Wedding Rings

Rowdy Lab

Question:

I have two "rowdies"- a pointer/whippet and coonhound/lab.  I completely recommend a Halti.  Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t go over well at first, they get used to it.  The results are amazing! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We rescued a 1-year-old Lab from its apartment dwelling previous owners > (decided they coudn’t keep him in their place any more. hmmmm…..) who > has very few manners (the dog, that is; don’t know about the apartment > dwelling previous owners’ manners).  He sits, but won’t stay, jumps on > people, and strains on the leash (has popped my elbow a couple of times > by taking off and jerking the leash and my attached arm).  We plan to > find an obedience class for him, but in the meantime, could we get some > tips on how to start getting these problems under control?  As far as > the leash problem goes, we tried a choke chain for one walk, but he > pulled in spite of, and were afraid he might hurt himself.  Also, > half-hitch of the leash around his chest doesn’t do much.  My other dog > was a breeze to train.  This one is giving me fits.  He’s a sweetie, but > he minds worse than my teenager!  Thanks!

Response:

I have a 15 week old lab and I tried the choke chain but he’d still tug and pull on it.  Yesterday, after a recommendation from my vet, I bought a Halti.  And it works great.  It took my lab a few hours to get used to, but he doesn’t pull as hard anymore because the Halti makes him turn his head when he pulls.  You might want to check it out.  I bought mine at Petsmart. Good luck! Rei – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We rescued a 1-year-old Lab from its apartment dwelling previous owners > (decided they coudn’t keep him in their place any more. hmmmm…..) who > has very few manners (the dog, that is; don’t know about the apartment > dwelling previous owners’ manners).  He sits, but won’t stay, jumps on > people, and strains on the leash (has popped my elbow a couple of times > by taking off and jerking the leash and my attached arm).  We plan to > find an obedience class for him, but in the meantime, could we get some > tips on how to start getting these problems under control?  As far as > the leash problem goes, we tried a choke chain for one walk, but he > pulled in spite of, and were afraid he might hurt himself.  Also, > half-hitch of the leash around his chest doesn’t do much.  My other dog > was a breeze to train.  This one is giving me fits.  He’s a sweetie, but > he minds worse than my teenager!  Thanks!

Response:

You are in for a lot of fun. When I got my Lab from a shelter and walked him 3 times a day my left hand swelled to the point I couldn’t wear my wedding ring. I look back now and know he was worth the trouble. I found that if I put him on a ten foot leather leash (not nylon, hurts my hand too much)started out with him on my left side. I let him get to the end  of the leash as I turned in the opposite direction quickly to let him have to stop short(hang on tight). Eventually he will be walking semi calmly watching you instead of being distracted by everything else. At first you will be going nowhere getting dizzy from turning around so many times but you will get him under control eventually. Lots of praise and pets. Once you get him to pay attention to you, you will be able to better start with the heel command. Good Luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We rescued a 1-year-old Lab from its apartment dwelling previous owners > (decided they coudn’t keep him in their place any more. hmmmm…..) who > has very few manners (the dog, that is; don’t know about the apartment > dwelling previous owners’ manners).  He sits, but won’t stay, jumps on > people, and strains on the leash (has popped my elbow a couple of times > by taking off and jerking the leash and my attached arm).  We plan to > find an obedience class for him, but in the meantime, could we get some > tips on how to start getting these problems under control?  As far as > the leash problem goes, we tried a choke chain for one walk, but he > pulled in spite of, and were afraid he might hurt himself.  Also, > half-hitch of the leash around his chest doesn’t do much.  My other dog > was a breeze to train.  This one is giving me fits.  He’s a sweetie, but > he minds worse than my teenager!  Thanks!

Response:

> Considering the advice gleaned from my last few visits…Can someone elaborate a > bit on this, or point out a web reference where this info can be found?  Thanks.

According to our trainer: 1) Use the smallest links necessary for your dog.  If you have to, buy additional links rather than going up a link size. 2) The collar should NEVER be slipped over the dogs head – is is put on by unfastening one of the links, then refastening  around the dog’s neck.  If you try to slip a prong collar over the head of a dog, it may damage an eye or two. 3) The collar should fit snugly, just behind the ears. 4) The correction is straight up, a quick tug and release.  Do not drag, or pull backwards or sideways.  Test the collar on your own arm or leg, first, so that you know what it feels like.  Don’t forget, it’s tug and RELEASE.  It will require much less effort that a regular choke collar. 5) Never, ever leave a prong collar on an unattended or unleashed dog. If you have brought your dog to the park to play off leash, TAKE THE COLLAR OFF. Used correctly, a prong collar can accomplish a lot.  We’ve had great success with ours, and are now almost entirely weaned off it.  Used incorrectly, well, I have met a dog who almost lost an eye because a dog he was playing with (off leash) was wearing a prong collar. Good luck! -Shannon & Guinness To respond, please remove the anti-spam from my address.  Thank you. http://web.mit.edu/user/s/l/slarkin/www/guinnessthedog.html

