Sometimes people say they taught their pet never to go potty in the house again by rubbing their nose in the accident.
… I say, that’s not very nice.
Though I doubt most people actually followed through on threats of such treatment, since it’s a commonly traded bit of advice I think the idea is worth addressing.
Problem 1: Health issues, plus more mess.
Feces, obviously, is not clean. Would you want excrement shoved in your nostrils? Or, if you’re upset by an accident already, do you really want additional waste rubbed into your floor and carpet? Not a good idea. Spreading bacteria into a dog’s nose may make them sick (or sneeze something you don’t want to see again), and it will only create more mess.
Problem 2: It’s unkind.
We all make mistakes, and when we do, it’s much easier to learn and move on when the mistake isn’t rubbed in our faces. Gentle but clear correction, forgiveness and a route to better future decisions are much more effective. Shaming your dog will damage your relationship and, in my opinion, make them less likely to feel motivated to listen next time. Before you consider rubbing anyone’s nose in anything, think back to your last big mistake and ask yourself how you want to be treated. Forgive, spot clean and find a more effective way to train your pet.
Problem 3: It probably won’t teach them anything.
Your dog may or may not be able to connect their actions with the punishment. We don’t know what animals are thinking or exactly how they connect one experience to another, so rubbing their nose in an accident may not teach them not to do it again, especially if an accident isn’t recent.
Solution 1: Work on positive training instead.
Respond to accidents with a firm, calm, clear, “Bad potty.” Then make every effort to reinforce positive habits instead of punishing harshly. Wouldn’t you rather be rewarded with cookies than have your nose rubbed in waste? When you take Fido out to potty and she performs accordingly, praise her, pet her and give her a small treat. She’ll quickly see that it’s more fun to do what you want, and your relationship will be stronger.
Solution 2: Consider why your dog had an accident.
If you have a puppy, crate training is one of the best ways to not only help the dog learn to hold potty, but also help them learn where—and where not—to go. If your dog is older and generally doesn’t have accidents, do a little investigating to find the root cause of the blooper. Was her tummy upset, or had it been too long since she had been given a chance to relieve herself? Is she getting older and starting to have more trouble holding potty? If accidents are becoming more frequent and you can’t figure out why, make an appointment with your local vet clinic or animal hospital. It’s possible your dog has developed a health issue that’s causing her accidents.
When Fido engages in “oops” behavior, don’t fly off the handle. Instead, be considerate and work on positive training. You’ll catch more puppies with sugar than you will with feces in the nose!
