People have been debating the morality of water-spraying dogs for years. Is it a necessary method for correcting your pet, or is it animal abuse?
The answer depends on who you ask. Some people believe that inflicting physical harm on an animal is always wrong and should never be done so as a form of punishment. Others believe that in some circumstances, using physical punishment to correct your pet’s behavior can be beneficial.
Which side has the supporting evidence, even though both sides of this debate think they are correct?
It’s the former. Almost all dog experts concur that water-spraying a dog is abusive because it is not necessary. There are much more effective ways to teach your dog appropriate behavior.
Does spraying a dog with water cool them down?
Yes, especially if it’s hot during the summer months. Misting a dog with water from a water bottle works well as a cooling technique. You can also use a water gun. A mist may be preferable for some dogs because a forceful spray won’t be as effective on them.
Many dogs are not as hard-tempered as my puppy was; what happens when the punishment is too severe? There are numerous restrictions to this method if you squirt a sensitive dog. The dog could develop a fear of bottles or water. Future conflicts will arise during bathtime and any medical procedures involving a bottle. You might experience a fearful reaction from your dog whenever your friend visits if the punishment took place when your dog was introducing a certain guest. Not much fun for any party involved.
This rule comes back to the element of surprise. The punishment will become equal with you and the dog will start to fear you if you didn’t perform your pink panther-like detective stalking well enough and your dog notices you and your arm approaching with the horrible bottle that produces the horrible spray. Fear frequently results in aggressive behavior, so this could become a vicious cycle. Even if your dog doesn’t experience fear, it’s likely that he or she will continue to engage in the undesirable behavior when you aren’t around.
I have occasionally used a squirt bottle as a form of discipline. It’s worked. My puppy at the time was taught to stay away from the curtain, rug, and a corner of the coffee table as a result. With the knowledge I currently have on dog behavior, I would not use the squirt bottle as a training method with my clients’ or my own dogs.
When we decide to use the water bottle to spray our dog for that annoying behavior, we quickly slide down a slippery slope. The amount of rewards must always outweigh the amount of punishments in order to successfully train a dog to perform any behavior. The “bad” thing (the enjoyable, reinforcing activity of chewing the cushion into pieces) will be more rewarding if the “good” thing to do, such as leaving the couch cushion alone, is adequately reinforced. If so, we are not really teaching the dog what we want to do. We are only now beginning to notice the effects of breaking the aforementioned rules.
Most dogs have some annoying habits. We humans want them to stop as quickly as possible. Some people use a spray bottle, a small hand tool, to stop behaviors they don’t like. As long as there have been spray bottles, people have probably been training dogs with them. The device is inexpensive, simple to obtain, and shouldn’t actually hurt the dog, right? Well, not in my opinion. A sharp squirt of water in the dog’s face ought to stop jumping, chewing, nipping, and barking pretty effectively.
Your Dog May Become Depressed
Dogs have been known to experience depression due to negative reinforcement, which can result in abnormal behaviors like anxiety, aggression, and even self-harm. Fortunately, you can avoid all of that by simply never spraying your dog with water.
FAQ
Can I spray my dog with water to stop whining?
Squirt. When your dog begins to whine or engage in other attention-seeking behavior, spritz him with water. It will stop the whining. If he whines again, repeat.
Why do dogs like to be sprayed water?
Some energetic dogs enjoy having water sprayed them in the face. It will provide them with stimulation they find enjoyable and function for them like a game.