Well, I think animals fear the tone in your voice when you say "NO!" as contrasted with the usual tone in your voice. That shouldn't be accompanied by a beating, but a smart two-fingered tap on the muzzle during housebreaking, followed by promptly putting the pup outside or on the newspaper, is not abuse in my book. Is it in yours? Of course it's pretty well proven that reward works better--as it does on humans--for more sophisticated training but, again as with humans, it takes some discipline to instill basic behaviors. MacN On Fri, 19 Jan 2001, Jim Choate wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jan 2001, Mac Norton wrote:
Coupla things:
a. What the hell has this got to do with John Ashcroft?
A thesis was made and an example to support it was offered. The example is flawed (not to mention demonstrating a massive lack of emotional maturity on the part of the author/animal abuser).
b. Doncha think that reaction's a little strong to an offhand comment?
Abusing animals is NEVER offhanded.
c. Alright, three things: You've never said "NO!" to a pet?
Animals don't fear 'no', they fear what you'll do to them. And you don't have to use it to teach them what it means either. How do you teach an animal 'fear'? One way and one way only, abuse.
____________________________________________________________________
Before a larger group can see the virtue of an idea, a smaller group must first understand it.
"Stranger Suns" George Zebrowski
The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------