Spanking, beating, and hitting a dog, is sometimes used as a form of dog discipline or dog punishment.
After all, biting a dog’s ear worked for Cuba Gooding Jr. in the movie Snow Dogs.
Therefore, will such pain based techniques work for us too? To answer this question, we must consider how dogs learn.
Dogs learn through conditioning.
- They repeat behaviors that get them good results, and
- They stop behaviors that get them bad results.
Based on this, there are two schools of thought for stopping problem dog behaviors – reward obedience training and aversive obedience training.
Is It Bad to Beat or Hit a Dog?
Spanking, beating, and hitting a dog are all aversive techniques. Pain is delivered to sensitive areas of the dog, such as his ear or muzzle, when he performs a bad behavior.
The argument for this type of dog discipline, is that the pain will discourage a dog from repeating undesirable actions. Every time our dog does something bad, he gets an unpleasant result (pain), which will hopefully dampen his resolve to perform the same behavior.
However, the problem with aversive training, is that it is risky, too personal, and there is no good way to redirect the punishment.
Our dog knows that the pain originates from us, and is not a natural result of his actions.
As a consequence, our dog may end up learning the wrong lessons, including:
- Hitting, slapping, and biting is a fun game that my owner plays with me. Let me try playing it with him, and with others. A dog may arrive at this conclusion, when the pain is not delivered with enough force. Too much force, however, may result in fear aggression.
- A person’s hand or face coming toward me, is a bad thing. I should run away from people, or bite the hand or face that is a threat to me.
- My owner, or a person coming toward me, means pain. I should stay away from people, or keep them away by growling and biting.
If we do not deliver the pain with good timing, with the proper force, and in exactly the right circumstance, our dog may get confused as to why he is getting punished. He may become fearful and stressed, because he is unsure how he can stop the pain from recurring.
As a result, spanking, beating, and hitting a dog may lead to even more behavioral issues, including fear aggression as well as submissive urination.
For these reasons, using physical techniques to punish a dog, is not very good dog kung fu.
If Not Beating or Hitting a Dog, Then What?!
If beating or hitting a dog does not work, then how can we teach our dogs right from wrong?
How can we get our dogs to behave and not engage in destructive behaviors?
The answer lies in the other school of dog discipline, namely reward based techniques. Some positive based authors that I like include Patricia McConnell, Karen Pryor, and Suzanne Clothier. Contrary to what some may say, reward based methods does not just involve “giving food to our dog”. Rather, it allows us to gain pack leadership through the proper control of resources.
We may not realize this, but we already control all of our dog’s resources. For example, we decide when he gets to walk, when he gets to eat, what and how much he gets to eat, when he gets to play, what toys he gets to play with, when he has to go to sleep, what he can chew on, and much more. All we need to do, is teach our dog this fact –
He is NOT in control, WE are.
For example, if my dog jumps on me and bites my hand during feeding time, I tell him that this behavior is unacceptable, by using a no-mark. Then I ignore him, and he does not get his food, until he has calmed down. In this way, he learns that –
- Waiting calmly for his food in a down position = Get food quickly,
- Jumping and biting = Food preparation stops.
If he continues with his bad behavior, I say Time-out, and I remove him to a time-out area. This teaches him that if he cannot behave around people, then he does not get to be with people.
We respond to all other bad behaviors in a similar way – by restricting our dog’s access to his most desired resources, and only giving him rewards when he has earned them through good behavior.
Different dog behavioral issues will involve different tactics, but the overall strategy is one of resource control and proper management.
But Dogs Hit, Bite, and Physically Correct Each Other …
A common argument used to justify physical corrections, is that our dogs do that to each other, therefore, it must be natural and right.
It is true that dogs will sometimes hit and bite each other as a warning, or to correct behavior. Dogs also hit and bite during play. They are able to do this, because they have very good control of the placement and force of their bites.
However, dogs are not humans and *we* are not dogs. We do not have the same physical strengths or control as our dog. We do not have sharp teeth or claws, we cannot run very fast, and our jaws are not very strong.
This is why it is a very bad idea to physically challenge stray or loose dogs. Logic dictates that we do not wrestle, hit, or physically engage with unknown dogs, that may be aggressive. Similarly, we should not slap, beat, or hit our own dog either. Rather than do a bad job at pretending to be a dog, we should play to our human strengths.
As a human,
- We can open and close doors.
- We can drive to the store and buy food, toys, and other good stuff.
- We can open sealed bags, cans, bottles, and more.
- We can reason, build, and develop long-term plans.
In essence, our human abilities give us control of *all* the things that our dog needs or desires. This makes us into natural leaders, because by controlling the pack’s resources, we control the pack.
Finally, when a dog physically corrects another dog, the other dog may decide to fight back.
