[lyngr]

I use a pinch collar and was told by our trainer to stop dead whenever there was tension in the lead then resume when there was slack.

Nike is not a real hard puller but alas, there is always some tension on the lead.. I find myself stopping after every other step. Is this correct and will she ever 'get it' or is it okay for her to be out ahead a bit so long as my arm is not coming out of the socket?

Thanks!

 

[lyngr]

What is okay is whatever you want it to be, however you want her to walk. Personally, I let my dogs walk in front of me and sniff the roses or whatever, as it's part of the enjoyment of the walk for them. If I want to train them in obedience, then they have to heel next to me.

I don't know anyone who would use a prong collar on a puppy that young.

What would you use then? Do I return to the martingale and let her pull until she chokes herself.. because that's exactly what she does everything but the pinch.

 

[lyngr]

First, let me say thank you for everyone's thoughts...

I don't need competitive heeling. I just want a dog that doesn't pull while walking. I don't care if she sniffs or walks a bit ahead of me, so long as she's not walking me!!

I have tried the martingale and the harness.. neither work. I don't like the idea of the halti or the choker.

The pinch works. I never tug or yank. And she never pulls hard enough in it to make me think that it could be harmful to a 'puppy that young'. In fact, it was off of the advice of my trainer (who has over 25 yrs experience with dominant breeds and who came highly recommended by the rescue group) that I use the pinch collar in the first place.
I don't plan on using it indefinitely.. I understand that it is a training tool.

For the record, I could care less what people think as they pass by. These are usually the same people who think min pins are small dobes.

 

[lyngr]

Martingales and harnesses are not training collars. In fact, harnesses are designed to "encourage" pulling rather than discourage it. That's why they're used in pulling activities. So to say you 've tried those two things is not to say you've run the gamut of training aids. They're not designed for training.

I have used a prong on two dogs, one a 9 month old puppy and one an adult. Both were negative experiences. The first one never completely got over the training problem caused by the prong, despite years of work. The other dog injured his throat when he learned to simply ignore the prong and pull into it anyway. So I am not a fan of them. So far I have managed without them with my current young dog.

IMO they are suited to small people with very large and hairy dogs, such a st bernards, who wouldn't be aware of an owner's correctins any other way, but that's it.

Use what you want as you will of course anyway, altho you're using it now and you are apparently still having a problem.

I never claimed that I ran the gamut of techniques!! I am always open to better methods if they seem logical. I absolutely would never want to hurt my dog by inadvertently doing the wrong thing...

But with all do respect, to suggest that I am not taking the time to train my dog is bunk. Please don't wag your finger at me after you've just admitted to using the very same device.

 

[lyngr]

Excuse me, but you asked for advice. YOU said the dog was still pulling you. However, I will not respond to any further questions you have, that should make you happy.

I used the prong collar on the advice of trainers, the first time was nearly 30 years ago, the last time about 8 years ago. I was sharing my experience, which was negative. That is known as learning from one's m istakes, as opposed to being perfect from the beginning and never making a mistake.

Hermeneutics are a b!tch on the internet.. written words are easy to misinterpret.

Your last reponse seemed a bit smug.. other people responded and I didn't get that sense from their posts.. but my apologies if that was not the intent.

 

[lyngr]

eph94

One of the things I see frequently is dogs who will behave only with a prong or gentle leader. That is what I think was meant by letting the prong (or whatever it is you are using as an aid) do the work. .

Your explanation and 'delivery' is better. Great post. Thank you.