Question: I was brought up to believe that you’re supposed to rub your dog’s face in their mess as part of their potty training. But I’m getting some pushback from my wife. What is the answer?
Answer: I saw this same technique as a little boy and I could not wrap my mind around the whole concept of loving your dog, yet doing something that seemed so mean. Thankfully, this archaic method used in the 50s and 60s has been replaced with more rational methods of training. Relationships in a dog’s world are based on loyalty and trust. (One of many things we could learn from our dog.) Rubbing your dog’s face in his poop is a betrayal of that trust and is a form of cruelty in my opinion. There are other ways to communicate what you want, and get what you want, without trying to humiliate your dog.
The most important tenet of all dog training is conditioning through positive feedback. Should we use treats? At first, using a treat as part of the reward can be effective, but love, affection and praise is always the most effective reward, So I only use treats at first, to accentuate the loving. Furthermore, it is literally a lifetime of rewarding your dog for doing what you’ve directed him to do, although it shouldn’t always involve a treat.
Follow your puppy to his potty place and tell him once in a bright, encouraging tone, “potty!” As your dog starts to go, station yourself close by. Don’t start praising until he finishes. You don’t want to distract him out of his groove. As soon as he finishes, at that very moment, you must give him big, big praise and affection, and literally pop a treat into his mouth. [Note: All treats should be very small. This is not a meal, but rather a morsel of oral gratification to heighten the reward aspect.] The idea here is to get his little tail wagging because he’s so excited. “Something wonderful just happened here!” After X number of times, he will figure out the corollary between the action and the reward.
So exactly what do you do when your puppy has an accident? Start by seeing to it he doesn’t have a mishap. We accomplish this mostly by keeping a vigilant eye on him. If you cannot watch him, he should be crated, as a crate is a marvelous, natural tool for potty training. Besides taking him out after he naps, plays or eats, watch for signs he needs to go. Most dogs will sniff and circle just prior to squatting. Be observant and determine what his pre-potty ritual is. As soon as you see the dance begin, whisk him outside, take him to his place and implement the above routine. If you’re late and you don’t catch him till he’s mid-squat, shout “No!”, then scoop him up and take him out. If you totally miss the “event” and come upon an accident, there’s not much you can do with a little puppy besides blame yourself. He just got to the planet and does not fully understand the routine… yet.
With an older dog, do not call him to come to you when you discover a transgression. Go to him and either carry or lead him by his collar to the scene of the crime. Then grab him by the back of his scruff and push his nose about four inches from the infraction. Give him a little shake and say “This is bad…This is very bad!” And that’s it. Don’t mention it again. You’re done. And while negative reinforcement is sometimes necessary, that’s not the reason your dog will catch on here. The “reward element” is what conditions your dog to do what you want. When we become proficient at rewarding our dog, they actually become eager to conform to our wishes.
Gregg Flowers is a Shreveport native who owns Dog’s Best Friend in the Tampa, Florida, area. He also serves as a behavioral consultant for several local agencies. Write to him by mail at P.O. Box 25461, Sarasota, FL 34277, or by email to [email protected].