Use of Head Collars

[xracer4844]

I know that this solution sounds really simple...but as you are passing other dogs...make sure you are between him and the other dogs. I can't believe the number of people that don't do this. It's something we train everyone from day one. My dog heels on the left and is trained equally on the right. I say "foose" which is a German word we chose, as a command to pass behind me and heel on the right side. Whenever someone is walking towards us or behind us or whatever - I always have myself between him and another dog or person.

If it's a tight corridor, box him into the wall. Get in his way. Don't allow him to try and get around you to say hi to other dogs or people - you are walking. It's not play time. The more you let your dog do this during walks, the harder it will be to break that habit.

[xracer4844]

Also, just thought I would add to my last point: I am not lecturing you at all! Just sharing an experience I typically come across with new students! People say, my dog loves to say hello to other dogs. My dog loves to say hello to people. My dog loves to play and jump on people. I get it. Especially Labs! They love meeting new people and love playing with dogs. The best thing you can do is only allow this to happen during play time. For example - when you go to a dog park (not that I ever recommend you do so) that is play time. That is a time you have put aside for play. That would be an acceptable time to allow your dog to play, meet, run, get excited etc. HOWEVER, when you are on a walk - that is not an acceptable time to say hello to everyone who walks by. Walk time means walk time. Play time is play time. Bathroom time is bathroom time. Not everyone will agree with this, however this is how I have trained for a long time. I like to separate "work" from "play".

[Jeff]

I know that this solution sounds really simple...but as you are passing other dogs...make sure you are between him and the other dogs. I can't believe the number of people that don't do this. It's something we train everyone from day one. My dog heels on the left and is trained equally on the right. I say "foose" which is a German word we chose, as a command to pass behind me and heel on the right side. Whenever someone is walking towards us or behind us or whatever - I always have myself between him and another dog or person.

If it's a tight corridor, box him into the wall. Get in his way. Don't allow him to try and get around you to say hi to other dogs or people - you are walking. It's not play time. The more you let your dog do this during walks, the harder it will be to break that habit.

If you are training obedience and training for like the canine good citizen test, then one of the criteria is walking past another person with a dog, dogs both together on the inside. So not an option. Good advice for genal walking but competing and testing not allowed because specifically how difficult this is.

[xracer4844]

Good point Jeff - I should have mentioned that!

I'll also add that for myself, my dog is a completely "off leash dog" at all times, unless mandated by law. I still always put myself in between people and him though, not because he will react - but my dog has responsibilities, and if another dog wants to act up, or some crazy or drunk person does, I'll always be in the way as much as possible

[Charlotte K.]

If you are training obedience and training for like the canine good citizen test, then one of the criteria is walking past another person with a dog, dogs both together on the inside. So not an option. Good advice for genal walking but competing and testing not allowed because specifically how difficult this is.

Is this new? I have never seen this, although it could happen. Our CGCs were earned with both dogs on handlers' left sides, in heel position

[ChoppersDad]

I just love this site! I posted this thread late last night, went to work and came home to this wonderful conversation about collars and training. Thank you so much for such an intelligent discussion. Everyone has great points. I read everyone's responses carefully.

[ChoppersDad]

That said, have you tried putting an exceptionally wonderful treat in front of his nose as you get him out of the car and tried keeping him focused on that (feed and immediately produce another) as you go into class? It has to be something very high value, and you have to get him focused on it BEFORE he gets excited, but it can work if repeated over and over.

Truly, this is what I wanted to hear. To answer your question... No, I have not tried putting an exceptionally wonderful treat in front of his nose as I get him out of the car. That is an awesome idea. The reason I haven't tried it before is because I just learned this technique during the latter portion of our last training session last Monday night.

My trainer, who must be pretty smart put us through a drill in the last session where we had to walk past the other dogs while on a loose leash. The trick to the exercise was to get his attention as you are walking by the other dogs with a treat while utilizing a loose leash. It worked on the second try. I was even able to get him to change directions and walk away from the dogs. I tried it on my walk later that night with our neighbors' dogs and it worked pretty good until he ate the treat. Although, I changed my strategy to the sit and stay on command when dogs come around him. That approach is working because his sit and stay is pretty solid. He just watches them from a distance in his sitting position. That is awesome progress without any special collars. I am sure this is from our formal training on sit and stay.

The order of training and the types of commands we are learning are all starting to make sense. During training, I use Blue Buffalo training treats. LOL... at $8.99 for a small bag of treats, it is of very high value. Kidding aside, he does love the duck flavored treats. After considering all of everyone's past experiences and advice, I am confident that I can do it without any special collar. If I fail, then I will concede to the head collar.

I am going to continue down the current path with a normal flat collar along with your recommendation to use treats for distractions. I am strong enough to control him and I am also firm like an anchor. I just need to apply this distraction technique before the class starts. He is fine after he burns off some energy and treats are in the mix with the training sessions. Part of my problem is that we attend the class at 6:00 pm. I barely have enough time to get home, change, take Chopper out for a restroom break and head straight to the class. He has a private puppy sitter that takes him for a short walk during the day, but he is primed for action by the time I get home. I wish I had time to burn off some energy prior to the class.

[sparky]

We use the prong collar. It is power steering for Mocha. We use whenever we take him out. He is so excited when we put the collar on him, he knows we are going on an adventure! When he meets another dog we allow only a 3-5 second greet then we say "that's enough" and separate them. The prong collar helps us so much. It was sized by his trainer and she gave us points on how to use it. Hope this helps.

[Snowshoe]

Is this new? I have never seen this, although it could happen. Our CGCs were earned with both dogs on handlers' left sides, in heel position

We didn't do that for our CGN. The only time we passed another dog it was after the meet the friendly stranger with dog and both dogs were heeling on the same side of their owner (left) so it was impossible to do that when the owners had to shake hands and were standing right in front of each other. They got pretty close though.

I just discovered there is a new Canadian test called CCGC. Canadian Canine Good Citizen. Maybe they do something differently. I'm not sure if this used to be our Canine Good Neighbour or if we now have two tests to choose from.

BUT, in our competitive obedience class we did practise heeling with the dogs between us at ever closer and closer distance. Our trainer said it was just good to learn since it was going to probably happen while waiting to enter the ring.

Actually, we did some work with that in Rally too. We had a little Toller who great things were expected of in Rally, Conformation, Field and I think Agility too. A little male, he was very nervous of other intact males. We used Oban to do this exercise, meeting with the dogs between and closer and closer together. One of my bursting with pride moments. I probably bragged about it BC.

[Jeff]

Is this new? I have never seen this, although it could happen. Our CGCs were earned with both dogs on handlers' left sides, in heel position

Hmm not sure Hemi got his 3 years ago, we had dogs on left like you do and we passed another person on the right so the dogs were dog to dog. Typically how you walk on trails and drive down the road etc.

Then when we did the handshake thing we met directly ahead, so face to face. When we departed we did departs so the dogs were not together.