Spray Shield Animal Deterrent - Page 1

http://www.amazon.com/Premier-DIRECT-STOP-RETAIL-SprayShield/dp/B0002XKIV6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347971737&sr=8-1&keywords=spray+shield+dogs

Has anyone tried this stuff? It was recommended to me as a way to stop my new girl Maya from charging at Trigger. So far Trigger just walks away when Maya charges at him but someday he will tire of being pushed around and I'll have a bloody mess on my hands.

I'm still thrilled with Maya.. She fits like a glove in my life. Just trying to nip the aggression towards Trigger in the bud. Any comments on the Spray Shield appreciated.

Isn't going to do what you're hoping it will do. Frankly, doesn't really even work all that well to keep animals away from plants and other inanimate objects as it's intended to do.

Let's talk about what's going on with Maya and Trigger, since GSDRocks has started a cryptic thread on the subject.  I have a similar situation with the 'foster' I adopted for health reasons (the dog's, not mine) and the young female I already had when I adopted Max.  I've had Max a year this month, and the situation is continuing to improve, but it's not an overnight thing, and it requires intense vigilence, a very firm hand and the ability to control the dog with just your voice.

I've used this spray to break up a bloody four-dog dogfight at a park (none were my dogs), to stop a dominant Pit Bull from jumping so aggressively on his owner that he was shredding her clothing, to stop another dominant Pit Bull from lunging at other dogs, to stop a Basenji from nipping his elderly owner, to stop a Great Dane from chasing down the family kids in play, and to stop one of my own dogs from bullying my other dog, to name only a few cases. The problems were fixed immediately or within a week. It doesn't work for every dog, but it works for almost all of the dogs I've tried it with. It's not always the right tool, but it's one of many useful tools I use for training.

Training "solutions" that take a year for "continuing to improve" and require "intense vigilance" and "the ability to control the dog with just your voice" are no solution. I can do a lot better than that, and I have for 30 years.

GSDRocks, WRT your last paragraph, to put it bluntly, bullshit.  I said I had a situation 'similar' to what triodegirl was experiencing, not the same.  I've been training just as long as you have, honey, and the one thing you CAN'T change is WHO a dog is--and this dog is a pushy dog who can forget he's not alllowed to 'herd' his housemate because his version of 'herding' her involves body slamming her, which she doesn't much care for.

Yeah, I'm sure I could take a flame-thrower to him a single time ('cause that has the ability to reach out across a fairly long distance), and that would stop him from ever trying it again, but I find it more reasonable to periodically remind him of his behavior boundaries with a properly-used electric collar and then rewarding for correct behavior.  We've gone from him not only bullying her with this herding behavior constantly, AND leaving small abrasions on her flanks and rump as he did so, to occasional lapses when he's overly stimulated where he may try to body slam her, but I can call him off if he has such a lapse.  THAT does require intense vigilence and a firm, consistent hand in order to be able to control the dog with voice--because at some point, the dog is going to be too far away from you to use anything but voice or electric.

That said, I will reverse my initial response WRT the product mentioned, as I admittedly didn't go to the Amazon site for the product, and made the mistake of assuming it was one of the animal deterrents that's meant to keep animals away from shrubbery and such--I didn't know that the product I've only known as Direct Stop had a change of name and was now Spray Shield.  It's basically a citronella 'mace', so I would expect it could be useful in preventing Maya from charging Trigger, if Maya is also coming toward triodegirl at that time.   What, however, are you suggesting for when triodegirl ISN'T directly in position to spray the stuff at Maya? 

Hexe, the "bullshit" is assuming that a dog you've never met is "similar" to yours. Maya is not at all like your dog, judging from your description. I do not have the owner's permission to give the details, but Maya is exactly the type of dog for which the citronella spray is usually extremely effective.

"What, however, are you suggesting for when triodegirl ISN'T directly in position to spray the stuff at Maya?"

A remote controlled citronella spray collar.

BTW, there was nothing "cryptic" about my other post. I don't recall ever seeing a PDB post about a training problem in which the name of the dog's owner was given when the dog did not belong to the poster. It just isn't done.

Done arguing with you, GSDsRock.  You didn't post about a 'training problem', you posted an allegation of a dog in a dire situation and of cruelty on the part of the owner because of the way they were handling the dog.
If you hadn't been trying to ensure that who the dog and the owner were, you wouldn't have made a point of including so very much specific information about any of the parties involved.

BTW, "similar" does not = "identical", and "situation" does not = "dog".  I never made any presumption that my dog is like Maya--first off, the genders alone make for very different dynamics. 

I thank goodness that Shelley didn't throw me under the bus when I showed up at her house, with my boy Duke, with his pinch collar turned in side out because I didn't know how to use it, but knew I needed it. She showed me how to use it, and just helped me in so many "constructive" ways. It is obvious,triod knows there is an issue with her new dog. I have every confidence she will address it in a responsible manner. This isn't her first German Shepherd. I think you were way out of line GSDs with your insinuation on the other post about the abuse. I was told by triod, what a wonderful person you are. Yes, your help with the "unwanted" is greatly appreciated, and I am certain you are quite knowledgeable with the breed, but I think you owe Sue an apology. As I stated, this isn't her first clambake, and there is no "instant solution" to this kind of issue. That's why it is called "training",your dog! Best of luck to you and your dogs triod

Kitkat, you have never seen Maya or the situation, so I don't understand why you are certain everything will be just fine. That kind of complacency gets dogs killed. There are many other details of the situation which I will not disclose without the owner's permission. I have a great deal of experience with dogs, I've seen too many dogs end up dead in situations like this, and I know the warning signs.

Given my knowledge of the dog and dog training, it is very likely that Spray Shield, used correctly, will be an instant solution to this problem. BTW, it is not any type of "mace", as it is completely painless and does not cause choking or burning eyes. That makes it the best solution to try first with a kindhearted owner who is reluctant to discipline her dog.

Nice people sometimes have to do tough things to try to save a dog's life and to try to spare a fine person a catastrophic heartbreak. It's interesting that you consider me the villain and the person who broadcast the dog owner's identity to be the good guy. My mistake was underestimating the nastiness of a PDB user. I know things can get pretty heated on PDB, but I never thought someone would make a point of dragging the dog's owner out into the limelight in order to humiliate her. I'll never underestimate the potential for PDB nastiness again. Live and learn.

Triodegirl Why don't you give it a try. In the UK there is also one which has a plain (not citronella) spray and I think, one that just releases a blast of air, which is intended as a distractor, given with the appropriate verbal instruction(delivered first) which can be used with the remote collar. I don't know whether you have that in the USA. Personally I think it would be worth trying in order to get a handle on the behaviour before it escalates. It isn't harmful to the dog and if it doesn't work you haven't lost anything, but if it does you have gained everything. Your timing needs to be excellent though. I didn't see the remote unit on the link, and you need to be sure that it is not the collar that is set off by barking. This is the one in the UK. http://www.dogtrainingproducts.co.uk/masterplus-remote-collar.php

GSDs- I AM NOT certain everything will be just fine, never said or insinuated that. Never said you was a villan either, I just think you chose the wrong words in your other thread insinuating abuse.I believe your intentions are indeed good. Triod knows there is a problem and came. Here to these nasty PDB posters seeking opinions. She knows exactly how words and opinions "twist and shout" here. I said I know she will address the problem, she obviously sees a situation brewing and is looking for opinions to get it under control. I don't think that hexe ID'd her to stir the pot, but rather tried identify "the specific problem".So let's not turn this into a finger pointing, name calling thread, and try to help both dog and owner.(as I stated, my intention was not to make you a villian)(but at the same time not let triod get labeled either).