"Bonking" a dog is a controversial training technique where a rolled-up towel or similar soft object is thrown at a dog, often in the head or hindquarters, to startle and interrupt unwanted behavior, like leash reactivity, by creating a sudden noise and impact, though many modern trainers view it as outdated, ineffective, and potentially harmful physical punishment that relies on fear rather than teaching. Proponents see it as a quick, minimally invasive way to break focus, while critics argue it's a form of abuse that damages trust and suppresses behavior without teaching, potentially leading to more severe issues.
From what I understand, bonking is supposed to be a physical interruptor using a rolled up towel, a howl stick, something lightweight with the idea being that startling or correcting the dog breaks their focus and stops the behavior in the moment.
Comfort & Security: Nooking often stems from a dog's need for emotional comfort. Puppies weaned too early or those separated from their littermates may exhibit this behavior to mimic the feeling of nursing.
I was introduced to a trainer named Jeff Gellmen who uses the term “bonking” for rolling up a towel and hitting a dog in the head as hard as you can to “stop a behavior”. I have so many issues with this as a Canine Behavior Consultant that I almost don't even know where to begin. I'll start with “stopping a behavior”.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for the adjustment period after adoption, outlining three phases: 3 Days (decompression, feeling overwhelmed/scared), 3 Weeks (starting to settle in, learning routine, personality emerges), and 3 Months (feeling secure, bonded, and truly at home). It helps new owners manage expectations and be patient as their rescue dog transitions, emphasizing calm energy, routine, and space in the early days to build trust.
The most commonly surrendered dog type is the "pit bull type" (including mixes), often due to negative stereotypes, breed-specific legislation, and high energy levels, followed by other popular breeds like German Shepherds, Huskies, and Labrador Retrievers that may not fit owner lifestyles. Breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers (especially mixes) also top surrender lists in some regions like Australia.
The seven second rule. Put the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it for seven seconds, it is too hot to walk for your dogs. This rule also applies to dogs riding in the bed of a pickup truck.
When they misbehave or do not obey, show them that you are withholding the treat and use a lower tone of voice. You can also withhold their dog food until they obey your command, and don't allow them to leave for a walk or get a treat until they perform well.
Our dogs look at us as their whole world, and being hit will be almost a betrayal of their trust. Their short-term memory will aid us if the hitting incident just occurs once. But pet owners will carry the guilt of the memory. Again, don't make it a habit.
The hardest "commandment" (command) to teach a dog is often considered Recall ("Come"), due to powerful natural instincts to explore or play, followed by impulse control commands like "Leave It/Drop It", and complex obedience actions like the "Finish" (positioning at the handler's side) or "Heel", requiring intense focus and self-control, especially with distractions like other dogs or interesting sights/smells.
frogging) is when a dog or cat lies flat on their belly with their hind legs stretched out straight behind them rather than tucked in beneath their torso. There is something inherently funny and adorable about this posture, so it is no wonder videos and photos of pets splooting have become a social media craze.
To say "I love you" in dog language, use soft eye contact, raise your eyebrows, give gentle massages (especially ears), lean into them, and engage in play or shared activities like walks, which build trust and affection through shared experiences and physical connection, releasing oxytocin for both of you.
Are Dog Boops Safe? A boop shouldn't hurt your dog, so long as you're being gentle with your approach. Just keep in mind that while your dog might enjoy this moment of connection, too much of a good thing might annoy them.
The "3-second rule" for dogs has two main meanings: for greetings, it's a short, sniff-and-separate technique (sniff for 3 seconds, then walk away) to keep initial meetings positive, preventing over-arousal or conflict, and for training, it's the maximum time (3 seconds) to give a dog to respond to a command before repeating it or redirecting, ensuring they connect the action to the consequence. It's also used with petting to give dogs choice: pet for 3 seconds, pause, and see if they solicit more attention.
A red flag dog behavior signals deep fear, stress, or potential aggression, going beyond normal misbehavior, and includes intense growling/snapping without cause, sudden aggression in a calm dog, persistent hiding, resource guarding (food aggression), freezing, destructive behavior linked to separation anxiety, or signs of extreme anxiety like trembling, lip-licking, and tail-tucking, indicating underlying problems needing professional intervention.
Hand clapping and using shaker cans or horns can be intimidating enough to inhibit undesirable behavior. However, remote punishment is preferred. Remote punishment consists of using something that appears unconnected to the punisher to stop the problem behavior.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for the adjustment period after adoption, outlining three phases: 3 Days (decompression, feeling overwhelmed/scared), 3 Weeks (starting to settle in, learning routine, personality emerges), and 3 Months (feeling secure, bonded, and truly at home). It helps new owners manage expectations and be patient as their rescue dog transitions, emphasizing calm energy, routine, and space in the early days to build trust.
Dogs say "sorry" through submissive body language like tucking their tail, lowering their head, making "puppy eyes," licking, and rolling onto their backs to show they're not a threat, which are appeasement signals to diffuse tension after a conflict or misbehavior, often combined with whining or approaching and retreating. They recognize when their human (or another dog) is upset and use these signs to seek forgiveness, though it's more about reducing stress than human-like guilt.
An hour for a dog feels much longer than an hour for a human because dogs perceive time more slowly due to their faster metabolism and heightened awareness of routines, so a 10-minute wait can feel like 70 minutes to them, and your hour-long absence feels like an eternity, though they don't grasp clock time but rather the intervals between events like meals, walks, and your return.
If your dog runs away from you, do not chase or run towards them. Chasing can trigger their prey drive or make them think it's a game, encouraging them to run further away. If the dog looks at you but doesn't come, try showing them a high-value treat or their favourite toy to entice them into you.
Instead of yelling when your dog misbehaves, redirect their focus to something positive. Examples: If your dog chews on furniture, give them a chew toy instead. If they bark excessively, redirect their attention with a command like “sit” or “quiet” and reward them when they listen.
One human minute equals seven dog minutes. My brain wanted to make this a much more complicated math problem than that! I'm not 100% convinced it's this simple, but let's go with it for now. If we stick with a straight multiplier of seven that is what we get.
The hardest "commandment" (command) to teach a dog is often considered Recall ("Come"), due to powerful natural instincts to explore or play, followed by impulse control commands like "Leave It/Drop It", and complex obedience actions like the "Finish" (positioning at the handler's side) or "Heel", requiring intense focus and self-control, especially with distractions like other dogs or interesting sights/smells.
The "10 10 10 rule" for dogs refers to two main concepts: a potty training method for puppies (10 mins outside, 10 ft space, 10 mins supervision/reward) and the 80/10/10 guideline for raw feeding (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organ), both offering structure for training or diet. Another interpretation is the 10% rule for treats, limiting them to 10% of daily calories to maintain a balanced diet, ensuring most nutrition comes from complete dog food.