My darling little dobe has started doing her own landscaping in our garden, not much but I don't want it to get out of hand, so today I decided to try and stop the digging by using a water pistol, and giving her a squirt when she digs, as I have read several threads on the use of such a weapon and its effectiveness. I decided to try this method on another anti-social habit she has of mouthing and nipping, again not a serious problem, after all she is only 14 weeks. It worked an absolute treat, and tonight at tea time instead of her nipping toes under the table, I squirted her once and she retreated to the mat nearby and was perfect all through tea. The problem is she looked at me with such a sad face, I feel positively horrible:(, she did not like me doing it, and it had the desired effect, but I don't want her to hate me, should I continue or should I resort back to the no, no, no, which works up to a point, but 10 seconds later she's back again, at which point we put her in the utility for a few minutes. Any thoughts?

I've used this method on my 2 elkies and it works a treat.Don't worry your pup won't hold it against you .
Archer

Just remember punish=praise. After you've squirted her, when she stops say "good girl". It takes the sting out of the situation. She won't hate you. As she gets older giving her clear rules within the pack will lead to a content dog, she'll love and respect you for being topdog and keeping the pressure off her.
Punish=praise :)

Thanks Archer and taffyparker, I am giving her lots of praise as soon as she has stopped the undesireable behaviour, and it certainly does work with her, just one quick little squirt and she stops immediately and goes submissive. I think I will continue, I don't think it will take long before she behaves herself. She really is a good pup, I just wondered if it was a little excessive as she isn't particularly naughty, and there isn't any aggression in her mouthing, just puppy behaviour.

Hi Jaffa - Don't feel bad !Its puppy behavour now which is sort of ok but if she gets away with it now it won't be fun when she's 6+ months .Take no notice of the face ( could melt a thousand hearts ) ;) They are cheeky little tykes and know they only need to waggle them eyebrows and you'll give in :D
Liz

It has been suggested that the use of a water pistol should be punishment from the 'doggy god!' ie she should not see you squirt her as it is simply a way of distracting her attention. Because she does not associate you with it you should be able to praise her when she stops :)

We have found that giving commands first is the best way. ie give the command if she ignores you squirt her (secretly) then you can put her where you want her and praise her. This way the dog will realise that by ignoring you she gets wet!

Roxanne

Hi Roxanne,

I do tell her to stop first I don't just squirt her and when she doesn't stop she gets a little blast, it's actually a plant sprayer not a pistol, but she does see me do it, but it's not easily hidden so perhaps I might get a small pistol which she won't see so easily and then she won't know who soaked her. She still loves me coz she gave me a big sloppy kiss this morning, and this afternoon we sat in the garden and she snuggled in to me:D

te he he naughty taz naughty.. and I thought you had a perfect little angel.. te he he.. My little angel is flat out that’s the only time he is an angel.. Don’t feel bad I also used the water pistol on Sydney about 2 weeks ago. He loves to chew the bushes we have so it has curbed his interest, he still does it but a firm No usually works. I say usually there are those deaf moments he has.

I didn’t let Sydney see me squirt him when he roamed around the house mauling the curtains or anything else that took his fancy when viola a quick squirt behind the head worked a treat.. te he he.. He had the funniest, “where did that come from” expression on his face, his head going from side to side looking at me, but as he didn’t see the pistol & I made no fuss or spoke to him he doesn’t seem to have associated it with me (unless he is like that elephant in the advert and will remember that and one day as were snuggled together in the backyard he might decide to release his vengeance on me).

Now I have forgotten were I left the water pistol I haven’t used it for the past week. No! seems to be good enough. (BTW don’t buy one for the kids or else there will be many water fights held in & outside like we had that first soaking wet weekend).

My dogs see exactly where the water comes from, in fact I only have to point at the bottle to get results, so I don't think it needs to be hidden really. Though maybe coming out of the blue makes it more effective???

Willis catches the water in his mouth and drinks it. Then he goes and opens the cupboard door and chews up the water pistol :rolleyes:

I only wish I had found a way to stop him digging, theres a 2 foot deep trench in the front garden and you daren't walk around the back in the dark

LOL :) Willis sounds quite a charecter , thats cheered me up the this morning , im sure we dont give give dogs the credit they deserve , when we say but they dont know what they are doing , are we sure ? My oscar looks sooooooo guilty when hes done something wrong .

I was always told that "guilty" look is in fact fear of our displeasure - the pup is afraid of how we are going to react, and it has no idea what has caused this sudden 'attack' on it.

I used to take a jiff lemon filled with water out on walks as murph was easily distracted by cats -dogs etc and he would sit down and open his mouth for a quick drink :D :D
liz

Mmmmm. MB was due to go in for some Xrays on her poorly right shoulder this morning. She has however jumped up to the kitchen work surface and pinched some french bread so Xrays now postponed until Tuesday. The vets asked if she had a poorly shoulder how did she jump up! Have they ever owned a six month old Lab I ask myself ?? :D She then went into the garden and jumped into one of my big planters and dug up a big Rosemary bush and brought it into show me with a big grin her her little puppy face and a tail wagging ten to the dozen ! I dispair !! She has been on rest for the last week and is going stir crazy ! :D

Lucy

Willis is in the utility room at the moment "thinking about what he's done". Honestly, he's at *that* stage at the moment, the haring round, not listening and doing kamikaze stuff like jumping in the bath (while I'm still in it). And at 9 stone @ 7 months its not funny!!

I'm planning the outside kennel and run as we speak! ;)

Perhaps these adolesent mutts need to post on here to talk through what they are going through and maybe we could start to learn to understand what is going through their little minds ! :D

I think Willis and MB could do with being Penpals ! :D

Lucy

Absolutely. Its no wonder I need a store of red wine in the cupboard or I get the shakes.

Willis' email address will be [email]willis@the-rspca.com[/email] if he doesn't start behaving!! :D

LOL !! The blue cross is nearer for us ! That is always the ultimate threat for our girls when they are being trouble !!

Just think of me as I am of the grog and ciggies as pregnant so can't use any substances to ease me through this !!

Lucy

I used to live not far from Blue Cross too - in Abingdon.... Blue Cross - thats one sad place :(

Oh I can remember that 9 months of no drinking, nearly finished me off I can tell you - add Willis into the equation and I'd be throwing myself off the nearest bridge! How far gone are you?

Chloe :)

We are near the Burford Blue Cross.

I am only twenty three weeks so another sventeen weeks to go!

It is good as Mike my husband is on the waggon with me so we have become reformed characters, for now !! (

Where in the Midlands are you ?

Lucy