The prong/pinch collar has been pretty effective for me. Sometimes he just tries to dig at it though.
She's walking me :(
Hi guys,
I am completely in love with my 6 month old dobie girl, she's my first.
I've never before had a problem leash training with my other dogs (smaller), but she's a nightmare! She just doesn't seem to understand corrections!
I tried her on a choke collar, but I didn't like it. Then I had her on a head collar, but after reading how prone dobies are to neck in juries, I figured all the sideways corrections probably weren't great for her.
Now she's on a front-leading harness.
But no matter what I try she is so difficult to walk. She pulls and pulls!
What collar and technique has worked best for you?
Someone posted a technique where they turn the other way in the opposite direction everytime the dog pulls. This worked for a short time only.
Any suggested would be much appreciated!!
Thanks
I am completely in love with my 6 month old dobie girl, she's my first.
I've never before had a problem leash training with my other dogs (smaller), but she's a nightmare! She just doesn't seem to understand corrections!
I tried her on a choke collar, but I didn't like it. Then I had her on a head collar, but after reading how prone dobies are to neck in juries, I figured all the sideways corrections probably weren't great for her.
Now she's on a front-leading harness.
But no matter what I try she is so difficult to walk. She pulls and pulls!
What collar and technique has worked best for you?
Someone posted a technique where they turn the other way in the opposite direction everytime the dog pulls. This worked for a short time only.
Any suggested would be much appreciated!!
Thanks
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
I use a flat collar. I reward and praise when Elka doesn't pull. She isn't perfect, but most of the time, whatever treats I have and the promise of receiving them is better than forging ahead to smell that street sign or whatever.
Front harness is good. Is she food motivated? If so, use very small treats in your right hand (if she walks on your left side). Say "touch" and have her touch her nose to your right hand 2 fingers and treat her for that. You can bring your hand towards her but make her want to turn her head to touch your fingers. Then treat quickly with a very small treat. Repeat a lot as you walk. That will teach her to stay close to you and look to her right and she won't pull as much. I had the same problem and this worked quite well.
Gemma is obsessed with squirrels so I had no choice but to go to a pinch. I wish I would have done it A LOT sooner!
best advice I can give after five years - make sure to switch hands frequently - I have a freakishly big left arm (my leash holding hand), and it's taking forever now for the right arm to catch up.
In my experience, the front harness helps because it minimizes the pulling effects you feel, but it doesn't really teach the dog not to pull.
I used a pinch for Kyrah in the begining. We walked atleast 4 blocks a day(we did more) and the first week she could have the length of the leash and right when she was coming to the end and about to pull I would give a light correction. The second week she got half the length of the leash. The third week no more than a step or two in front of me. The more you walk together the better it will become. You could do some clicker training around the yard at home to practice. Walk around and when she is in the postion you want her in click and treat. After you have both have practiced for a bit you can do it on your walks. You could also do the turn and go into the other direction or just stop when she pulls until she comes back by your side. Then move forward again. I used a combination of all of the above.
I used a pinch collar for a little while on both of my Dobermans, but what worked the best for me was clicker training. I'd only walk a couple of steps at first, and click/treat for staying in position. Eventually I took the pinch collar off once they would catch themselves out of position and started flipping back to position on their own happily. Gradually we increased the amount of steps we could walk, and it didn't take very long at all to be able to walk Ripley on just a martingale collar without having him pull me. It took Keira longer to learn, but it takes Keira longer to learn pretty much anything since she's not nearly as biddable as Ripley is.
That said, I seem to be the only one who can walk them on regular collars with a loose leash beside me. As soon as my mom or anybody else takes the leashes, they need a few reminders. Oh, and it helps mine greatly if we do not leave the house when they're wound up. If we walk out the door calm and relaxed, they're much more reliably going to keep a loose leash. But that can be really hard to do. Lately mine are wired as soon as I even open the collar drawer. :rolleyesw
That said, I seem to be the only one who can walk them on regular collars with a loose leash beside me. As soon as my mom or anybody else takes the leashes, they need a few reminders. Oh, and it helps mine greatly if we do not leave the house when they're wound up. If we walk out the door calm and relaxed, they're much more reliably going to keep a loose leash. But that can be really hard to do. Lately mine are wired as soon as I even open the collar drawer. :rolleyesw
I also got a long lead (they sell them at pet stores, but I just made mine) and I take Kaiser and walk him around in the yard. I stay close so that I can step on the leash if he doesn't listen, but I mostly just let him drag it. I get him to walk next to me and treat. Then I'll let him run around some. If/when he's running away, I say "This way!" and motion with my hand. He'll come walk beside me for awhile, and I'll treat. Sometimes, he'll start to pull away and I'll say, "Wait." If he doesn't stop, I step on the leash.
