Ellie got her first smack ever!!

[erdog3]

I hate to say this, or post it really, but then you have to see the me, all me, and yes I do have moments.

Yesterday Robby had the Guinea pigs in the lounge, he was cuddling them, and one squirmed it's way out of his arms and ran across the lounge chair.
Quick as a flash Ellie was off her chair and racing for him.
On instinct I got up, grabbed her by her collar and smacked her (LIGHTLY) on her snout, and yelled at her..NO.
Yes it was very close, inches and she would have had him in her mouth, as her intent was very clear.

I felt guilty after, and she got a christmas sausage roll and a cuddle.
I have never physically done anything to her before, but this time I had to, it was a quick reaction thing.
Please tell me I was not wrong, as I still feel a little guilty.

[GretaJack]

naughty naughty dog. Of course she deserves a smack. But you should never feel guilty about disciplining a dog. It shows weakness. But hey, i am a complete victim of that. My obedience instructor gets irate with me when I apologize to Jack for popping him to hard with the choke collar. Maybe I am turning into Sergeant Mabel (my trainer). No guilt, no apologies. There are dog, you are human. They have the collar around their neck, you don't. Every class she says that. I get upset. I am afraid Jack might hear her. He would be crushed to hear that LOL

[LargeDogLover]

Don't feel guilty, you had to do it, you had no other choice. Everyone have to discipline thier dogs, you are a great owner(did I forget, a great breeder). Some people go over the deep end and end up hurting the dog.

You dog may have her feelings hurt. If I yelled at my dog, her feelings are hurt, because she HATES it more than anything.

[erdog3]

Thankyou, both of you. I know if I didn't do what I did and quick that Guinea would be dead, either from injury or shock.
Ellie is under my chair again, so all must be forgiven, maybe it was the sausage roll. lol.

[Lessica Jake]

Bailey would have gotten the same reaction from me... Though I'm not sure that I'd be fast enough to catch her before she did any damage. She's pretty fast when she's being naughty.

[erdog3]

The coffee table was in her way, only thing that gave a miniscule of a second. Luckily. You just never know though do you, she has been around the chicks and never bothered with them.
But I noticed when the guineas were in the back yard the other two just paced the avairy so much we had to shift them to the front porch (the guineas).
Must be their smell or something...the dogs just seem to WANT them.

[Lessica Jake]

They're rodents, they're wiggly, and they can't fly, which makes them so much more appealing targets. Plus, they squeek really loud when they're frightened. Says, "Come and get me!!"

Bailey found some weasels this spring that she desperately wanted to get ahold of, but couldn't get her big snout between the logs in the woodpile.

[erdog3]

Don't know if we will ever be able to teach Ellie not to touch, might be an instinct thing then. Even the most placid of dogs can have their temptation just pushed a bit too far at times hey?

[Lessica Jake]

Yea, it is a bit difficult. I was so proud of Bailey this morning though, went to gather in the horse (who promptly got back out again), and she wanted to help chase him, but she listened when we told her no. Now if we could have gotten the awful dog who actually lives here to listen, the horse wouldn't have escaped again. Argh.

[eXile]

Sometimes hitting is not neccessary. We do it out of reaction. You really have to try and control yourself. I know its hard but its a must. Never lose your temper. When your mad, nothing will work out the way you want it to. You must keep positive. Dogs respond to positive attitude better then negative obviously. You could of simply grabbed her muzzle and got inches away from her face looking her in the eye while saying "NO!"