[Redway]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's legit worrying that some people think hitting a "big dog" is a good idea . Keep it away from children because all you're doing is creating a big aggressive dog. The reason it doesn't bite back at the person doing the hitting is that it thinks that person is above them in the pecking order. And it thinks that the thing to do to anyone below them in the pecking order, is hurt them to assert themself.

In other words; it's going to lash out at other animals, other humans, and especially kids. Well done.

Despite people thinking that dogs are "super smart" - they are not. What they are is easily trained, because they are NOT all that smart, dog psychology is really very basic and all you have to do to assert yourself as your dog's pack leader is act like it. Stand over it, use a strong voice, always GIVE it food (never allow it to TAKE food from you) et voila. No hitting required.

Dogs are susceptible to pavlovian response; action = reward. They have no concept of negative consequence. They have literally no idea why they're being hit, and don't attach the "punishment" to the specific act that you're punishing them for, they just think you're randomly hitting them to gain submission.

I don’t think concepts like submission apply to a dog.