A puppy may allow an adult dog to correct him initially, but when he grows up, he may learn to respond in-kind with aggression. For this reason and more, I do not allow my dogs to physically correct or bully each other. As pack leader, I set the rules, and I enforce them through the control of resources. If there are any conflicts, my dogs will alert me. I will then do my best to resolve the conflict in a fair and consistent way, which does not involve any hitting, biting, or puncture wounds.
Just because a dog may sometimes hit and bite other dogs, does not mean that hitting and biting is good, effective, or even particularly humane. The assumption or assertion that physical punishment is better because our dogs do it, is a logical fallacy. In fact, there are many things that dogs do to each other and to other animals, that we need to manage, redirect, and retrain. This includes –
- A dog’s drive to hunt neighborhood cats,
- A dog’s instinct to guard resources (with aggression if necessary),
- A dog’s inclination to bully a weaker dog,
- A dog’s impulse to fight-back, and more.
Does Beating or Hitting a Dog Work?
Pain based techniques may stop problem behaviors in the short term, but it is not the most effective type of dog discipline.
There are many difficulties and risks that may cause our dog’s behavior to degrade, rather than improve. Using it to stop one problem behavior, may inadvertently cause five other bad dog behaviors to crop up. In addition, the effect of beating or hitting a dog may degrade over time, as our dog gets habituated to the pain.
In contrast, reward based methods are safer because there is little danger of our dog becoming fearful, aggressive, or stressed. We are not delivering any pain to him, but simply withholding the rewards that he has failed to earn.
- Reward based discipline encourages our dog to figure out how he can get in our good books, because that is the quickest way to get what he wants most.
- Aversive dog discipline, on the other hand, encourages a dog to avoid us because there may be pain involved.
Ultimately, resource based training allows us to forge a stronger bond with our dog, and makes him into a responsible canine, who works for what he wants.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
~~ [Mahatma Gandhi]
I get and believe what the article is saying. My dog got his nails clipped too high as a puppy and is externely freaked out when they are messed with. Well, I tried to get a paint print mothers days card. It didn’t go well. He bite my hand when I tried to get it done quick. I lost my cool and hit him on the snout twice. He should his teeth and I got in his face to get him to stand down. He bit my nose. I pulled away so he just nicked my nose/mouth. I picked him up and threw him outside. Look I know I provoked him. I was wrong. I let my temper make my decisions not my brain. My question is after you lose your cool and strike a dog, what do you do? I work on my temper. How do I repair the damage down? Just time? I’m not justifying my behavior but what do I do when I have hit my dog? He only bit me out of provocation. I get that.
I’ve got a 7 year old. Mixed. Friendly and active. Runs away when I’m at work and goes to neighbors house. They inadvertently reward him with food and comfort. I always know where he runs to, but when I return and try to retrieve him, he’ll run because I now use moderate corporal punishment. Getting my yard escape proof is going to take some time and money. It’s like he knows better. Spanking, etc is a gray area but I’m being defied regularly here. I vote YES for brief corporal punishment. Other than that we have a close and empathic relationship.
OK, let me get this straight. You use “moderate” corporal punishment, and that spanking is a “gray area but I’m being defied regularly here.” Sounds to me as though corporal punishment isn’t working – and in fact is probably making the situation worse. Further, do you really think your dog can make the connection between you hitting him and his behavior of running over to the neighbor’s house where rewards are waiting?
Hitting a dog or children is never an acceptable form of correction. It may work but won’t bring about the relationship desired with your dog. I have a pitbull that was beaten so much of the time that he is just afraid too much of the time. When I first got him he would sometimes bite me. He wanted to be close to me but it was too much for him. He after about two years now is much better. But you have no idea the amount of patience it took. He gets along with other dogs as long as the play doesn’t get too rough. Then I just get him and say time to go. He still will run away from me if he accedently gets loose. Thank goodmes that has only happened a handful of times and has been returned.
I think he will never completely get over the broken bones and puncture wounds he suffered in the past. Unless you are looking for problems don’t hit a dog. Especially a bully bread dog.
I’m so happy I found this article. I have a Pomeranian and is only 1 year old. I got it from my uncle because he couldn’t take care of him anymore. So we took him home, but the dog start biting my dad and my dad hit him in the head. I really think that it was wrong for my dad to do that. I told him not to do it but my dad is just very stubborn and he kept hitting the dog. I’m thankful that I found this article so that I could tell my dad why hitting a dog is a bad way of training .
My girlfriend has a Pit Bull. I have spanked her for bad behavior and rewarded her for good. The key is to not overdo it and timing. Your tone of voice is also important because it’s not like dogs actually understand English. I also pet her all the time and she knows when my hand is coming towards her, why. When we started dating the dog had a habit of biting. She’s 50lbs at 8 months so it was important to break her from it. Spanking worked in her case. She’s not traumatized, and she gets super excited when I come over. You just have to do it right.