Response:

> > You mentioned trying a choke chain, but have you tried a pinch collar — that > chain with the prongs attached.  It looks deadly but according to my vet and a > trainer at obedience school it is a very humane collar.  Because of

the size, I third the recommendation for a pinch collar. It is a very humane way of controlling a large, boisterous dog. Make sure he gets lots of exer- cise and start training from a book until he can attend class. Your library should have many books on training. For the stay, first tell him to sit, then stay and step right in front of him, toe to toe, and use the leash to keep him in position. This is the best way to get the meaning across. For the jumping up I recommend grasping his front paws and firmly holding on to them until he squirms and struggles to get down. Then tell him "off", let him go and praise him if he doesn’t jump up again. Petra in Tacoma, WA

Response:

> You mentioned trying a choke chain, but have you tried a pinch collar — that > chain with the prongs attached.  It looks deadly but according to my vet and a > trainer at obedience school it is a very humane collar.  Because of the size,

The new user might want to test it on their own arm, to see the effect is not as harmful as it at first glances appears. Proper technique can be demonstrated in the obedience class setting. – Steven & Cashew + Memphis + Rocky + Cubby

Response:

> Considering the advice gleaned from my last few visits…Can someone elaborate a > bit on this, or point out a web reference where this info can be found?  Thanks.

After a little surfing of my own, I came across a couple sites you might want to check out: http://www.abap.org/collars.htm   (a good description of almost every available collar – training or otherwise) and http://www.uwsp.edu/acad/psych/dog/dog.htm  (this is a huge site with tons of links to articles on just about everything you wanted to know about dogs and training! I’m still exploring it. With a headstrong, abandoned/abused, unsocialized rescue terrier, I’ve gone from choke-chain to prong and the transformation was amazing. However, I do agree with people who say the prong/pinch shouldn’t be used on "aggressive" dogs. My terrier isn’t aggressive, but his anxiousness to play with other dogs coupled with the prong collar does tend to make him *sound* aggressive, thus making the other dog prepare for the worst.  I am now alternating between the prong and a Halti. Now that he knows all the commands, the Halti works great and he’s somewhat calmer; however, when encountering other dogs that display aggression, it doesnt’ seem to matter whether it’s a Halti or a pinch on my dog — he still goes ballistic. Along with constant socializing and weekly classes, I’m waiting (and praying) for adolescence to fade… Hope you find what you’re looking for on these sites, Glenn. illona

Response:

> Please know that proper fit is a must > when using the pinch collar as is the proper way to use it (handling is > different than a regular choke chain).  So please go to a pet store where the > owners or staff know something.

Considering the advice gleaned from my last few visits…Can someone elaborate a bit on this, or point out a web reference where this info can be found?  Thanks. — The CROKINOLE Board http://www.frontiernet.net/~crokinol

Response:

You mentioned trying a choke chain, but have you tried a pinch collar — that chain with the prongs attached.  It looks deadly but according to my vet and a trainer at obedience school it is a very humane collar.  Because of the size, and activity of a larger dog, a regular choke chain could actually lacerate the esophagus.  A "pinch" collar supplies an equal amount of pressure around the neck when pulled. We would not be able to walk our 2, 8 year old labs without it…..even after having gone to obedience school where they were tops in the class.  It just seems that when they are outside, on leash, they have to get where they are going in a real hurry.   Please know that proper fit is a must when using the pinch collar as is the proper way to use it (handling is different than a regular choke chain).  So please go to a pet store where the owners or staff know something.  I have several friends (and lab owners)  who have used the pinch collar with great success and where walks would be impossible without it.  Hope this information helps.  

Response:

We rescued a 1-year-old Lab from its apartment dwelling previous owners (decided they coudn’t keep him in their place any more. hmmmm…..) who has very few manners (the dog, that is; don’t know about the apartment dwelling previous owners’ manners).  He sits, but won’t stay, jumps on people, and strains on the leash (has popped my elbow a couple of times by taking off and jerking the leash and my attached arm).  We plan to find an obedience class for him, but in the meantime, could we get some tips on how to start getting these problems under control?  As far as the leash problem goes, we tried a choke chain for one walk, but he pulled in spite of, and were afraid he might hurt himself.  Also, half-hitch of the leash around his chest doesn’t do much.  My other dog was a breeze to train.  This one is giving me fits.  He’s a sweetie, but he minds worse than my teenager!  Thanks!

Response:

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