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  1. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Annette47 View Post
    I do think it is possible to train a dog without a prong, but in a case like this, where the dog is likely to be large enough and habits established long enough a prong may be a very useful tool for the owner to gain some control of the dog in order to start reinforcing good behavior. It’s a bit different than starting with an 8 week old puppy that you can easily prevent from going where you don’t want it to.
    Absolutely. That 8 week old you could catch by running after him, of course he'll probably enjoy the game.

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bernie View Post
    Absolutely. That 8 week old you could catch by running after him, of course he'll probably enjoy the game.
    Well, I wouldn’t let it off the lead in an unsecured location. I really meant that an 8 week old puppy doesn’t have the body weight and strength to drag most adults anywhere they don’t want to go, but an 8 year old Lab very well might.
    Annette

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  3. #13
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bernie View Post
    "When walking my dogs, I decide when they can sniff something and when they need to heel."

    Get a prong collar, then follow above advice.
    My concern with this post is the collar, as you later mention, is a training AID. just to put a tool on the dog and "decide" won't accomplish much and can lead to seriously issues. If one opts to train with a prong, fine, but ensure it is properly fitted and use a training program with it. Start in an area where you can get his attention and reward/praise. Work on training leave it and the equivalent of "on by" (which means keep walking). but you need to train the commands.

    I'd pair a collar that ensures I have control of the dog and some high value rewards. I'd start at home/somewhere they show attention at. Set them up with something that would interest them and walk by it at a good distance (on leash). get the dogs attention before you get there using your voice. Reward when they point in your direction. you may need to be farther away and reward faster at first. once they are consistent you can treat a few steps later. once they are consistent you can reduce distance (but start treating sooner again). Once they get it you can start using the term you want associated to this command (ex: "on by"). You don't want treats visible in your hand, put them in your pocket/treat pouch. As they are getting consistent (90%) you can start random rewards schedule.

    Sounds like it's more the "walking past things he finds interesting" that ist he issue VS general on leash manners.

    Also never too old to hit an obedience class

    If you start chasing an 8 week old puppy regularly yeah it's gonna be a really fun game and you are training them to run away from you, making it harder to train a recall.

  4. #14
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    First of all... I'd ask the OP... are you using a collar, or harness? If the latter, this almost encourages the dog to pull. I would put the harness away and go to a collar of some sort. I would urge the obedience class as well. And I'd also agree that what we can offer in words/text on a forum like this is hard to envision, let alone put into practice. Vis the prong collar... I am not sure, and maybe the OP can tell us, I think maybe in the UK a prong collar is out-lawed? I know for sure the e-collar is. But in some jurisdictions, the prong (also known as a pinch) collar is considered cruel.

    One short term answer to walking the dog (it doesn't train the dog, only gives the handler a little leverage) is to leash wrap him.

    How to leash wrap your dog - YouTube We have an older relatively untrained, happily head-strong "house-lab" who absolutely puts on his best manners when leash wrapped.

    There are some good you-tube videos that discuss heeling and you can actually watch the training. That might help a little more than just our attempts at explaining.

    If I had one thing to add to what has been said above it would be to demonstrate to the dog that... when you pull, we stop. That would sort of stop the hemorrhaging a bit, because every time he pulls, AND gets to go where he wants to go, he's been positively rewarded to pull. So, begin by stopping. Literally and figuratively.

 



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