Hello All,
This weekend I had the occasion to attend a dog show/demostration. You all probably know the type; agility, flyball, service dogs for the handicapped, education for the masses kind of affair. The entry fee went to a group that maintain an extensive line of trails and fields that I and some others use for dog walks and training ( though this last weekend may change things, I say some other dog owners because we don't advertise it, the place is really a horse club.) So i thought why not donate to the up keep and attend. Besides it might be good for my year and half old GSD. Lots of people, lots of dogs, some stress against my training, yada yada yada. I'm happy to say (not to brag) she showed her best side. And where she failed, showed me the holes in my training. So all in all it was a productive day for us.
My question to the board concerns a 16 week old GSD I met. Nice looking dog and naturally with all the excitement just full of it. The first thing I noted mentally was the chain choker collar and the next was the completely lost look of the owner. The owner aside for the moment, I've owned dogs with strong prey drives, dogs completely self sufficient, dogs that didn't particularly like people, in short all kinds of dogs and never, never have I used a choker or pinch collar at 16 weeks of age. Am I off base with that thinking?
Secondly the owner. I know the trainers that hosted this event as well as many of the attendees and I may well be able to track (so to speak) this person down...........Yeah so what then?
Any way, what about this choker on such a young dog?

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong,
Randy

PS.
no, the dog was not being handled.
Run to the end on one side, run to the end on the other, repeat on and on.

IMO a chain choker is not a good idea regardless of the age of the dog.
A 16 week old dog is still a baby.
Sounds like the owner needs some (lots of) training.
I don't know what to advise you to do about it. I wouldn't know what to do myself, to be honest.

To start with Janice is correct....choke collars suck, and are dangerous tools that can cause damage is used incorrectly.

16 weeks is way too young for anything but a flat collar, IMHO.

Secondley, we can't save the world, but if you could track down the owner and give some advice (granted they are open to it) that would be a great thing.

Carol said it best. You can't save every dog owner, but you can offer to help the ones you can. Not everyone will take the advice and that's their fault. I'm always open to new thoughts. I don't have to do it, but if it's better for me and my dog, I will.

Thanks for the imput guys. I have to admit to being a little unsure of myself under the circumstances. While I'm sure there are still trainers out on the edges that advocate harsh methods for such young dogs, I don't know them. And I didn't know if I had missed something important in dog training.. If I ever have the misfortune to encounter a similar mismatch your encouragements will help me step up to the plate, and take a swing at salvaging something for the dog.
As to tracking down the owner, so far it doesn't look good. No surprise there. I haven't heard back from everybody so all hope isn't lost, but the people I expected to know about her, didn't. At this point I think my best chance at running into this dog again will be in the pet ad section of the local news paper..... In about four months time. We all know how it's worded. 'Free to good home. Pure breed German Sheperd. Good dog, but needs room to run. No time for him. Doesn't like cats, other dogs, would make good watch dog. Needs firm hand. Call xxxxxxx.'
So sad. He was a good looking Gsd. Nice character. No fear.
Hope I can sleep tonight.


If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong,
Randy