3 Reasons Spray Bottles Are Not Effective for Training Your Dog

Dog training comes down to an understanding of reward and punishment. Reward is easy. Who doesn't love rubbing a good pup's belly? Punishment, on the other hand, is difficult, especially when it is misunderstood as abuse. Punishment does not involve striking an animal or making them fearful. Therefore, what is the punishment? Think of discipline in terms of correction. You see a negative behavior like barking at the neighbor, and you want to correct it. Unfortunately, many people turn to the water bottle for correction, and there are at least three reasons it is not effective.

1. Some Dogs Like It
That's correct, some dogs like water. Therefore, spraying them with a water bottle only excites them. When you pair that excitement with the satisfaction they get from barking, you only end up reinforcing the unwanted behavior.

2. Does Not Suppress Behavior
The chosen punishment must be enough of a deterrent to suppress unwanted behavior without becoming abusive. While water might not seem abusive, it is easy to overuse it because you do not see the harm. Unfortunately, some dogs are terrified of water, and a normal fear response is barking or growling. Therefore, if you are trying to correct barking behavior in such a dog, you might empty an entire bottle of water, which is going to scar the animal emotionally. A punishment should suppress behavior without harming the animal.

3. Might Result in Fear
The key to dog training is to have a punishment that is balanced with reward. For many DIY dog trainers, they do not understand the subtleties of such actions. Therefore, they can use too much of a punishment resulting in fear of punishment and the owner. When discussing water bottles, using this punishment method too often can result in an unhealthy fear of water, which can be dangerous. However, potentially more upsetting is when a canine fears their owner because of the inappropriate use of punishment.

Dog training is a specialized skill, and professionals spend time and money becoming certified. Instead of trying DIY training solutions that could inhibit your relationship with your dog, consult with the San Diego based company Specialty Dog Training.