Rate my training - teaching to heel and not pull

[Renee750il]

Harnesses are for pulling. Harnesses will NOT teach any dog not to pull.

Actually, Red, that's only true for some dogs, particularly dogs with pulling in their blood, whether it's sled pulling or cart pulling (as I understand Rotties have done historically). Dealing with German Shepherds, Terriers (although NOTHING will truly stop a Terrier, lol) and the Filas, I've found that a harness, especially at the puppy stage, is a great help. Just a plain, old fashioned, chest and shoulder harness though, not one made for any kind of pulling.

 

[boodgebabes]

I know I'm new here and am not a professional trainer of dogs or any other animals...but I do know one thing....you have to be alpha to the dog...calm , good attitude yourself before the dog will follow...patience and consistency

 

[amymarley]

Makenzie i think the way you just out right attacked animalbiz is completely uncalled for.
I think that any trainer who takes the time to get to know the animal and handler is much better than anyone who just says do this.
From her website it seems like this lady has numerous qualifications and does extensive shelter work which is extremely good!
i'm sorry but i just had to say something, i think animalbiz has been very carm and polite with her responses.
but i also think that she is much more qualified to give advice than you!

~Steve

Thank you for your kind words... I think this is a newbie and just testing the waters. Hey, I did it too. lol! Anyway, thank you for the support and I MUST say that I did get a pm yesterday from this person and an apology.

I think he/she deserves a great welcome here, and I am all for starting over!

Thank you above for your great and kind words. Mac.... welcome aboard!
Amy

 

[zoe08]

About the harness, it may not make them stop pulling. But I would much rather work with her on the harness as opposed to choking her in the process of training. Especially if you use the pull back method, which is not what I was told to use by my trainer. I was told to stop moving the second the leash gets tight (for loose leash walking) and wait until the dog acknowledges it before going again. And with heel I was taught to keep the leash tight so that she is by my left knee the whole time.

 

[amymarley]

Zoe...if you were taught by a trainer to "choke" your dog to heel, then you where taugt wrong. Again, a "corrective" collar is not to "choke" even though it's been called a choke chain..... that is very wrong.

Training should be fun and educational to your dog... it should expand the mind. NOT a bad experieince....
I would blast your "trainer"....
Amy

 

[zoe08]

My trainer did not teach me to choke my dog. How could you even think I would go to a trainer like that? My trainer wouldnt teach anything that would hurt the dog. Im sorry but I would appreciate if you would keep your comments like that to me to yourself. I am not stupid. I got the harness so when that my dog would not choke herself in the process of training NOT to pull on the leash. I would never choke my dog, having the leash on the collar scared me cuz when she pulled it choked her. It didnt take me long to decide a harness would be BETTER for her for training so she would not be choked.

 

[OutlineACDs]

My trainer did not teach me to choke my dog. How could you even think I would go to a trainer like that? My trainer wouldnt teach anything that would hurt the dog. Im sorry but I would appreciate if you would keep your comments like that to me to yourself. I am not stupid. I got the harness so when that my dog would not choke herself in the process of training NOT to pull on the leash. I would never choke my dog, having the leash on the collar scared me cuz when she pulled it choked her. It didnt take me long to decide a harness would be BETTER for her for training so she would not be choked.

I agree with everyone else who said that the harness will do nothing more than allow the dog to pull more. First of all, when you go out for walks, do you walk out of the door first? I would suggest you start by teaching this dog not to walk out of the door until you give permission. If she comes barreling outside ahead of you, your walk already started out bad, and you allowed it. If you must do this several times a day without actually taking her for a walk, then there is part of your problem. You have a headstrong dog that I don't feel you are taking much of a leadership position with. I realize this is a rescue, but none of this training had to be avasive, and none of my dogs get relesed from anwhere without an 'ok' from me. We don't walk outside, get out of the car, or out of the crate without and 'ok'.

Another thing I would suggest is getting with a responsible trainer, who has used that halti headcollar and get lessons from them on how to use it. When you control the dogs head the body will follow . On top of that you cannot pull a dog wearing a halti or you could hurt them (its the same as any other training device, choke, prong etc.) so this would go along with your "i dont like pulling my dog".

Anyway, just a few ideas.

 

[makenzie71]

I think you guys are misinterpretting what Zoe said...let me break it down for you:

The dog gets a collar.
Zoe puts the leash on the collar.
The dog wants to walk and run fast and she chokes.
Zoe gets a harness.
Now, not matter what the dog does, she does not choke.

100% beneficial in her situation.

When Zoe leaves, she walks out the door first. When she gets out of the car, she gets out first, and so on. She was taught how to train the dog by a responsible trainer...the ONLY area in which the dog has a problem is leading, which is, at most, only a minor inconvenience.

 

[zoe08]

Another thing I would suggest is getting with a responsible trainer, who has used that halti headcollar and get lessons from them on how to use it. When you control the dogs head the body will follow . On top of that you cannot pull a dog wearing a halti or you could hurt them (its the same as any other training device, choke, prong etc.) so this would go along with your "i dont like pulling my dog".

Anyway, just a few ideas.

I suggest you reread my earlier posts. I went to a trainer. Through beginner and intermediate classes. I used a halti on her once in class. I have not bought one yet cuz I havent deemed it necessary, she is learning well on the harness. and the halti made her very sad. She actually layed down on the floor and pouted when the trainer put it on her in class, which is not at all like her.

The harness works fine. And no she is not a rescue. The husky mix that belongs to Mak is the rescue I have talked about.

And my dog is still in the process of learning. But she is a beagle. Everyone says dont let them off a leash cuz they will follow thier nose. Well on a leash they still try to follow their nose, they just cant go very far cuz they are connected to you. I dont even have as much problem with her pulling really anymore she just likes to stop and smell things, I telling her "leave it" and we keep going. or if she sees something ahead or smells something that is when she pulls more. I choose not to get a large breed dog when I got a dog, cuz I didnt feel like I was ready to have a large breed to leash train as they can easily pull me around. This is my first dog to have on my own and really train and she is doing great.

And again since I keep having to repeat myself I took her through TWO training classes. And she was one of top dogs in her beginner. In the 2nd there were only 4 and they all did great.

In other words a harness is a good device for dogs determined to pull to the point of choking themselves. It DOES NOT stop them from pulling, I never said it did. It STOPS them from choking themselves. Which makes training much more comfortable for them.

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

What I have learned from my dogs is. Tire them out before any training. There brains are not in the hypersensitive mood. I run my dogs. Go for a nice jog. My dogs poop out about 2 miles. Just find a way to tire them out first. Dog park or something. Then do training. He helps a lot.