Originally Posted By LuLu Thanks guys! I'll have to make the time to watch the dog whisperer. I know this is gonna take a lot of time and practice that I don't really *want* to make time for, but then again, I guess the sooner the better.
Originally Posted By LuLu They have his book at my library, but it's out and then on hold! I'll have to buy it. Seems like a faster way to get the specific info I need, do you think?
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger I took my dog to classes at the Learning Tree, IIRC. It helps to have someone evaluate your technique in controlling the dog, and tell you what commands to use and when to give them. The proper way to use the choke collar is that the leash should always hang loose. The dog should pay attention to *you* and your body language and stick right at your side, whether standing, walking, or turning. The dog learns the difference between just being on the leash, and being on the leash and told "heel". Upon hearing "heel" (or seeing the hand signal that goes with it) the dog comes into position and stays that way. If the dog even starts getting out ahead of you or not paying attention, you grab the leash and give a sharp tug. Just enough to cause sudden, _momentary_ discomfort. And my dog just loved working that way. She loved the classes. She didn't like the teacher (teacher was a little too harsh with the leash when she took my dog for a demonstration - I tend to have a more gentle hand), but she was really enthusiastic about going to class and doing the drills. When she heard the leash (and the collar) start jingling at the back door, she would literally dive through the collar, she was so excited.
Originally Posted By LuLu I have to figure out when/where the show airs. I'm pretty TV-illiterate. CoCo was a lot better before she took the class than she is now (about 2 yrs ago). But we really didn't do much with "heel." The teacher seemed to believe more in loose-leash walks. Obviously, this isn't working for us! I don't think we could take a class now as she becomes insane when exposed to other animals. 8-D BTW we aren't using a choke chain but a pinch collar, it seemed like a better choice to me. No choking, it just kinda "prickles" them (above the choking point on the neck) when they pull.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger Oh. I just assumed you were using a different name for the choke chain (which our teacher prefered to call a "correction collar").
Originally Posted By trekkeruss LulU, The Dog Whisperer is only aired on the National Geographic Channel. It's airs on Friday nights, usually one new episode plus one repeat. They also play repeats a few other times duriung the week (although I haven't watched in awhile... I have the first season DVD's... so the schedule may be different now.)
Originally Posted By beamerdog Hi Lulu, You've gotten some good advice here. I would suggest a pinch collar (the kind that has little prongs on the inside). I would strongly advise taking another class with her. You'll only have problems controlling her at the beginning. Dogs learn so much faster when they are in the company of other dogs. I use only Halti's (kinda like a Gentle Leader) on my dog, but he's got a pinch "just in case". It's not necessary for your dog to heel, but walking on a loose leash works so much better when they do know how to heel. If you don't mind telling me the area where you live, I'll see if anyone at Canine Partners knows of a good trainer out there. I use click and treat to train my dogs. Jackson was a rescued dog at one year old with not a whole lot of training (understatement) and he was taught with click and treat to: open doors, turn on lights, pull me up steps, pay with a credit card (no teeth marks or doggie spit), turn right and left on command, and many more "tricks". So no dog is too old to start. I think that I have my training video on click and treat if you would like it. If you do, email me your address. Click and treat is the best. You never have to yell or pull at your dog. He only gets rewarded for proper behavior. I used to teach all my puppies to "look at me" which was great for taking pictures, lol. Actually, we do this to get the dog's attention - it's the first thing I teach a 7 week old puppy - even before "sit". You can do this easily with click and treat! Hope I can help. I'll even share my cell number if you need a long distance consultant ;-) terri
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger >>and he was taught with click and treat to: open doors, turn on lights, pull me up steps, pay with a credit card (no teeth marks or doggie spit), turn right and left on command, and many more "tricks". << That's all well and good, but you're going to be sorry when you find out that your dog just bought a new Mac Pro with a 30" Cinema display, and he won't share!
