[WorriedMom]

A trainer I met in the dog park mentioned that the squirt bottle technique is great to train puppies at first.

Squirt the bottle and give them a reward when they stop what they are doing.

Thoughts on this technique?

[Yogi]

I started using a squirt bottle years ago to train my cats and carried it over with my dogs. It has worked great to the point that all I need to do in most cases is just pick up the bottle and the cat or dog who's name I called, stops instantly. I did not have to reward them with a treat, they just learned when I said NO it meant NO.

[Todd]

I agree that this is a good method as well. Much more effective than using a choke collar or electric one. The water is not painful, it's just uncomfortable enough to stop the dog's undesirable action.

[Lara's mom]

I've used the squirt bottle for years with good results. I call it "liquid persuasion."

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I've used the squirt bottle for years with good results. I call it "liquid persuasion."

Yeah, you ought to see it when they are in the back yard and get to vocal. Obviously a squirt bottle per se is useless but boy when I pick up the hose...now that is a big spray bottle and you would be shocked to see how quiet 25 dogs can get....

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yogi

Yeah, you ought to see it when they are in the back yard and get to vocal. Obviously a squirt bottle per se is useless but boy when I pick up the hose...now that is a big spray bottle and you would be shocked to see how quiet 25 dogs can get....

OMG that's too funny...

Ever try a super soaker??? How bout a fire hose??? Just kidding lol...

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Todd

OMG that's too funny...

Ever try a super soaker??? How bout a fire hose??? Just kidding lol...

I'll tell you though, when they see me pick it up or for that matter even if I yell HOSE, they shut up almost immediately and head for the back section of the yard. I have one that sometimes refuses to come in after being out for awhile. All I have to do is go for the hose and she will fly in from out in the yard like a streak trying to get in before I grab hold of the nozzle to spray her. Granted, I have not sprayed her in years but sometimes, just once is enough and they figure it out.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yogi

I'll tell you though, when they see me pick it up or for that matter even if I yell HOSE, they shut up almost immediately and head for the back section of the yard. I have one that sometimes refuses to come in after being out for awhile. All I have to do is go for the hose and she will fly in from out in the yard like a streak trying to get in before I grab hold of the nozzle to spray her. Granted, I have not sprayed her in years but sometimes, just once is enough and they figure it out.

Sounds like a pretty effective method...

[CorkyMax]

Lol, Now I have the opposite problem--My 2 love to go after the squirting water from the hose! I don't like them getting soaked and going in the house that way--you know cockers and all that hair! I have to keep raising the hose up but they even jump to get at it. Sure is hard to water the garden sometimes. And they love drinking from the hose too.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Lol, Now I have the opposite problem--My 2 love to go after the squirting water from the hose! I don't like them getting soaked and going in the house that way--you know cockers and all that hair! I have to keep raising the hose up but they even jump to get at it. Sure is hard to water the garden sometimes. And they love drinking from the hose too.

Lucky actually goes after the hose too from time to time...

[WorriedMom]

So i tried it today. I think he is beggining to understand no just in one day of using it.

BUT when he is in play mode he bows down to it and starts barking growling and pouncing at it / whatever is behind it (me) and starts getting really playful. It works when he is not in a playful mood like just chewing on a shoe or something.

Should I only use it in certain situations??

I dont' know how to calm him down when he is really hyper besides wrestle him to get the leash and and take him for a walk....

I might keep trying and see if it helps him get the hang of it but only use it when I think he will listen.

What do you guys think?

[Lara's mom]

Try putting some ice in the bottle so when you zap the dog with the water, it's really cold.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by WorriedMom

So i tried it today. I think he is beggining to understand no just in one day of using it.

BUT when he is in play mode he bows down to it and starts barking growling and pouncing at it / whatever is behind it (me) and starts getting really playful. It works when he is not in a playful mood like just chewing on a shoe or something.

Should I only use it in certain situations??

I dont' know how to calm him down when he is really hyper besides wrestle him to get the leash and and take him for a walk....

I might keep trying and see if it helps him get the hang of it but only use it when I think he will listen.

What do you guys think?

Where are you spraying it? In the dog's face or body?

[GSDS4Life]

Honestly, I have never used this for training purpose.

Can I ask when you are using it and why? What is it that your pup is doing that you need to squirt him?

Using this method could cause some fears with some dogs.Using a spray bottle is not training and it is not teaching. Commands and re-directing are part of training.

I hate using this example but here goes. Would you spray your child in the face for doing something wrong? I don't think so. I know, a child is a human. But remember, raising a pup is like raising a child. Time, patience and understanding.

[Yogi]

I think it is important to remember that there is no one training method for all dogs or breeds. Whether some believe or not, simply put there is not one. Based on this the spray bottle is primarily used as means of distraction ie: barking or getting into things they should not. As one who has raised dogs for over 50 years I can attest that it does not cause any harm and in fact in most cases (outside of those dogs that like to try to catch the quirt in the mouth) it actually does work. Is it a training tool, depends on what one means with regards to training. My 11 cats all know their names and nearly always come when called. As a deterrent for getting up on shelves etc. I used a spray bottle years ago and it worked to the point that all I need do was say no and reach for the bottle and they ceased what they were doing. I carried this over to the dogs and received the same success. It in no way has ever harmed any of my dogs and they have no fear of water or the bottle but do understand that I will use it to spray them and again, just reaching for it and saying no, they have learned what they can and what they cannot do. The spray bottle is semi retired at this point but with the new pups I am sure it will again be back in use. In my case I have used this on my Shep/Husky, Mal/Wolf, my Aussies, my Miniature Pinschers, Papillons, IG's and my German Pinscher and none have any adverse reaction of fear from it. The just associate it with meaning "NO" and to stop what they are doing.

