When did you last smack your dog?

[MissTyc]

When she had the neighbours cat in her mouth ?. Other than that, never

Same. It wasn't a "smack" though. I was hitting her and doing whatever I could but the cat died anyway It was many years ago, several dogs ago.

But never ever for "training" or "correction" ... I think if I even thought about it, my terrier would remove my hand from my arm.

 

[Clodagh]

I admit to throwing a rotten bit of wood at Scout’s bum when he had his head buried in a cowpat and had turned off his hearing aids. I’m a hopeless shot but actually got it close enough to make him jump!

 

[Boulty]

Whenever he last tried to pee on something inappropriate which now I think about it was probably a few months ago now (a happy side effect of removing his retained testicles I think). We're not talking walloping him just a light tap / shove on the arse to make him rethink cocking his leg on whatever (my backpack, my work uniform, other people's sofas, random things in tradestands, wet floor signs to give a few examples). He's never been bothered in the slightest about being interrupted in this way & I get to have belongings that don't have dog pee on them (of course the correct thing would be for him not to get into situations where he had the opportunity to do this/ for his attention to be on me & not on what can be peed on but he went through a phase of what he chose to do this to being truly random when he was in the house)

 

[GSD Woman]

I'm sure I've smacked mine though I am more likely to grab a scruff and give a short verbal correction. There is no way I would smack a 9 week old puppy. What good is smacking go to do to a baby?

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I have given a short sharp tap on the bum if she’s done something that needs an instant attention grabbing reaction. Not ideal but sometimes the better of two bad options.

But definitely not as a young pup and there’s never malicious force behind it. And always on the bum, never the face.

 

[scats]

I’ll poke their bums to get their attention if they are ignoring me, or if JD starts her incessant barking in the garden. But never a smack.
At Bolesworth this week I was sad to see a young whippet (that had been dragged out in the heat, I must add) get a smack to the nose off the bloke he was with for barking at a dog walking past. Couldn’t work out who the owner was as it was with a group of about 5 young women and this bloke.

 

[Chiffy]

Don’t know how I missed this thread, but NO never. I train with commands from an early age. I think I have always had sensitive breeds, whippets, lurchers and flatcoats. None would cope with being smacked, you would completely lose trust. Maybe I have been lucky that the situation has never arisen.

 

[Moobli]

I don’t think I’ve ever smacked a dog. I will growl and sometimes scruff or give a lead correction if warranted but never a smack, and to smack a puppy is just abhorrent ?

 

[Esmae]

Never. Years ago I had a lurcher bitch. Rescued sort. I went out one morning leaving her at home and came back to the feather duster totally destroyed and feathers everywhere. I shrugged and told myself off for leaving it about and promptly ordered a new one. Never said a word to the dog about it. My fault. Anyway new one arrived and I unpacked it and waved it at my dog saying "Now this is not for you madam" went to tap on the nose in a cuddly kind of way, before putting it out of the way. Never made contact at all. Poor dog almost dropped dead with fear! I was distraught that she thought I would ever lay a hand on her. Dropped feather duster and pulled her into my arms and cried with her. God knows what she had gone through before she came to me. So no, never would I hit my dogs. Not necessary. Voice is enough if correction is needed.

 

[GSD Woman]

In the old days of yank and jerk I was much harder on my first GSD than anyone should have been. The man I trained under was, I have decided, a bit of a sadist. I still for so bad for the way the I trained that dog that I'm glad I learned a way better way. I loved that dog dearly, I just didn't know better but my gut started to tell me that it wasn't the way to go and I'm glad I switched before my boy died of bloat at 4.
p.s. I still wouldn't smack a puppy. Babies shouldn't be smacked. They need to learn manners and still not be smacked.

 

[skinnydipper]

Deleted - written when annoyed and p1ssed off.

 

[GSD Woman]

One thing that I remember with my dogs is if my temper starts to slip is to put the dog away/stop training. Losing my temper does no one any good.

 

[GSD Woman]

skinnydipper, your original post came through in my email. i don't blame you for being p1ssed off. Such people need a good telling off.

 

[Clodagh]

One thing that I remember with my dogs is if my temper starts to slip is to put the dog away/stop training. Losing my temper does no one any good.

That completely. I know when I’m training they want to please me, they want the retrieve as much as I do.
I have learned as I get older if I have pmt or am just grumpy don’t do training!