I use a basic choke chain for this. This whole thing works really well, but when we go out for walks, I still find that the prong collar is most effective when we encounter distractions and Kaiser lunges.
I use a basic choke chain for this. This whole thing works really well, but when we go out for walks, I still find that the prong collar is most effective when we encounter distractions and Kaiser lunges.
That's why I went on in detail about the 'touch' routine.In my experience, the front harness helps because it minimizes the pulling effects you feel, but it doesn't really teach the dog not to pull.
try the Silky Leash Technique from Ahimsa dog training. Here is a video, I think it is amazing.
Ahimsa Dog Training
Ahimsa Dog Training
I switched to a pinch/prong. It's like heaven. Wish I had done it sooner.
After hours and hours, days and day, months of months of working loose leash with either a front d-ring or gentle leader... positive based training methods... using about 100#'s of poached chicken breast... stopping and waiting for the look... changing directions... Finally started actually "correcting" on a flat buckle without any success... Even offering a correction was a huge move for someone who did so much research on pure positive training methods. Switched to a prong Herm Sprenger Stainless Steel 2.25mm prong at 7.5 months of age. In hindsight I wish we had made the jump about two months earlier. Finally we were able to get her attention with a "pop".. Still working even at 15 1/2 months but we are finally getting to a nice heel position when asked to.
Everybody gave some good advice, but my question is, did you ever did some obedience training with her ? I mean with a good professional trainer ?
I have 3 big dogs, 2 of them never ever wore a prong and my girl i can now walk on a show collar if i have too and she just went 18 month. I think training is everything, so might contact a good trainer who can give you some pointers how to stop your dog from pulling your arm out
I have 3 big dogs, 2 of them never ever wore a prong and my girl i can now walk on a show collar if i have too and she just went 18 month. I think training is everything, so might contact a good trainer who can give you some pointers how to stop your dog from pulling your arm out
Hi all,
Wow that's alot of great advice.
We're actually starting obedience training this evening, so hopefully that will help.
She is very food motivated, so I may try the treat in hand technique. I'm all for positive reinforcement, but she's never doing thew right thing for me to reward her! lol
Just so I understand, is the pinch collar the same as a prong collar? I thought about using one of these, just so she understands a correction, which I don't think she is at the moment. Is it ok to use a pronged collar on a 6 month old? Everytime I see them in the shop, they look kinda scary....
Thanks for all your help and I'll keep you all updated after our class!
Wow that's alot of great advice.
We're actually starting obedience training this evening, so hopefully that will help.
She is very food motivated, so I may try the treat in hand technique. I'm all for positive reinforcement, but she's never doing thew right thing for me to reward her! lol
Just so I understand, is the pinch collar the same as a prong collar? I thought about using one of these, just so she understands a correction, which I don't think she is at the moment. Is it ok to use a pronged collar on a 6 month old? Everytime I see them in the shop, they look kinda scary....
Thanks for all your help and I'll keep you all updated after our class!
On dogs that are serious pullers I'd dare say the prong is more humane. A dog that is pulling on a choke can leave themselves gasping for air if left to it long enough. A prong removes a dogs desire to pull, and in its basic design does not choke dogs off. Choke chains also require a bit of technique, whereas a prong is self correcting. If you choose to buy a prong remember to buy a good one (I like HS), make absolutely sure to fit it correctly, and having a backup clasp is also a very good idea.Just so I understand, is the pinch collar the same as a prong collar? I thought about using one of these, just so she understands a correction, which I don't think she is at the moment. Is it ok to use a pronged collar on a 6 month old? Everytime I see them in the shop, they look kinda scary....
i agree with the treats,, praise and lots of stop and changing directions a lot.. It has helped a lot of puppies that i have helped train.. good luck and keep up the good work..
Kinda like when Homer Simpson finds a dumbbell and uses it on one arm only?best advice I can give after five years - make sure to switch hands frequently - I have a freakishly big left arm (my leash holding hand), and it's taking forever now for the right arm to catch up.
You should enter an arm wrestling competition!
Erica, I LOVE your pic!
I hope my dobe and my jack russell will be like this one day. My dream is to come home and find them snuggling one day
I hope my dobe and my jack russell will be like this one day. My dream is to come home and find them snuggling one day
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
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