No one honestly say they never hit their dog. Dog trys to tear the head off family pet its been buds with for 5 plus years, or bits a child when the child playing alone by itself or the dog turns on u its owner. A good smacking is due and natural.
As much as I love my dog, she recently out of the blue severly injured my cat when my slept on my lap. One hand loving the dog, cat sleeping n me drinking coffee. Unable to intervine n it only took a second for the bitch to injure cats eye, mouth n who knows what else. Unfortunately, I cant afford a vet so cats suffering. I beat the shit out that bitch. The following day, as everyone took their normal 5 plus years on my bed for the night. The Bitch attacked my other cat when she sneezed. Sneezing cats r common in my house, nothing new. I beat that bitch with a broom stick.
Unless a 5 year old dog has dementia, which she wouldnt remember being beat anyway, there no excuse for attacking.
I find it difficult to put my dog to sleep. Its difficult to beat her too. The shock,rage n defending the family vic takes over n as a parent u do what is needed to protect the vic.
My dogs training was smacking n hitting Free. She did n still does gets praises n treats for jobs well done. However, my dogs a bit too smart. She will repeat bad behavior to get another treat. Example, barking while standing on window, no, down. She gets her treat for listening. As soon as I leave the room she will jump back on window n bark. I say no down from the kitchen she comes running looking for a treat. She will repeat this behavior just to get treats n learns nothing. When treats run out she refuses to listen until ahe hears me say damn it. Now Im pissed. My point is some dogs r not trainable with nicey nice live n understanding. Certain dogs challange their owner/ parent daily all day as mine does. It doesnt matter what it is that bitch challanges me same things everyday. Its tiering. Why keep her? She is great guard dog everyone is affraid of her thus I have not been robbed. I live in the hood. Shes a mommies girl, snuggles n is very affectionate n so one. If anyone would really like to help like free training or donate to taking my cats to the vet please do. Ill leave my friends email on my next post. Id leave my cell number however Im sure idiots will just say stupid stuff like why have pets if u cant afford a vet, ur awful u beat ur dog n so on. Everyone most evwryone expects to have an increase in income when first obtaining a pet. 15 years later my cats age I certainly didnt expect to go from corporate manager to disabled person n have one 4th the income. Shit happens. Abandoning my fury kids ciz income fell wasnt n isnt an option.
Hi I have a 2 1/2 year old Maltese/oodle breed. And as he grows older he’s becoming as aggressive as anything and we obviously don’t have a clue as to what to do next I spite of all the other options that we’ve tried as we love him and all.
I’m on the verge of giving him up! Though I want to try one more week. With the help of your advice. Let’s say he starts to growl and bites us is best to put him in his crate as punishment for like an hour or so?
Help!
To add.. he is well exercised with 40 or so. I ite of walk everyday?
i have a pitbull dog she is active but bites everything what should be done to control her
I have a 4 month puppy very small but he is destructive wen he doesn’t get attention he is very smart but he bites and has to much energy I love him .Wat can u do to help please .
Exercise the dog more buy him big bones to chew on
I have a small shihpoo and Yorki he is very undisciplined. he bites. He scratches. Basically he is the new house owner. I love my dog but it just breaks me to see the damage he causes to our house. I read online documentaries and books about dogs and how to discipline them. But all of it doesn’t work on my dog. So when he does something bad I can’t do anything to him. We don’t have a cage for time out. I don’t know what to do.
If you have a laundry room in your home with no windows, you can put the dog in there.
Hi! I have dog, (He seems to be about 1 year old, and Chihuahua mixed with another breed), and he has behavioral issues. We need to buy a cage for him, but when he does something bad my mom hits him and yells at him. I feel bad, I kind of try to talk to her but she thinks what she is doing is supposedly supposed to “break him” (Like out of his habits). Its extremely wrong. Basically, she locks him up in our bathroom. He has torn the clothes hamper we put our dirty clothes in and he tore up the cotton balls. My mom thinks that yelling and spanking and locking him up in the bathroom is going to discipline him. Its not. I’m trying to show her a positive and more effective way to discipline him. I suspect he’s been abused before. I just want to positively show him what’s good and what is right. My mom just think that beating and abusing is only going to “break him of his habits”. I feel like I can’t show her a different way. It’s really bothering me and she once told me to spank him and I just lightly tapped him (not hit) and said firmly said “No, no, no! Don’t do that!”. I just want to discipline him the right way. I feel really bad, and I don’t want to damage him long-term. Can you please help me talk to my mom? I’m thinking about writing her a letter, hopefully she listens to me. Please help! D:
There’s a channel on YouTube called “Zak George’s Dog Training rEvolution”. You should buy the book on Amazon.com and mail it to her. Maybe she’ll read the book and watch the videos.