Yes, you heard right! A child’s water pistol or a simple spray bottle makes an excellent dog barking deterrent. Fill the pistol or bottle with water. Directing the jet into your dog’s mouth each time your Cocker barks will help you to teach your pet to stop nuisance barking.
If something is being used for punishment, but it does not suppress behavior, it’s ineffective and often just plain abuse. Yes, even if it is “only” a spray of water, if you have to use it a more than twice to try and suppress the same behaviour, clearly something is off.
One way to stop a puppy from biting is to say “no” while holding his mouth/muzzle closed for a second, followed by ignoring the puppy. Holding the puppy’s mouth helps to get the point across – “don’t bite” – for some puppies.
Prepare a mixture of 50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent water. Stir the ingredients to mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture in a spray bottle. Keep the bottle on hand during training.
Instead of giving your puppy time-outs for hard biting, start to give him time-outs every time you feel his teeth touch your skin. The instant you feel your puppy’s teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds.
Never, ever hit or otherwise physically punish your dog. If your pet seems to be biting out of aggression, speak to a veterinarian or dog trainer about ways to manage that behavior.
In cases where biting is exceptionally strong or persistent, keep a water spray bottle handy. Accompany your firm “NO!” with a squirt of water in puppy’s face to interrupt the behavior.
Training Tips
It’s not meant to be mean or a way to tease your dog. If you see bad behavior, grab the bottle, give him a squirt and put it back down – ideally he shouldn’t see you pulling that trigger. Then toss him a toy to chew on and pat him on the head to enforce the desired behavior.
Doing something to intentionally bother or startle your dog might get a funny video, but over time, it can erode your dog’s trust in you. It can also put you at risk of being bitten or lead to your dog feeling like they need to protect themself from you, the person your dog should feel safest with.
Contemporary experts urge against all uses of physical discipline. Tapping or bopping a dog on the nose can be misconstrued as playful behavior, and being too rough with your dog can actually trigger biting, reactive, or defensive behavior.
Don’t yell at your puppy, tap your puppy on the nose or hold their mouth shut when they bite. This will only confuse your puppy and teach them not to trust you when you want to play. Don’t antagonize your puppy to get him to bite for training or any other purpose.
Vinegar will treat minor skin irritations, help to prevent ear infections and even make your dog smell better. Both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are helpful but typically are used in different ways.
To make a urine deterrent spray for your home, you will need white vinegar. Combine this with an equal volume of water in a spray bottle. Shake well to mix and then spray on your carpet. This is a particularly effective method if your dog continually pees in one specific area of your home.
Once a week, spray your dog’s fur with the mixture. Although not scientifically proven to get rid of flea, the acidic taste of the vinegar may repel fleas and other parasites. If your dog dislikes being sprayed, dip a washcloth into the mixture and rub your dog’s coat. There is no need to rinse your dog afterward.
Call your dog over and let him see the treat in your hand. As you close your hand, say “No!”. Let him lick and sniff, but do not give him the treat. When he finally gives up and backs away, praise him and give him the treat.
The most common aggressive puppy behaviour warning signs include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominant body language/play, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and persistent biting/mouthing.
“The motivation for lots of dog bites is fear,” he says. “Others are territorial - if they’re guarding something that they highly value, or defending their favourite resting place, their bed… Or if they’ve learned to defend, say, a dog bowl - that can result in aggression.”
Yelling at your dog does not work because it will just get him more stressed or it will only increase his energy level and how excited he is about the situation. Instead, your Bark Busters dog trainer can teach you how to use a calm yet firm voice to refocus your dog and to teach the desired behavior.
Don’t punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, just clean it up. Rubbing your puppy’s nose in it, taking them to the spot and scolding them or any other punishment will only make them afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence.
When your dog is barking, say “Quiet” in a calm, firm voice. Wait until they stop barking, even if it’s just to take a breath, then praise them and give them a treat. Just be careful to never reward them while they are barking.
If your dog is a water dog, you may have seen them biting water, barking, and having a great time playing. You may have even encouraged their water play, since chasing the hose or swimming fetch make great exercise opportunities for your pet, especially during the summer months. Normally, water play isn’t a problem.
Some dogs become completely obsessed with water from a hose, lawn sprinkler or bathroom faucet. For the most part, these dogs will play endlessly for hours and never tire. But when dogs stand next to a hose, lawn sprinkler or faucet, waiting for it to be turned on, that may indicate an obsession.
Best Anti-Chew Sprays- Rocco & Roxie Extreme Bitter Spray. 90% Success Rate.
Fooey! Ultra-Bitter Training Spray.
Emmy’s Best. 78% Success Rate.
Grannick’s Bitter Apple. 76% Success Rate.
Pets Are Kids Too Bitter Spray. 70% Success Rate.
Fur Goodness Sake Bitter Apple Spray. 64% Success Rate.
Out!
Vet’s Best Bitter Cherry Spray.
Dogs are not fond of the sharp smell of citrus, and an easy homemade solution to chewing could be sitting in your fruit bowl. A simple squirt of lemon, orange or lime juice can go a long way toward keeping your dog away from items you don’t want chewed.