I recently adopted a young lab who sometimes bites when excited during play. I’ve been using yelping and stopping play when he bites too hard, and it’s been effective. However, recently when I yelped and turned away, he scratched me and wouldn’t stop, so I reacted by hitting him, which I regret deeply. I’ve been trying positive training techniques like clicker training, but sometimes my reactions are more negative. I feel terrible and guilty about this incident and worry about its impact on our relationship.
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Hey Ginger!
It sounds like you’re going through a challenging phase with your new lab.
It’s understandable to feel upset about the incident where you reacted by hitting your dog.
It’s important to remember that dogs, especially young ones, can test our patience during training, and handling these situations calmly is crucial for building trust and a positive relationship.
Moving forward, here are some steps you can take to improve your training approach and strengthen your bond:
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Apologize and Rebuild Trust: Dogs are forgiving creatures. Apologize to your dog through positive interaction and play. Spend quality time together doing activities your dog enjoys, such as going for walks or playing with toys.
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Positive Reinforcement: Continue using positive training techniques like clicker training. Reward good behavior with treats, praise, and attention. This reinforces desirable behaviors and helps your dog understand what you expect.
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Redirect and Distract: When your dog gets overly excited and starts biting, redirect their attention to a toy or a training command they know well. This helps shift their focus away from inappropriate behavior.
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Consistency: Consistency is key in dog training. Make sure everyone in your household follows the same rules and uses the same training techniques. This helps your dog learn faster and reduces confusion.
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Patience and Understanding: Remember that training takes time and persistence. Dogs don’t learn overnight, so be patient with your dog and yourself. Seek help from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist if needed.
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Self-Control: Practice self-control and avoid reacting impulsively when frustrated. Take a moment to breathe and assess the situation calmly before responding.
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Learn from Mistakes: You’ve recognized the mistake and regret hitting your dog. Use this as a learning experience to grow as a pet owner. Focus on positive interactions and building a trusting relationship.
By continuing to use positive reinforcement techniques and showing your dog patience and understanding, you can repair any damage to your relationship and build a strong bond based on trust and mutual respect.
Remember, dogs thrive on love and positive reinforcement, and they can forgive and forget quickly when shown kindness and consistency.
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It is fantastic that you are looking into positive training techniques like clicker training. Recall the importance of patience and consistency. Express more love and apology to your lab, and concentrate on rewarding good behavior. To improve your relationship and foster trust, get advice from a qualified trainer.
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