There is no need for the ammonia, or to scent the water in any way. It’s the shock of being hit with fluid that’s the point, not the smell. Ten minutes later, you dog is not going to smell ammonia on his fur and say, “I got this for chewing on a shoe,” because dogs have extremely short memories for cause and effect. Punishment only means something if it is immediately after the act. It does not increase the efficacy to extend the punishment because, within moments, the dog has dissasociated his behavior with it.
My grandmother trained her dog with a squirt bottle full of plain water. After a while, all she had to do was show the dog the squirt bottle, and he immediately ceased his misbehavior. I trained my dog with a squirt gun. I shot her whenever she chewed, and she learned very quickly. Neither of us ever needed anything other than water.
Have him snipped and if that doesn’t work I’d have him put down. I’m not an animal lover anyway (not a hater, either) but I can’t see spending hundreds of bucks on obedience school for an animal. Unless you’re rolling in dough, you probably have better things to do with your money.
Maybe that sounds cold but you can’t afford to be sued by someone who has been attacked by your dog. (Not to mention what could happen to you personally if your dog ended up attacking a kid and the parents found you in a dark alley.)
I don’t think that ALL Dobermans are “bad” – it depends on how they were treated, etc. I do think that there is a point of no return for dogs, though, and no matter how good you are to them, if the previous owner had the dog long enough to really mess 'em up, they’re beyond help after that. You obviously are a responsible person otherwise you wouldn’t be concerned (I wish there were more dog owners like you out there), but that would matter little if the dog ends up hurting someone, even though you would have tried your best.
Hi. Thank you for all your responses. And some excellent links.
My apologies for not responding earlier. I am currently in my hometown, getting things in order for my dog. He’s getting a new play area on the side of the bungalow shortly. I am now consulting with his vet and trainer to control his aggression, improve his socialization skills, and retrain him to be a good doggy. The vet, having examined him, has recommended neutering. From all your responses, and the vet’s explanation of the procedure and after effects, I am inclined towards getting him neutered. Although I am a bit hesitant.
Unless you’re a professional breeder, you should have all pets neutered or spayed. The last thing this world needs is domesticated critters reproducing randomly - I cringe every time I see someone on a street corner with a big cardboard box and a “Free Puppy’s” sign. Do the world a favor - control pet overpopulation. Let the kids learn about “the miracle of birth” somewhere other than your back yard.
Also, if the dog is spending all his time in an enclosure without LOTS of human contact, that may also be part of the problem. Dogs that are going to be around humans need to live with humans on a day-to-day basis.
Running away from you is pretty normal. He probably understands that being caught will result in something he considers undesirable (i.e., being penned up.) Dogs have to learn to come when you call – it doesn’t happen automatically.
Sounds like what would help most is training and spending more time with the dog. Consult vet and trainers, as other folks have said. Clicker training is very good, but you have to learn good timing for it to work. You have to first associate the click with a reward. Then you have to start clicking only when the dog does something you want him to do. This is trickier than it sounds. It takes a while for the dog to understand what’s going on. Guidance from an experienced trainer would help.
Good luck. And I agree with the neutering. Unless you’re going to breed, neuter.