Dog Discipline Fundamentals
Sometimes it seems the biggest problem with dog discipline is people. We're almost all guilty of having good intentions when it comes to dog discipline, but we just don't follow through. Even those of us who take the time to attend dog obedience lessons with our companion, don't always do our homework, assuming perhaps that the dog will remember everything it learned in class. Most dogs, even the more independent or stubborn breeds, want to please, and tend to respond well to discipline.
Aside from formal obedience training, two of the most important things we can do in teaching our dog right from wrong is to have patience, and the wisdom to take preventive steps to keep bad things from happening in the first place. We don't housebreak a puppy by scolding him when he makes a poop in the hallway, and maybe sticking him out the back yard afterwards. The puppy might come to the conclusion that if it poops somewhere else next time, like in the kitchen, it won't get scolded, or it might come to the conclusion that the back yard is a fun place to be, and now it knows how to get out there.
Ambush - One of the ways to teach a dog discipline is by using what is called the set up. Knowing a dog's bad habit, you figure out a way in advance to discourage the dog the next time it practices that habit, often by startling or scaring it. You don't have to make your dog a nervous wreck in the process, as a good scare may only be needed once, and seldom more than twice. An effective tool is to place a handful of pennies in an empty soda can, keep it handy, and if for example, the dog jumps up on you or puts its paws on the table while you're eating, shake the can, suddenly and sharply. That will usually cure the habit. You may have to do it a second time, but seldom more than that. A set-up that startles a dog usually works best on a puppy, which is the stage you want to be imposing discipline in the first place. It may not be as effective on an adult attack dog, and may even be counterproductive.
Go To Your Room - Time outs can be effective too, surprisingly so, especially for a dog that craves attention. Time-outs work on little children, and they even are effective when training horses. Put the offending animal, in this case a dog, in it's crate, in another room, or simply ignore it for awhile, and it will get the message. It may take a little more time for the dog to associate the time-out with the evil deed it performed, but the time-out will give it time to think things through.
Punishment And Reward - There are other methods that can be employed as well, and sometimes the breed or personality of your dog will determine which measures work best. You may want to consult with a dog trainer, or even buy a book on the subject. The best approach of all is the obedience school, where the dog learns from the techniques applied, and you learn the techniques. The common thread in all of this is corrective action, action which gives the dog a chance to make the connection between what it did wrong, and the consequences. The other part of the discipline equation is of course reward, rewarding the dog when it does good. The average dog needs some of both. Remember that when a trainer speaks of punishment and reward, punishment is not meant in the abusive sense. Punishment is being startled by the shaker can, not being hit by it. Reward is not having to hear the shaker can.