pulling at home

[RKCM]

Here goes my silly question: Our Dagger has been to several obedience classes. He does great at the training class and completed Beg., Adv. Beg. and passed Novice I. He sits, stays and all that. He is working on off lead now. The problem is when I work him at home, he will not heal. It is like he has no focus except away from home. It is like at home he is guarding me and the place by being out in front. I am thinking I just need to work him at home more but being new at obedience, I'm not sure.

I use a martingale on him and have thought of using a pinch collar at home. I hate to do that but he does go out ahead of me. What do you guys think?

And by the way, any of you that havent taken your dog to obedience, they love it! It's like taking a child to disneyland and they are so excited to please you. We had always trained our dogs to live with us and do a lot of things but they enjoy the socialization outside of their home. It's fun for both of us.

[tidibole]

Don't be afraid to use a pinch collar, and honestly I was for years..I bought a pinch 20 yrs ago and truly was afraid to use it until a BREEDER/Trainer friend of mine cohersed (sp)me into using it indicating the benefits. Used proeprly it is superior to a choke chain and certainly a martingale of any type.

[Dobs4ever]

RKCM - congratulations on taking training classes. It is amazing how they love challenges. So now for the home front - go straight to a pinch do not hesitate or pass go because you can't collect $200. (just a little kidding) All they have to do is hit the end of it one time and they pretty much learn to respect it. If I had to guess I would say you might have let him get by with it a few times when you thought it did not matter but pulling is pulling and if they get away with it sometimes will assume it is OK to try just in case you are not serious this time.

Truthfully they are just too smart for their own good.

[RKCM]

Ok, I will try the pinch. It just scared me a bit. He has made great improvement since we got him. He lived with a military man and he had beginning Schz., but I'm sure he was a little more forceful that me. He had poor sits too so not sure what he did with him because it was like starting over, except harder to correct things....?? We got him when the owner went to Iraqi and was returned to the breeder. He is absolutely my dog and prefers me over my husband.

When we first got him 'he did pull me really bad and would only do for my husband. It took awhile for him to listen to him. Think he thought Eddie was the boss, so wrong. LOL> He is absolutely healing etc in class but get him home and he thinks it is a new thing. I will try the pinch. I've had mixed messages about it but I really don't want him pulling.

Thanks guys!

[Dobs4ever]

RKCM - the mixed messages are caused usually by people who have never used it but have made up horrorable pictures in their mind of torture etc. Of course, those people go overboard on every thing and have very vivid imaginations. The pinch simulates the bite of the mother dog. Because it is spread out in little tiny points it does not put the pressure on the neck that a choke does so does not do near as much damage even if used a little incorrectly.

[Big Dogs]

Here is another thing to consider when you are teaching him to heel, if he was beginning Schz training the dog will be slightly more ahead of the obedience envelope at your leg. So you might be trying to correct something he was already taught was permissible. I't also sounds as if he was started into schz to early. Sounds as if you have it under control good luck.

[tidibole]

Where did you hear/read, etc that a pinch stimulated the bite of the mother? That is a very interesting concept? The first time I have ever heard that and would be very interested in pursuing that theory.

[Dobs4ever]

Tidibole - I don't know if I can answer that - It just how I was always taught the pinch was designed to work from the old German Schutzhund trainers. That is why it has Teeth if you will. When a bitch corrects her babies she bites them around the neck and scares the holy bagheebees out of them and she only has to correct them once and by golly they don't do that again. Once is all it takes from her. It is us humans that nag and nag and nag almost begging the dog to stop it instead of just having your come to Jesus meeting right up front so we don't have to keep going there over and over.

It is the only way I have ever thought of it but can't quote a chaper and verse. Sometimes i just know things because I have taken so many classes and worked with so many different trainers through the years and pick up different things and ideas from each. Heck if I keep going at this rate soon I will be older than dirt.