Is it animal abuse if you rub a dog's nose in their own waste to potty train them?

Answer 1

(Note: There are many opinions on the morality of it, but the law does not forbid it.)

1. Though it may not be abuse as defined by the law, it is very inhumane and, in addition, ineffective and useless.

Pushing a dog's nose in their own feces is a poor training technique. It often frightens them more than trains them. When we get puppies they are similar to human babies, so would you rub your baby's nose in feces?

It is absolutely animal abuse. Think about this: Remember when you were young and going through the tough time of potty training. Would you like it if someone rubbed your nose in your own waste to potty train you? Can you find another way to train your dog according to his or her own personality? I'm sure the Internet or a local library will have more than enough information on proper, non-abusive training. If you are still unsure, don't hesitate to call a vet or an animal worker. They'll be glad to help!

To overcome this, you need a direct and harmless means of making a connection.

This is a way to get your frustration out and does not teach the animal anything. If the dog is going to the bathroom on the carpet, you are not taking them out enough.

Scolding a dog for going potty inside will only make the dog afraid to defecate in your presence. The animal will not infer that it is the location that makes you dangerous, rather than the act of defecation per se. Scolding for any reason has bad consequences for the relationship. There is always a better way.

When you see your dog is about to go inside, immediatelytake it outside. Do not scold, just go. Give the dog lavish treats and praise when it finishes. If you are too late and the dog goes inside, just clean it up with a cleaner that's made specifically for the purpose and do not interact with the dog at all.

Puppies need to void themselves after sleeping, eating, and playing. Each dog has his or her own personality. Using force to discipline a puppy, will only cause fear, and break the spirit of your puppy.

There are effective non-forceful ways of toilet training a puppy. The Internet or a local library will have more than enough information on proper, non-abusive training. If you are still unsure, do not hesitate to call your local veterinary clinic or an animal shelter.

2. There's probably not a jury in the US which would consider it 'cruelty to animals', animal abuse or anything else which merited the force of the criminal law. There's not a State in the US that has a code section against being an incompetent dog owner; just laws against that which just about every body agrees is animal abuse: examples: not giving animals food and water, wiring their muzzles shut to keep them from barking ; rubbing a pup's nose into its own feces to 'housebreak it' is to house train it -- is not animal abuse. It's a profoundly stupid method of animal training. However, it's not against the law anywhere. Conclusion: Not the first state in the US would consider such action animal abuse...without a lot more really egregious behavior.

3. There certainly is laws against animal abuse in certain States although some of the laws are not enforced as they should be. The laws have holes in them, but more and more people are fighting for more solid laws against an abuser of any animal. In the United States a few jurisdictions, notably Massachusetts and New York, agents of humane societies and associations may be appointed as special officers to enforce statutes outlawing animal cruelty. "Brute Force: Animal Police and the Challenge of Cruelty" by Arnold Arluke is an ethnographic study of these special humane law enforcement officers. In 2004, a Florida legislator proposed a ban on "cruelty to bovines," stating: "A person who, for the purpose of practice, entertainment, or sport, intentionally fells, trips, or otherwise causes a cow to fall or lose its balance by means of roping, lassoing, dragging, or otherwise touching the tail of the cow commits a misdemeanor of the first degree." It is to be noted, however, that in the USA ear cropping, tail docking, the Geier Hitch, rodeo sports and other acts perceived as cruelty in many other countries are often condoned. Penalties for cruelty can be minimal, if pursued. Currently, 44 of the 50 states have enacted felony penalties for certain forms of animal abuse. However, in most jurisdictions, animal cruelty is most commonly charged as a misdemeanor offense. In one recent California case, a felony conviction for animal cruelty could theoretically net a 25 year to life sentence due to their three-strikes law, which increases sentences based on prior felony convictions. In 2003, West Hollywood, California passed an ordinance banning declawing of house cats. In 2007, Norfolk, Virginia passed legislation only allowing the procedure for medical reasons. However, most jurisdictions allow the procedure. It is illegal in many parts of Europe. Many state animal cruelty laws exempt animals used in United States Department of Agriculture licensed facilities since the use and humane treatment of some of these animals is regulated by the federal Animal Welfare Act. In 1992, a Federal District Court judge ruled that mice, rats and birds bred for laboratory use, who account for about 90% of animals used in laboratories, should be covered by the Animal Welfare Act, however this decision was never implemented into law

4. This is a very poor way to train a dog or any kind of animal. I'm pretty sure your parents didn't shove your face into your waste while you were trying to learn how to use the toilet. I would say it is animal abuse and by doing that it would make your animal think you hate him/her. they wouldn't trust you, and or like you.

5. Most people think this method of potty training puppies is a bad idea, and unnecessarily cruel. More important, perhaps, is that it's not effective. Dogs learn easily not to defecate inside, and respond far better to positive reinforcement. While this method of house training has been used forever, more enlightened and scientific approaches work better and strain the animal less. Praise them when they go outside. This is perhaps the easiest training problem we can confront.

6. Never use this technique! It's doesn't work and your dog will never listen to you again. You shouldn't be a pet owner if you can't find a more humane way to potty train your pet. When in doubt remember that when you were learning to be potty trained your face wasn't pushed in feces.

As a great Science Fiction author (Robert Heinlein) once had a character in "Starship Troopers" say "Mr. Dubois, you have to! You scold him so that he knows he's in trouble, you rub his nose in it so that he will know what trouble you mean, you paddle him so that he darn well won't do it again -- and you have to do it right away! It doesn't do a bit of good to punish him later; you'll just confuse him. Even so, he won't learn from one lesson, so you watch and catch him again and paddle him still harder. Pretty soon he learns. But it's a waste of breath just to scold him."