Martingales, choke chains and slip leads - OH MY!

[jodysh]

My little man is a maniac (shocking! LOL). I need to get him under control on the leash so he is consistent. Sometimes he's good, most times not so much.

There in lies the delima. I don't necessarily want to use a choke chain. So I was looking at this

Slip Lead

Slip Lead

and thought that might work pretty well.

Then again maybe a Martingale collar would be better?

Opinions?

[Riverkatie]

I would try clicker training, it has worked wonders with Ruff. Youtube has a number of videos by Kikopup about this.

And if that didn't work I would use a gentle leader or a halti.

How to train your dog not to pull- Loose Leash Walking - YouTube

How to train your dog not to pull- Loose Leash Walking - YouTube

[Nikkiey]

We use the easywalker with Juneau.

We used to use the choke collar, but stopped when Juneau bruised his trachea. No matter what we tried, he wouldn't stop pulling. We used to use the halti with Bear, my other dog, but by after years of use, he started to get a permanent line across his nose from still trying to pull. After meeting someone on a walk who uses one with their dog (and was nice enough to let us try it) we bought one - I won't be going back to any of the other collars for walking!

[jodysh]

I've tried the gentle leader but he hates it so much every time we have to stop he throws himself on the ground and flops around like a fish out of water.

I originally wanted to try a harness but the trainer at PetSmart said she didn't think it would work and I really can't remember why...so maybe I need to re-visit it.

I do want to continue with his training but I just can't afford it right now :-/

[deepnite10]

there are some really nasty looking chokers on the market..and care must be used if your considering one..

this is the one i use on all my dogs..as well, ive gotten them for my childrens dogs as well..
Rogz Dogz Utility Reflective Choke Collar - Free Shipping
as you can see..you can control the amount of preasure around the dogs neck..i set them to the point when pull d it asserts a equal amount of preasure around the entire neck without really choking them..

this is nt meant to be an advertisement for this company..rather, its best to visit your local petsmart or petco and properly fit your dog to the proper size..

[Nikkiey]

The easywalker is different than a harness because the leash connects to the front so as the dog tries to pull it causes the dog to turn around where as a harness encourages pulling based on where the leash connects.

[jodysh]

I'm really against using a choker on Malcolm especially because he's small. I just looked at the easywalker and watched a little video they had on the petsmart website. I think I'll be going over and checking them out.

That Rogz Dogz looks a little like some of the Martingale collars as well. I guess if I was going to use a chain it would be something like that.

[mrrp36a]

I agree that choke collars can be bad. However, the pinch collar I use (for over 5 yrs) allows me to make gentle corrections as needed without choking Ruby. I think it harder on a dog's neck with a conventional collar than with a pinch collar, they look mean, but are actually close to the correction a mother would give to her pup.

[Ace's Place]

One training technique I use frequently to remind Ace he doesn't' need to pull is every so often on the walk just stop. Your dog should look behind him wondering "hey, what stopped the motion?" At that point when he/she catches your eye, you use a treat to attract them back to your side. Using the treat as direction you can actually turn them around so that they are now at your side facing forward. Put them in a sit right at the side of your your leg. Treat them. Then when you are ready continue on. Alot of Work? yes. Does it stop the pulling automatically? no. But it will help and give them the idea of what you want them to do or not to do. Ace is still a work in progress but we haven't used any kind of exceptional collar (although the martingale would be the one I'd probably use). He gets a lot of "structured" walks and only at 10 months is he really starting to get it. I don't pull or do any sharp correcting with his collar unless its for his own safety.

[jodysh]

I got an easy walk harness today we'll see how it works

Ace's Place thanks for the tip. What I try to do if he gets ahead of me and starts pulling is either just stop and wait for him to come back or turn and go the other way. Doesn't always work, but then again I don't always use treats. Maybe I should for a while.

He's worst when we are at like PetSmart or Pet People he's just so excited and he wants to see everyone. So he jumps and pulls. Hoping the easy walk helps with that. And I'll be sure to carry a few small treats as well.

Thanks all!

[Ace's Place]

I don't know why I didn't see that you were not initially posting about pulling and that is was more general than that. I am really working on the issue with Ace too - of not going crazy when meeting someone and/or with their dog. He does this nice submissive move of laying down when someone approaches - but I know that is just his set up for the crazy jump to come! Yikes.

