By: Lori Verni
Remember the rolled up newspaper? Used by our grandparents and those before them, this was the accepted method of correcting one’s dog for any infraction. Perhaps you yourself have used a rolled up newspaper, either to whack the dog, or to whack your hand, making a corrective noise.
There are several problems with this method. First is that it can cause your dog to become ‘hand shy’. Even if you’ve never actually hit your dog with your hand (and even if you’ve only used the paper to make a noise), this can cause your dog to flinch when you make sudden movements. Since most people see the importance of not making their dog fearful, and certainly don’t want him to act as if they beat him, this is something to avoid for that reason alone.
Another reason is that historically, the rolled up newspaper was used to correct the dog for all crimes committed… even after the fact. For example, if your pet chewed a shoe this morning and you didn’t find it until the afternoon, the rolled up newspaper would have been used along with the ‘drag & show’ to yell at the dog for his earlier transgression. Unfortunately, if your dog is sleeping in the kitchen, and then receives this type of correction, in his mind he’s being corrected for sleeping in the kitchen… not for chewing the shoe. Timing is everything with dogs.
Here is a professional recommendation for the rolled up newspaper. Take a newspaper, roll it up, and tape it with duct tape so it stays rolled.
When you walk into your dining room and find that your dog pooped there an hour ago, get out the rolled up newspaper.
Now, firmly whack yourself over the head with it! You were supposed to be supervising the dog!
Next, put it in your fireplace and use it for kindling.
Need a replacement method? By working on some obedience training with your pet, you can clearly teach him the difference between ‘no’ and ‘good dog’. He will become familiar with the fact that a tug on his collar means ‘no’. Then when you catch him in the act of doing something wrong, you can provide a verbal ‘no’ correction, accompanied by the token gesture of a tug on the collar. Of course, you’ll also make sure the timing is such that he knows what he’s being corrected for.
By supervising your dog more, and using appropriate teaching methods, you’ll soon enjoy a much more well behaved pet!
