Have any of you guys experienced this before? I use the collar to help control my 80 lb APBT mix on walks, because he likes to pull and he gets over-stimulated VERY easily. And, for a while, the collar worked great! And now it doesn't. I could yank this dog backwards head-over-heels as hard as I could (I have not done that, rest assured!) and he would think that I tickled him. So now when we walk he pulls against the collar like he was just on a flat collar and not a prong. He does this on both the live ring and dead ring. This has made walking very obnoxious.

Now, we ARE working on loose-lead walking on a flat collar in a low-distraction environment... when he pulls I stop and go the other way, when he comes back to me mark and treat, gradually increasing the distance he needs to go without pulling to get the reward. I want him to be able to do this because it would be easier and less stressful on the both of us and I really want to get a CGC on him and that is part of the requirement.

But! He still needs his long walks every day so I'm going to have to stick with the prong for a while until his OB is solid. Is there anything I can do to "remind" him that the prong is there? Maybe get a smaller size and more links?

I'm guessing this is pretty much all due to that "amazing pit bull pain tolerance." It's definitely taught me a new way to train, at least. =)

i personally will not use the prong collar, i hate them.. try the gentle leader its looks like a small muzzel but the dogs can still eat, drink, and bark with it on (it is not a muzzle) it slipps gently over the dogs head and muzzle and reduces pulling when walking when the dog tries to pull you the leader makes it verry diffacult you will be able to walk him/her with one finger on the lead

mike..

 Quote: Michael curry

i personally will not use the prong collar, i hate them.. try the gentle leader its looks like a small muzzel but the dogs can still eat, drink, and bark with it on (it is not a muzzle) it slipps gently over the dogs head and muzzle and reduces pulling when walking when the dog tries to pull you the leader makes it verry diffacult you will be able to walk him/her with one finger on the lead

mike..

That is quite possibly the worst advice I have heard given on this forum in quite some time. Gentle leader? Are you kidding me? Please tell me this is some cruel joke.

Ashley, try teaching the dog how to heel, instead of relying on collars and restraint. I'm sure I've posted info on it on this forum before somewhere, as have many other members.

Ashley agree totally with Mike J. Please go this link http://www.cobankopegi.com/prong.html as it shows the results of a scientific study regarding the prong collar and why *if used correctly" is the safest and one of the most effective of the training collars available to us. That said no dog is immune to proper instruction. Regards Norman

Ashley, the collar is fitted high and snug, right? Yes, a smaller link size might deter him from pulling...

Any chance to get him worn out (tug game, etc) before you walk him? I know it's tough, when the dog needs the exercise but is very distracted and pulling.

Essentially, because you keep moving forward, the dog has learned that if he pulls hard enough, you will move with him. I think you need to start over. Connie had a good post about teaching nice walking with a confirmed puller; if I can find the link I'll post it.

For now, here's what I have done that works. First of all, start out w/ a hungry dog. Take the time to prepare some very high value treats to have w/ you.

Start inside or in the back yard (if you have one) where the distractions are less. Put the dog in a sit, and then move forward. Whan the dog starts to pull, stop and wait. Keep your arm very rigid so that he gets no forward movement when the prong is tight. Once he comes back to you, mark and reward. Repeat, repeat, repeat...once he gets the idea, put a word to the behavior (I use 'let's go')

I want my dog to give me eye contact when I walk her, so I do not mark and reward until she looks at me, even if she is walking by my side. I give her lots of releases to explore, but I try very hard to make sure that she does not pull me when she is released. I will either follow her for a bit, or stand still and not move so that she gets no forward movement when the prong is tight.

Good luck!

well im sorry i gave bad advice lol, but whats wrong with the leader i spoke of? i may have gotten the name wrong but my discription was good.

i have used it and it worked fine for me, please enlighten me...

thanks

 Quote: Michael curry

well im sorry i gave bad advice lol, but whats wrong with the leader i spoke of? i may have gotten the name wrong but my discription was good.

i have used it and it worked fine for me, please enlighten me...

thanks

Here you go -- a halti thread:

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=173195

wow, i just read that thread and yes i have just put my foot in my mouth.. i have never used but but heard good things from a local trainer about them, so i guess i was going on false information, my apologies..

what about the aggressive dog colar, its like a nylon choker, but instead of it choking it blocks the airway for a second, it was in one of theese threads by leerburg. by like the main trainer on here or something

do you know what i am talking about connie?

 Quote: michael curry

what about the aggressive dog colar, its like a nylon choker .... do you know what i am talking about connie?

The dominant dog collar? http://leerburg.com/746.htm

But this is a thread about pulling while walking.

As Mike and Lynne and others pointed out, this pulling is a habit that will be extinguished when the dog is taught how to walk properly with the handler. Lynne gave some nice pointers to get the O.P. started.

This is especially useful, IME: Any chance to get him worn out (tug game, etc) before you walk him? I know it's tough, when the dog needs the exercise but is very distracted and pulling. (quoting Lynne)

Also, I incorporate plenty of releases in the walk .... I stand still after my release word ("OK!" in my case) and the dogs have the length of the leash to sniff, mark, etc. This keeps the leader (me) in charge, while still allowing the dogs all kinds of exploring and dog-stuff.

And starting at home, as Ashley is doing, works very well for me when I have a recent addition and need to instill the basic idea of no-going-in-front-of-me..