spray vinegar in face?

[Goodgirl]

I was in an obedience class that reccomended I spray Delilah in the face when she won't look away from other dogs (she is dog aggressive) or lunges at them.
Sometimes it gets in her eyes and looks like it really hurts. It makes her stop lunging at the dog at the moment, but doesn't make her think twice about it the next time. (I am just working with her to "watch me" instead as an alternative)
My vet said vinegar will irritate her mucus membrane and can cause infection. The trainer says NOT to dilute with water at all b/c that will teach the dog to like it.
What are others views on the vinegar usage? The trainer claims to use non-hurtful methods (ie no choke/shock, etc collars) but vinegar seems to hurt her too...
Please help me. I need other people's opinions.

 

[EricaG]

I've never heard of that training method before, so I have no basis for an opinion, but my gut reaction is NO! I would hate to have vinegar sprayed in my eyes. if your vet says it can cause an infection I would definitely stay away from it. You don't want your baby to get sick. And advice like that would make me want to look for a new trainer as well :(

 

[Jill's boxer]

I would not do this at all! First off--spray a little vinegar in your eyes...it hurts! so therefore NOT a positive training method by any means, is it? second--if your dog is having aggression issues and in the midst of this behavior you in turn do something that causes further frustration/pain, in my opinion you will only aggrevate or escalate the situation. She could very well displace the frustration/pain of the vinegar against the other dog!

And...your vet has already said that this could cause damage to the dog--no further reason would be needed to convince me not to do it! Vinegar is an acid, don't forget....

 

[SILLY6PAK]

Spray with just water. Hopefully the shock of being squirted will work. If not try something else. Spraying in the face with vinegar is CRUEL! How could inflicting pain be anything but CRUEL and inhumane.

 

[hanley]

I would get out of that class & away from that trainer!I have never heard of such, that is a very cruel thing to do!
Hanley

 

[Zoeys_Mom]

Can't be a good trainer if they are suggesting you hurt your dog in order to get her to listen to you!
I was cleaning Zoeys crate with vinegar a few weeks ago, and didn't realise she had walked up to it. I had sprayed and a fine mist landed in her eyes... boy was she shocked, and upset! She tried to rub her poor little eyes with her paws, and as a last resort tried to smoosh her face in the carpet :( I rinsed them with a little water (wasn't sure if it works like when we get something in OUR eye). She seemd to calm down afterward, but her poor eyes were red for a few hours!!! I would definately not INTENTIONALLY spray your dog with vingear!!! Shame on that trainer!

 

[SandyHG55654]

IMO the only thing that would do is turn her agression and lunges away from the dogs and toward you for hurting her! I would change trainers immediatly what absolutely horrible advice! :mad:

 

[Lisa_p]

I can't say I have ever heard of that method of training and it sure doesn't sound good to me either. At Odies classes a water bottle is used with a little citronela diluted into it, its more the smell they don't like than anything else. It seems to do the trick each time I have seen it used and causes no harm to the dogs.

 

[fayebay1969]

I feel sorry for the people's pets who have endured this treatment! Poor babies. Let's hold them down and spray them. Bet they think twice before telling people crap like that.

 

[elvis_baby]

Elvis is too very dog aggressive, but I could never spray vinegar in his face theat would break my heart, it must sting like mad!

I have been looking for an air spray collar which releases just air and is designed to shock but not hurt!