Dogs are wild animals, they felt safer near settlements, and so found new utility as a pet for the lonely, and the animal lovers.
However, the communication between a human and a pet is a tricky process. Like you guide and groom your baby, you require to correct or train your furry angel to attain a trouble-free relationship.
Many pet shop owners advertise the dogs as home-bred, rescued, or the dogs ready for adoption. All these adjectives indicate that their inventory has been kept in the home environment and does know a thing or two about the civilized living.
Still, there are certain actions of the dogs they do by instinct. These may cause problems for the guests coming to your home, or to other people in the building if you are living an apartment lifestyle. That is why a little correcting is a must.
But, how to correct the dog? A big question!
The correcting process involves stopping the dog from doing something deeply unacceptable. For example, a dog pouncing and barking upon a visiting friend of yours, or ravaging the food bowl at the sight of it and creating a mess needs to be corrected. This is a challenging situation as a dog may not understand your instruction the way your baby can. So, the pet parent uses training and related aids. One of the most popular training aid is a corrector, that we have discussed in our post: ‘Is pet corrector cruel?’
The opinion is kind of divided when it comes to deciding the relevance and effectiveness of any corrector tool. Most of the experts say that the corrector as a product is not harmful (only aerosol and a hissing sound, what else?) but how the parent uses it, is. Still, the nature of the dog has set pet lovers thinking about the alternatives that could complement a dog’s psychological profile better.
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Other alternatives to a corrector
A correction process may be the rewards-based or punishment-based. Even the classification whether depends upon the takeaway of a dog from the use of the corrector. If he is giving an aversive reaction, then the corrector is aversive in nature. Experts classify the corrector as a punishment-based training aid and reinforce that it cannot be a replacement for training.
Some parents also complain that due to regular use, the effectiveness of a corrector decreases with time. Therefore, they search for alternatives. Let’s take a look at other alternatives available.
1. Dog training discs
Discs are mostly thrown across the room and a sound accompanies it during the flight. The very purpose of a corrector is to interrupt a dog’s unwanted action. The training discs provide this support adequately.
However, the initial stage of use is not easy. A dog giving an aversive reaction to it may be a common thing to happen. But, with the help of rewards given on stopping of behavior, the positive impact of training disc can be obtained.
2. Rattle bottles
Rattle bottles do not emit any hissing sound, but there is a rattled sound of disturbing nature that comes by a shaking process. Rattle bottle is one of the proofing aids used by a professional dog trainer.
It is ideal for correcting purpose as it distracts the dog’s focus from doing any unwanted action of barking or jumping on people. It is to be used every time the dog displays that bad behavior till the instance the behavior is nowhere to be seen. So, do not forget to reward the dog when he has adopted a demeanor that you wanted him to have.
3. Kissing sound
A kissing sound is the most humane way of correcting the dog. The kissing sound attracts the dogs and with strategic use, they will stop the action and might come to you, wagging their tails, instead of continuing with an aversive action.
A kissing sound generator is also available in the market, using which you can even change the intensity of the sound by changing the volume levels. The dogs tend to take this interruptor in a constructive manner and feel loved instead of feeling threatened.
4. Rewards
Nothing matches a reward when it comes to teaching a dog to behave nicely. The pet owners can keep a treat in hand, and use a constructive interruptor like a kissing sound or whistle sound proactively even before the dog starts to behave in an undesirable way.
When the dog does not demonstrate that bad behavior, give him his favorite treat. With regular practice, a code of communication is established and the dog finally absorbs what not to do.
5. Pre-selected words like ‘stop’ and ‘sit’
Words are something to be accompanied by an interrupter tool. You may carry a corrector (if the dog is too unruly or dangerous) and point at the dog along with the word ‘stop’ or ‘sit’. Gradually, the stick is withdrawn and the dog will react in an acceptable manner just by the use of these commands.
Wrapping up,
Before using any of the correctors or interrupters, the pet owners should study the behavioral pattern and the in-borne nature of the dog. Using too light a punishment may go waste and too tough one can lead to psychological damage. Also, remember that the purpose is to interrupt and guide. It should never reach the edge of bullying or intimidating.