[lindamarie]

Originally Posted by mrrp36a

I agree that choke collars can be bad. However, the pinch collar I use (for over 5 yrs) allows me to make gentle corrections as needed without choking Ruby. I think it harder on a dog's neck with a conventional collar than with a pinch collar, they look mean, but are actually close to the correction a mother would give to her pup.

I couldn't agree with you more!!
They don't hurt the dog at all and actually, SAVE the dogs trachea from being damaged.
I cannot even begin to tell you how tired I am of people stopping me at parks and in the mall and telling me, basically, that I AM MEAN!
I had one lady put her hand under the prongs and gave it a tug. Then I said, "See.......Did that hurt?"....smiled and walked away. UGH!

I do have a warning for you. Although Bogart is off leash trained and does very well in ANY environment, I still use the German pinch collar.
BUT! After seeing this question yesterday and then looking at deepnites collar he suggested, I decided to do a little research.
The patent owner of the collar will not use/sell them any longer.
Here is a video as to why.

After you see the video, go to the table of contents under leashes.
It prompted me to buy the leash and the dominant collar used with the prong collar.
I actually had an experience with Bogart where the prong collar just fell of and came apart! THAT is what the video is about!
Bogart is actually at his best when OFF LEASH! Yet, our city requires a 6 ft leash on all dogs. Plus, we often walk in high traffic areas.
The 4 lane street is only about 4ft from the sidewalk. I'd never even consider off leash here where these cars just FLY!!!
If what happened to me once ever happened on this street, as I allow Bogart to "free walk" on 75% of our walks (it's his time off work/duty).....he could have easily been hit by a car.

Check out this video: (oops, BRB....have to find it!)

Editing to add.....I am waiting for permission to link to the site.

[lindamarie]

Deepnite,
Although I have several collars, this one looks interesting to me for Bogart's hospital work.
Where did you buy yours......online? Or does Petco sell them?
How did you determine size if you order online?

[lindamarie]

Originally Posted by lindamarie

I couldn't agree with you more!!
They don't hurt the dog at all and actually, SAVE the dogs trachea from being damaged.
I cannot even begin to tell you how tired I am of people stopping me at parks and in the mall and telling me, basically, that I AM MEAN!
I had one lady put her hand under the prongs and gave it a tug. Then I said, "See.......Did that hurt?"....smiled and walked away. UGH!

I do have a warning for you. Although Bogart is off leash trained and does very well in ANY environment, I still use the German pinch collar.
BUT! After seeing this question yesterday and then looking at deepnites collar he suggested, I decided to do a little research.
The patent owner of the collar will not use/sell them any longer.
Here is a video as to why.

After you see the video, go to the table of contents under leashes.
It prompted me to buy the leash and the dominant collar used with the prong collar.
I actually had an experience with Bogart where the prong collar just fell of and came apart! THAT is what the video is about!
Bogart is actually at his best when OFF LEASH! Yet, our city requires a 6 ft leash on all dogs. Plus, we often walk in high traffic areas.
The 4 lane street is only about 4ft from the sidewalk. I'd never even consider off leash here where these cars just FLY!!!
If what happened to me once ever happened on this street, as I allow Bogart to "free walk" on 75% of our walks (it's his time off work/duty).....he could have easily been hit by a car.

Check out this video: (oops, BRB....have to find it!)

Editing to add.....I am waiting for permission to link to the site.

Here is the link to the website. You have to scroll about 3/4 down to see it.
It's titled something like: WHY LEERBURG WILL NOT BE USING QUICK RELEASE PRONG COLLARS ANY LONGER.
The first video demonstrates a German Shepherd getting loose, but the one way down demonstrates how these collars fall apart. SCARY!

Leerburg | Prong Collars and Fur Saver Collars

[deepnite10]

Originally Posted by lindamarie

Deepnite,
Although I have several collars, this one looks interesting to me for Bogart's hospital work.
Where did you buy yours......online? Or does Petco sell them?
How did you determine size if you order online?

i got Toby s at Petsmart..i took him in and went thru the various collars till i found the one best suited for him..

this is the one i got him..i got the large pink one..the other guys wear black..
im sure Petco carries them too..


http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...47026&lmdn=Dog
the other s i got on ebay..