Have you heard the term "rub your dog's nose in it" if they have pee'd or poo'd inside? Believe it or not, many people still believe this is an accepted way of toilet or potty training a dog. Well let us tell you right now, don't do this, it's cruel, unnecessary and WILL NOT toilet train your new dog or puppy.
Rubbing a dog’s nose in their pee or poo after they have an accident is an outdated and harmful practice that does more harm than good. This method is rooted in the misconception that dogs will understand they’ve done something wrong by associating the punishment with the act of toileting inside. However, dogs do not have the cognitive ability to make such connections in the way humans might think.
Why It Doesn’t Work
Dogs live in the moment, and their understanding of cause and effect is much more immediate than ours. When you rub a dog’s nose in their mess, they don’t associate the punishment with the act of going to the toilet in the wrong place. Instead, they are likely to become confused and fearful, not understanding why they are being punished. This can lead to a breakdown in communication between you and your dog, making the training process even more challenging.
The Negative Consequences
Fear and Anxiety: Rubbing a dog’s nose in their mess can cause them to become fearful of you. They may begin to associate your presence with punishment, rather than seeing you as a source of safety and guidance. This fear can lead to anxiety-related behaviours, such as submissive urination, where the dog urinates out of fear when approached or spoken to.
Distrust and Confusion: A dog that is punished in this way (which is what is happening it is a punishment) is likely to become confused about what is expected of them. They might start hiding when they need to relieve themselves, which can make house training even more difficult. Instead of learning where they should go, they might simply learn to fear you or avoid going to the toilet in your presence.
Damage to the Human-Dog Bond: Trust is a crucial component of the relationship between a dog and their guardian. Punishing a dog in such a harsh manner can erode that trust, making it harder for the dog to learn from you and creating a more stressful environment for both of you.
The Right Approach: Positive Experience
The most effective way to house-train a dog is through balanced reinforcement. This approach focuses on rewarding your dog for doing the right thing, rather than punishing them for making a mistake. At the same ignoring the action being done in the wrong place so the dog knows that the positive response gets a good response and the wrong actio gets zero response.
Here's how it works:
Supervision and Routine: Keep a close eye on your dog, especially during the early stages of house training. Establish a regular routine for feeding, playtime, and outside toilet breaks. This helps your dog understand when and where it’s appropriate to go.
Immediate Rewards: When your dog pee's or poo's in the correct place, immediately reward them with praise, treats, or a favourite toy. This helps them make the connection between their action and the positive outcome, reinforcing the desired behaviour. By doing this they want to please you by getting rewarded for doing it in the correct location.
Patience and Consistency: Toilet training takes time, and accidents are bound to happen. When they do, it’s important to remain patient and consistent in your approach. Clean up the mess without making a fuss, and continue to guide your dog to the right spot. Do not scold, make a fuss, raise your voice or make it known you are not happy with this, simply ignore what has been done, clean it up and move on with something else.
Conclusion
Rubbing a dog’s nose in their mess is not only ineffective but also detrimental to their training and overall well-being. It creates fear, confusion, and distrust, which can lead to more serious behavioural problems down the line. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement, patience, and consistency. By guiding your dog with kindness and understanding, you’ll build a stronger bond and set the stage for successful house training. This approach not only fosters a trusting relationship between you and your dog but also ensures that they learn the correct behaviours in a way that is both effective and humane.
If you want to know more about how to toilet train your dog, our online Dog Training School, "The Dogzbody Academy" has a free course you can do. Yes, it, is totally free, requires no credit card details and offers you a better insight into how to toilet/potty train your dog. It introduces our methodology of positively marking good behaviour and helps you to guide your dog to toilet in the appropriate places.
If you would like to enrol into this free online course (it's only a short one, so don't worry you will get the skills to help your dog quickly). Click the link below. At the end of the course, you will also get a discount coupon code towards any of the other courses that may be of interest to you to help train and look after your dog.
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