disciplining a basset hound

Question
If a three year old basset hound jumps up and takes a piece of chicken off of
a kitchen counter, would the following discipline be appropriate.   Approach
dog very angrily, as he is hiding in a corner, grab hold of him by the collar
and pull on his coat of fur while the dog whimpers in pain, drag him into the
kitchen, pick him up and put his nose in the plate where the chicken was and
yell at the top of one's lungs "No, No, No.  Put dog down and as dog leaves
the kitchen, run after it again to discipline a second time.   I witnessed this
tonight and was outraged.   Help me to know what is the right discipline.

Answer
Dear Kate,

Thank you for writing to me about this hideous situation with your poor Basset Hound who has now been terrified by a big bully, who is completely ignorant of how to deal with dog behavior. The perfect setting for creating either an aggressive dog or a pyschologically/ physically damaged dog has been created!  What this big bully has done is to totally extinguish any trust that this poor dog might have had in him up till now.  I can bet that this isn't the first display of aggression that your friend has shown to this dog.  Aggression begats aggression!!!!

There are alarms that can train a dog not to steal food from the counter.  They are available on line.  This would be the proper approach to this problem. You place the alarm on the counter with something yummy and when the dog jumps up the alarm frightens him, which is a totally different experience than being terrified by a human.  I can guarantee that the dog doesn't have a clue why he was brutalized..all he understands is that the person he wants to love and trust has turned on him, hurt him and psychologically wounded him.

Your friend can also prevent the entire situation by not leaving food on the counter in the first place, thereby avoiding temptation..or using a baby gate at the entrance to the kitchen.

I was so upset when I read your email that I actually had to take time to calm down before responding.  Your friend has put this dog in physical and emotional danger.  He doesn't deserve to have this dog and in my opinion should be reported for animal abuse.  It's people like this that should be spay/neutered so that they don't create more of themselves.

Signs of Stress in a Dog:

-yawning, looking away, blinking rapidly, licking their lips/nose repeatedly
-Increased respiration (after little or no physical activity)
-Low tail and body carriage
-tense, slow, stiff-legged movements

A good dog trainer, a good animal behaviorist, or even someone who wishes to do well for the dogs in his care, will *change* their approach when they see these signs.  "I'm not comfortable, please back off." say the dogs with these groups of signals. The hanging, choking, kicking, and "biting" methods are pure violence for the dog.  These violent methods demonstrate to the dog to go into a supposed state of 'calm submission.  

What is actually happening to the dog is severe shut down, in many cases, also known as 'learned helplessness'.  These methods are based on nonsensical "discipline" and creates a dog that is, one day, surrendered to the shelter because "He just bit, out of the blue, with no warning and no provocation....."

http://care.dogboston.com/avsab-say-no-to-punishment-based-approach/

http://thebark.typepad.com/barking/2006/05/more_on_millan_.html

http://www.urbandawgs.com/divided_profession.html

Tell your friend to take some anger management classes and at the same time start watching a program on animal planet called "It's Me or The Dog" with trainer Victoria Stillwell.  There are also great books that describe positive training techniques that will make your dog not only into the dog of your dreams, but never harm a dog either physically or emotionally.

This sweet Basset Hound has no voice of his own. I hope that you can become his advocate and stand up for him.  He needs you for his emotional and physical well being.

Good Luck

Shelley Davis