright. At this point I felt I had to do something so she wouldnt think it was all a joke, plus I was mad because I dont tell her what to do generally unless I mean it. So, I went up to where she was standing (it is expected of her to STAY at that point and take her lumps) and greeted her with what I call a “medium facial slap” with the back of my hand. She cringed down and put on the “I just got hit” look that is common to most domesticated dogs, and I grabbed the scruff of her neck (for emphasis, not hard. This is important: You want the dog NOT to run from impending punishment by using exessive force, ESPECIALLY when the dog willingly stays and lets you apraoch knowing he or she is going to “get it.”) , leaned over her, put my finger in her face, and told her A) she was bad, B) Come when your called, C) Do you understand me? Though not as politely as I type it here. At that point, I gave her a “light facial slap” to drive the point home. Note that to me a light facial slap would also be given in play, and she would like it if not for the circumstances… like a pat on the head as opposed to a hit, but on the side on the face. But do to the connotations of the situation it was a secondary unpleaseat hit in her mind, acomplishing more of a psychological effect as opposed to a phsyical stimuli.

Anyway, after that I said a little more gently the things I had just said gruffly, and gave her what we all know as the “release” in the proper direction. She bounded off glad to be out of it, and a couple minutes later when we were back on track I told her to stop again. She did, and begrudgingly let me come up to her, at which point I gave her a hug and told her she was good, and gave her a kiss and told her I was sorry…. just so for the rest of her walk she wouldnt be thinking that she was “bad” or resent me for too long. We had a great rest of our walk after that, and she gained from the experience that the next time I try to make a major course correction in our travels, I expect it to be done. That way we dont need things like rules and leashes as much, and I dont need to be constantly totalitarian about everything….

That to me is a scenario where I used violence as a punishment/training tool. I think that what I did was okay, giver her and my relationship, our natures, and many other factors to numerous to sum up completely. It is also something that happens only about once every couple months, with a few incidences of yelling in between, which thankfully never get past the “tone of voice” stage.

I know that some people hit and yell every day. I have met them, and seen how thier dogs heads hang in submission, seen how the poor dog (in one extreme case) would lay by herself in the kitchen, away from the family in the living room because they did not represent to her a source of love and securety.

There will always be violence. I think it is okay to hit my dog in a reasonable manner infrequently under what I consider conditions of obvious blatant rebellion against direct instructions given in a sternly escalating manner in regards to reasonable requests….

Thats all I have to say. I hope that poor man was searching for “best way to hit my dog for bad” for the right reasons… Maybe he only plans to do it hardly ever, but doesnt want to screw up when he does. His dog sleeps on his daughters bed, and he takes her for a walk every day aside from he has to work late. Maybe a really nice guy. At least he is trying to get it right, eh? More then most people are trying to do, it seems to me some days…

Have a nice day and dont worry about MY dog. Aside from the occasional medium facial slap, she doesnt lower her head or piss on the floor when I aproach, so we must be doing something right together.