[GSDS4Life]

I agree. There is no one method of training. And we use the methods we can. But some methods at times don't need to be used. Using commands and redirecting are pretty much as important.

I have raised and trained all my dogs without using training tools. No crating, no prongs, no squirt bottles. Everything was done by commands and redirecting, time and patience. It all payed off. And it helps that the GSD is the most easiest breed to train.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by GSDS4Life

I agree. There is no one method of training. And we use the methods we can. But some methods at times don't need to be used. Using commands and redirecting are pretty much as important.

I have raised and trained all my dogs without using training tools. No crating, no prongs, no squirt bottles. Everything was done by commands and redirecting, time and patience. It all payed off. And it helps that the GSD is the most easiest breed to train.

As you put it, GSD's and training go somewhat hand in hand. Now lets see this work with Manx cats and Miniature Pinschers which though are extremely intelligent simply balk at the concept of training as bred to be free thinking and carry this trait more so than just about any other in the terrier family. In addition to Manx cats which also possess an extremely high prey drive and thrive on doing as they please when they please. Trust me, it is not cruel or in anyway harming them but is an excellent distraction technique.
When my GP came to me at approx 13 months old, he had a natural fear of water to the point that if it was raining out, he flatly refused to go outside. A year ago this past summer I decided to use a technique I had used before many times. While he was in the yard I proceeded to spray him with the hose. No matter where he went he was catching a fair amount of water. After a few minutes he was drenched but on a 90 degree day he started loving the water. At the same time he has no more fear and even in a downpour will go out in the yard and do his business. He has no real fear of the hose and has cured his problem. His sister on the other hand who is with a breeder friend of mine, still will not go out if raining. These dogs are 3 years old. My breeder friend is going to take the sister out this summer and work with her and the hose. Once they have gotten soaking wet, the rain is of no issue to them. Typical of short single coated breed dogs in most cases especially in the Zwerg and Deutscher pinschers. My Mal/Wolves and Shep/Huskies never had this problem. Even my Paps have no problems with the rain. So long as the NO command is issued at the time of spraying with a spray bottle, they do catch on and generally quickly. In some, the dogs will take it as a challenge to play in most, they just cease what they are doing. Granted, this is primarily an indoor tool to keep them out of mischief which if you have ever owned a Miniature Pinscher, you would understand. Their curiosity is rivaled only by a cat.

[GSDS4Life]

I'm not saying it's cruel. I'm just saying that using commands should be enough. It also depends what commands you use for what reason

Actually Yogi, I'm around Miniature Pinschers quite a bit. My mother has 2(shasta and Parker) and a Portuguese Water Dog, Radar.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by GSDS4Life

I'm not saying it's cruel. I'm just saying that using commands should be enough. It also depends what commands you use for what reason

Actually Yogi, I'm around Miniature Pinschers quite a bit. My mother has 2(shasta and Parker) and a Portuguese Water Dog, Radar.

for the record though, even in the world of Miniature Pinschers there is a difference in the true ones and the ones that most assume to be true. Purebred status is quite different when comparing a real Zwergpinscher and one that most in North America think of as one. To note, they are terriers not toy breed dogs. Unfortunately far too many have been bred down to meet a toy breed assumption taking much of the breeds natural ability out of it.
Mine are terriers first. They can go to ground with any Parson, JRT or any other terrier. This includes their ability to dig. Mine are the in 11 1/2 to 14 inch and 12 to 15lbs group and are used on farms and acreage where their are rats. Their natural instincts are very strong in mine which you probably will not see in most others. From the age of approx 4 to 5 months they know exactly what they have to do, and do it. The original Zwergpinscher was not a family pet but a feral dog left on its own to perform what it was bred for and with very little human intervention. Mine comply with this therefore average training does not work. They are not in it to appease me instead they do what they need to based heavily on instincts. Indoors the advantage due to their overly innate curiosity which gets them into thing they should not, the spray bottle has been a great tool. Where instructing them verbally is useless as since as soon as your back is turned they continue what they were doing. In others not to the full breed ie: terrier, I could see where training works and have seen this unfortunately, most of those if a rat or mouse ran in front of them wouldn't have a clue what to do. If they did, it may be only so far as to chase but to actually catch, kill and start to eat them. No, those ones do not have this in them anymore.
My Aussies in the late 60's through the 70's when I was raising them and breeding them I had no problems. They were trained by 7 months to work from hand signals with the only noise was the snap of my finger which meant to return as in those cases they were not in my line of sight so they could not see me. As with GSD's, this breed is extremely intelligent and very easy to teach so long as they are doing work that they love to do. Pinschers on the other hand did not rely on humans for this but left to do on their own. Thus training techniques only defeat the purpose. Being around 2 is in no way an understanding of this breed. I am around 15 or 16 at a time and I have seen the difference over the past many years from those I have bred and raise to those I have rescued. The difference is like night and day. Some of my rescues have shown great ability and instincts but many simply would rather just be a house pet and have no clue what they are.
The pics below give you some idea.
The first is European Champion that is indicative of what the Zwerg is suppose to look like.
the second pic is my breeding female and the last one of my breeding males.
These dogs are soundly built with strong leg and chest deep with broad shoulders and powerful thighs and hind legs. They are built for the speed and ability to go to ground after anything which they do the minute they hit the yard. In my case my back yard looks like a mine field..

[gracieownsme]

Hmmm this is interesting... what about.... when i take Gracie for a walk she is very aggressive towards other dogs and even sometimes people. Carry a spray bottle????