Reading all the threads on here it seems like actually telling a dog 'No' is some sort of taboo.
Hear me out before you all get all over me. I raised my first dog by myself starting two and a half years ago. I was big into working with horses, so I wanted to discover how dogs 'ticked' like I had with horses. I did read a lot of advice on here, watch some dog whisperer (gasp), watch LOTS of youtube channels (clicker training, Kiko pup, etc.) but mainly started learning from real life experience working in dog kennels with dog trainers.
Now I chose to take a little bit from all these different resources to make my own training method experimenting with what I saw results with and what I KNEW didn't work from my families last dogs. (And a little bit weird, but I do some same things I've used with horses in the past)
I know it's different with each dog, but with my own I focus mainly on exercising first, so I'm working with a tired dog. Then setting boundaries for my dog, so she isn't walking all over me. I DO focus more on positive reinforcement then negative (I believe that's very important to keep a spirit in a dog and keep the bond between owner and dog close) BUT I do tell my dog No, and she does know what it means.
For example, my dog would chew on the wrong item/jump on the counter or if my dog gets too excited/starts to loose focus on me and starts getting overwhelmed I will call her over hold her nose for a second and tell her "No" in a deep voice. In a second or two she calms down, I let her go and praise her when she's behaving better. It varies with each situation, but basically I get the point across that she was doing something I did not approve of and gave her an alternative that I did like.
Anyway, I found this beneficial as if she does a behavior I don't approve of or like I can tell her "No" or "Quit" and she will stop. Very beneficial working with her around horses. Other herding dogs have started herding the horses, but while my dog wants to with every inch of her being she'll listen when I tell her NO (or leave it) and just sit and watch. To get her to that point I did have to have a few 'discussions' where when she got excited and in a herding mindset I would call her over lay her down and hold her nose for a second till she relaxed.
Now I'm always hearing about negative side effects from disciplining dogs, but I haven't seen one. I have a dog who loves me, kids, other dogs, is still very outgoing and happy. She is also VERY well behaved and I get compliments on her behavior everywhere I go. I trust this dog so much to listen to me in any situation.
If anything I think she is happier because she knows her limits and understands when I approve or disprove of a behavior. I DO believe a little bit in Ceaser M. belief that dogs like to have a 'leader'. I don't necessarily believe in 'dominating' a dog but I do consider myself the 'head of the pack' as I do with my horse.
I'm really not trying to cause a lot of debate but more see if there's anyone else who views are similar to my own? I've seen posts where people are extremely against this so if this is too controversial it can be closed/deleted.
Hear me out before you all get all over me. I raised my first dog by myself starting two and a half years ago. I was big into working with horses, so I wanted to discover how dogs 'ticked' like I had with horses. I did read a lot of advice on here, watch some dog whisperer (gasp), watch LOTS of youtube channels (clicker training, Kiko pup, etc.) but mainly started learning from real life experience working in dog kennels with dog trainers.
Now I chose to take a little bit from all these different resources to make my own training method experimenting with what I saw results with and what I KNEW didn't work from my families last dogs. (And a little bit weird, but I do some same things I've used with horses in the past)
I know it's different with each dog, but with my own I focus mainly on exercising first, so I'm working with a tired dog. Then setting boundaries for my dog, so she isn't walking all over me. I DO focus more on positive reinforcement then negative (I believe that's very important to keep a spirit in a dog and keep the bond between owner and dog close) BUT I do tell my dog No, and she does know what it means.
For example, my dog would chew on the wrong item/jump on the counter or if my dog gets too excited/starts to loose focus on me and starts getting overwhelmed I will call her over hold her nose for a second and tell her "No" in a deep voice. In a second or two she calms down, I let her go and praise her when she's behaving better. It varies with each situation, but basically I get the point across that she was doing something I did not approve of and gave her an alternative that I did like.
Anyway, I found this beneficial as if she does a behavior I don't approve of or like I can tell her "No" or "Quit" and she will stop. Very beneficial working with her around horses. Other herding dogs have started herding the horses, but while my dog wants to with every inch of her being she'll listen when I tell her NO (or leave it) and just sit and watch. To get her to that point I did have to have a few 'discussions' where when she got excited and in a herding mindset I would call her over lay her down and hold her nose for a second till she relaxed.
Now I'm always hearing about negative side effects from disciplining dogs, but I haven't seen one. I have a dog who loves me, kids, other dogs, is still very outgoing and happy. She is also VERY well behaved and I get compliments on her behavior everywhere I go. I trust this dog so much to listen to me in any situation.
If anything I think she is happier because she knows her limits and understands when I approve or disprove of a behavior. I DO believe a little bit in Ceaser M. belief that dogs like to have a 'leader'. I don't necessarily believe in 'dominating' a dog but I do consider myself the 'head of the pack' as I do with my horse.
I'm really not trying to cause a lot of debate but more see if there's anyone else who views are similar to my own? I've seen posts where people are extremely against this so if this is too controversial it can be closed/deleted.