but can a dog recently 'graduated' off a prong collar pick up on that (and that they aren't under the same sort of corrective device), and increase their aggression level with their extra freedom?

or is this completely silly and dogs aren't capable of that level of reasoning or just that sort of behaviour.

teagan's really been behaving well, so since yesterday i've been walking her on her new flat collar. earlier we saw dogs the other side of the park, she and luc went into a sit, that was fine.

but just now....she flipped, snarled and went full out at some guy walking along the street. i wasn't wearing my glasses since it's snowing and i hate snowflakes/drops on them, but he appeared harmless enough to me. she has never exhibited that kind of aggression to a stranger.

then, in the park, one dog was walking across. i put the dogs in downs - again, teagan snarled - this being the third time i've heard her vocalize at another dog (well, actually, the second....one time i couldn't hear her growl but i felt the lead vibrate) - and she went for it. i don't find flat collars conducive to attention gathering corrections (maybe it's just me) but i corrected her, put her in a sit, and blocked her as she was very agitated.

every single other person she saw she watched with dominant body language and hard stared at them.

she hasn't acted like this a combination of never and for a very long time!

bad night, or does she feel more free on a flat collar?

on the bright side, with luc and his traffic issues, he's not at all bothered by oncoming traffic. he tends to notice traffic coming from behind before i do, so at first indication from the leash, i put him into a sit and we watch the vehicle go by. this works pretty well, it keeps him calm and curious.

I know they know the difference. My dog is an angel with his prong on, but KNOWS when I try any other collar, and resumes the pulling on the leash when walking and he gets excited.

I really can't help you much other than that. She may be a dog that should always be on a prong. Good luck.

I would say she is collar wise. Meaning, she knows the prong means "behave".
Just like with Jesea, if she is loose with a flat collar or a prong on, and a cat takes off away from her, she is going to get it (and kill it). With the e-collar on, she won't even look at the cats.

she's as devious as i thought she was then (jk)

i think she's going to have to go back to the prong. i mean, i was able to stop her, but i was especially alarmed at her aggression to that guy, as that's a whole new level for her - she's looked at people unpleasantly before, silently run at a scary guy in a mask staring at us and coming towards us, but she's never tried to really really get someone - she wanted him, it was not an okay behaviour. i had to physically block her and pull her away, thank goodness it's a tight flat collar that can't pull off.

sigh....i got the flat collars so we could practice for the canine good neighbour. hmmph.

how would you go about teaching a dog to be less collar-wise? or is that just one of those things?

(wondering if this sort of thing will put the CGN out of reach for teagan, you can't do it in a prong)

Yes, Jennifer I have the same question. Bindi is very color and leash savy. I have her colors on well before and well after we do training and she still knows what color she can get away with. Though I will admit she is usually very well behaved.
I have the same question, so I will be looking for the responses that come your way.
Thanks for asking this question.
God bless you

i'm wondering - if i take her out wearing the prong, but with the lead attached to the flat collar.... ?????

Oh just use the prong on her. Do you really need the headache of a nutty dog in a flat collar? Prongs are your friend. :laugh:
Maybe with time she will have reformed with nice behavior when in a flat collar. How long have you had her? Not very lery long.
Give her some time to change her habits (although I don't think she will ever be a mild-mannered nun, more like mother superior).

just 3 months! i was just excited about practicing for the CGN.

like i said, when i corrected her, i was like 'this flat collar sucks!' i doubt she's the hardest dog out there, but she sure as hell isn't going to pay any attention to a flat collar. back to the prong....i'm just dreaming/scheming about the CGN, that's all.

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

i'm wondering - if i take her out wearing the prong, but with the lead attached to the flat collar.... ?????

I did this with Max only I also had a lead attached to the prong and hooked in my belt loop. When he would pull----he got popped. He wears a large fur saver now and does not pull near as hard. He does have a choke chain on all the time with his tags and I do not use it as a collar anymore.....(I am not a promoter of them, but he has one)....flat collars seem to get lost or rub the hair off of his neck.

When we work, his collars come off, and he just wears his harness which also has ID tags on it.