My dog is a humper!

denice37

i didn't suggest frightening the pup, just the noise creates a distraction long enough to get his favourite toy or treat. This is one of the method that they use to determine whether a dog is suitable to be a comfort pet in our local hospice. This isn't cruel it's merely a creates a diversion,

Raksha

But you don't know the pup - what doesn't frighten one, can scare another silly, especially at certain development phases - why do you think they do that test - to see what level the dog reacts to - and these are adult dogs, not puppies.

Aversive methods aren't effective, pure and simple.

patchwork_cat

Interesting to read this, we took our Goldie to clicker training. The trainer was supposed to be rated and had done loads of courses etc. Our dog would get all excited at classes and bark - the only thing she tried was shhh a few times and then a spray of bitter apple. Gut feeling was this was wrong - do I take it that she was wrong?

devotee

The thing is to spray when the dog is not looking directly at you and is not very close, otherwise he'll start associating the hand with something unpleasant like a squirt of water that distracts him from doing something that he enjoys! I don't think it's harmful at all, it just stops him from what he's doing.

denice37

they also do this with puppies, not to distress them but to ensure that the handler can get the dogs full attention as the hospice can be an unpredictable place. You are right that i don't know this pup and only the owner can decide whether to try any of the suggestions here.