reisende

lol I empathise. somebody here once suggested tying a scarf around the prong. it immediately looks stylish! there are also special collars that wrap around prongs, effectively hiding them.

I remember carol (luvbirds) in this forum saying that having the prong on petey actually makes people feel more assured when they see that a big dog is under control by its owner. I think this is good advice as some people who sees my dobe with a prong would feel better that he is totally under my control, while some would think it is cruel, but I wouldn't care less. if they were my friends, I would let them try taking moonshine out for a walk on a normal flat collar and see how he does not respond to treats, or calls for 'heel', etc. when he sees another dog, cat, or butterflies/grasshoppers/etc, he would pull with such force that he sent me flying (he is only 6.5 months old).

in fact, I feel bad when I take moonshine out on walks with only a flat collar. he pulls non-stop like as if he is a sled dog and I wonder how his neck and trachea could take that sort of force. I am sure it does an incredible amount of damage. compare that to a prong: he dares not pull. while he sometimes still go to the end of the leash with the prong, at least he would never tug.

I don't own a choke. I think with moonshine's appetite for walks and all the distractions, he would choke himself to death!!! sigh!

Rosamburg

This is absolutely true. Hara is pretty hard for a dobie female. Not in the same class as a Korbetal GSD (which there are a few of at my Sch club) but for a dobe, a real cow. It is just a fact that sometimes she needs a cranking to get to work. Normal heeling and stuff just a pop on the leash is enough to get her in line, but if she is ditzing out or blowing me off I have to get on her pretty good to get her focussed. I am training every day right now because we are preparing for the Canadian Western Regionals, in Langely, BC in 3 weeks. We have been a bit slack since our breeding attempt in January (training only once a week). She acts like she does not remember anything so we have had to come to an "understanding" a few times.

Dobemom2b

She didn't really lift like you would to hang, she snatched it hard using both hands I think and reversed directions with an outside turn at the same time. I agree it seemed rough to me also but he never made a sound and he didn't become fearful or aggressive. At the time he was spazzing out doing circles at the end of the lead over a squirrel he could see through the plate glass window.

After class when I took the prong off at home the hair still showed where it had been so I combed it there and found little raised whelps that were there the rest of the day and a couple that were there still on the next day. It never broke skin. A couple of days later there were pieces of 'dandruff' type skin at the base of the hairs where the prong tips had been. I started using the rubber tips.

There are 2 ob instructors in this area.

Doberdog

The OB trainer that showed me how to use the prong correctly told me that I should leave it on all the time in the house for a few weeks(at that time he was around 8 months and never listened), with a long leash attached. He said to say something once and then if Q did not listen, and knew the command, don't repeat it, pick up the leash and correct. He said Q needed to think if he did not listen to me the hand of God would come down on him. I'm sorry to say that I did not listen. I use the prong when going out to the Vet or in public but that is really it. I rarely use a leash when walking him since we live on 5 acres and the back 3+ are fenced in. I need him to run and expel some energy. I have never really used it in the house. But I must say, my dog does not consistanly listen to me unless I have a treat and he is worried the other dog may get it. I so regret not getting right when he was younger. Now I have a 92.6 lb Doberman that listens when he feels like it or when I get mad.

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Have a great day, Sheila-owned by Quentin (b&t,M, dobie), Maggie Mae(1/2 shar pei, 1/2 ?, F, from the pound), and Peaches (red dobie, F)

DreamDoby

I've never corrected with that force to leave whelps in the skin. I have used some strong corrections to get the message across when working on difficult training portions, but never that hard. If I ever hit a distraction such as the evil kitties that my dogs adored to chase after and go crazy after if they saw loose outside, to get away from the nagging popping like was discussed previously, I would turn around and refocus them. They obviously weren't ready to meet that type of distraction level yet and we still had more work to build up to it.

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2RescuedDobies

There is nothing cruel about using a prong collar properly. My first Dobie had one my girl wears one now when we are in public. Better than slicing open the neck with a choke or shattering a wind pipe (trachea). As far as public opinion...ignorant will be ignorant.

ellenm

Doberdog-
It's never too late to put a collar and leash on Q and just work on attention, some quiet walking at your side with distractions, etc every night....then let him off lead to play and run. He needs the mental stimulation from some work as well as the exercise. Just make a 15 minute commitment every day if possible at home. (I work mine before they eat their dinner so they are very motivated for the treats that come with work.) Eventually the food is given less and less and the words mean everything to the dog, but using the food really helps at first with my two.

My younger dog is obsessed with the tennis ball, and the chuck it. I mix up just playing with it with no requirements at all, to asking for a sit before throwing, or make her wait before she can take off and run after it. It keeps her brain engaged in that I am the focus of her life! All good things come from me...

My rescue boy was 80# and knew no obedience at ALL when I got him. He would practically pull me off my feet if he saw a cat, squirrel etc. It took a few months of consistent work for him to understand there were house rules and rules when walking, etc. Now he is the best boy ever.

Correction levels are going to vary with each dog you train. What is too strong with one dog will make another not even notice a correction was given. They are all individuals, as we well know!

Dobemom2b

He is learning self control it's just so very painful for him lol.

reisende

LOL!!! are there really so many squirrels around?! that is amazing they are cute..

Dobemom2b

I have seen up to 8 or 9 in the grass and others on the privacy fence and in the trees above the yard at once. There is a pecan and an oak tree so their are always pecans and acorns for them. Probably 20 within 2 lots.

He had a bit of issue with leave it and got put back on the drag line, cloudy days are just too many squirrels to resist lol.