Originally Posted By beamerdog ^^^^LOLOLOLOL I always have it in the back of my mind that he's going to take off with my wallet to retire in some national park!
Originally Posted By LuLu LOL! Thanks beamer, click and treat sounds great. I'll try it. I did get the pinch collar, I just need to be trained on what I'm doing! A friend's husband has trained their border collies to do some amazing things with click and treat. I wish I could get him to train my doggie! But he's too esoteric for walking dogs I think, he's more on the level of "find the toy that begins with F." !!
Originally Posted By beamerdog The pinch collar should sit on the lower portion of her neck. It should fit with resting somewhat snuggly on her neck with you being able to slip three fingers comfortably under the collar. Too loose and it'll do nothing. When you walk her, let her go ahead a bit, but when she pulls, give her a brisk tug, say a firm "no", and then release completely so there is no pressure against her neck. DO NOT continue to let her pull and gag - that will defeat the "surprise" tactic of the pinch and above all you don't want to hurt her. So the mantra is "release, tug, release". I would keep it on her at all times, but don't use it as a primary collar. Keep a flat collar on and use that, too. When she goes back to pulling, use the pinch. She should catch on pretty fast. I wish I were there to help. *sigh*
Originally Posted By beamerdog Oh, it will help to choose a side that you want her to walk on. People traditionally use the left side, but Jackson walks on my right since that's my stronger side. So, really, it's whichever side you prefer.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Okay, sorry. I forgot to say the obvious. If she's not pulling, don't tug, lol.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Argh. And start out with giving her the command, "heel" or "walk" or anything that you'd like. Also take some treats along. You can feed her treats as you walk from the lowered hand at the side she's walking on. She's not going to want to get too far from those treats! I promise I'll go away now...
Originally Posted By LuLu Thank you, beamer! It's very helpful to get this info. This is the site where I got info on how to fit the collar: <a href="http://www.leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm" target="_blank">http://www.leerburg.com/fit-pr ong.htm</a> but you say lower. Now I wonder if I have it too tight. But I did glance at this topic before I took her out tonight, and it does work a lot better if I make a sharp tug rather than expecting her own tugging to make the point! Oh, one thing I didn't understand from that website, do you hook the leash thru both rings? It didn't work for me when I only hooked it thru one "dead" ring. I haven't even tried the treats yet, and I admit I think I'll feel silly saying "heel." I'm pretty good at "no" tho! :-D And I remembered to watch The Dog Whisperer! I couldn't pick up on everything he was doing (of course thay say Don't do this at home, hire a trainer!). He made some sort of sharp sound when a dog misbehaved. But I did notice he used a choke chain and did the sharp pull with the leash.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder LuLu My aunt recently acquired a rescued dog, she has not had a dog since she was a young girl and is somewhat unfamiliar with being an owner, but I give her an "A" for effort because she is willing to do whatever is necessary for this funny looking mutt. While picking the dog up from the vet one day, she overheard the assistant tell another owner about a reasonably priced dog trainer who does house calls. Now keep in mind, aunt had previously called places in the phone book and some were in the thousand$. I think she pays this one she found around $30 a session [once a week] they are making good progress and both are learning so much. My aunt lives not far from you, wants me to get the 411 and pass it on? PS we are currently dog sitting while aunt is taking care of some personal biz. One this dog started while being here, is constant barking.... grrrr. I wish I had the answer for that one right now, but I think much of it is the change of environment, being around our female [spayed] dog, being more outside as opposed to more inside, and he seems to be full of testosterone, cuzz much of it it just showing off and being protective. he's the ugliest dog I have ever seen, but also the cutest, is that an oxymoron or what?
Originally Posted By debtee OMG! Am I missing something?? That link I went to with the pinch collar looks TERRIBLE! I have never seen something like that here in Australia! I can't imagine putting something like that on my boys! How come you are all ok with this, is it not as bad as it looks? Please help me to understand why any of you would recommend this, it looks cruel? Surely this dog whisperer would not use this as a training method?
