Hello,
I'm considering switching my dog to a prong collar for corrections. She gets upset when someone gets near me. Example...An old friend stopped by, she barked aggressively when he came into the yard, I was with her to correct her (in a flat collar) She calmed down, however, when he gave me a hug, she jumped up and nipped at his elbow and leg. This not the first time she has exhibited this behavior. Its is elicited whenever anyone gets too close to me. She also jumped towards my sister once while she was reaching towards my head. She is a rescue, was pretty squirrely for the first few months, so I gave her sometime to settle, bond and build trust and look towards me as a leader. I continue to work on obedience with her and she has gotten ALOT better in numerous situations. She has finally warmed up towards my husband!!!! I never let children near her, as I really do not trust with little ones. I enjoy working and training with her. I wonder if its time to try a prong for this lingering issue. Also, I assume a small would fit her, she is about 35lbs. Belgian Shep mix (we think)
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Regards,

Linda

It's not even a questin of IF YOU SHOULD USE a prong collar. You must use a prong collar on a dog like this. The dog sees itself as YOUR PACK leader. So you not only need to use a prong collar you need to re-evaluate your relationshipo with your dog. In other words you need to take the steps necessary to become a pack leader. In a month or so I am releasing a book on Dealing with Dominant and Aggressive Dogs. It will be announced on my table of contents. You need this information.

Simply putting a prong on and correcting the dog for showing aggression is only a small poart of the solution. I dont have time here to go into much more detail. Sorry

Dear Mr. Frawley,
Thank you for your assessment and advice. I will order a prong today and begin training with it. As you suggested I need to re-evaluate my relationship with this dog. I look forward to the release of the above mentioned book. My only other question/confusion is that while my dog demonstrates these dominant behaviors she tends to act like a "soft dog" Responding quickly to verbal reprimands (when she is not in a drive mode) She is otherwise obedient and acts rather timid. I've been working from your Basic Obedience DVD.
Can a dog be dominant and also soft??
Regards,

Linda

There is a little bit of difference between a dog who feels that there is a power vacumn thet he must fill, and a truly dominant dog. Most dogs will respond to lack of strong leadership with dominant type behaviours, but become submissive when the leadership is clear. This is the best situation for the dog.

So yes, a dog can have both anxiety issues and exibit dominance traits, but it is from the dogs lack of confidence in you, not necessarily the innate drive of the dog.

Prongs help because it gives clear communication to the dog what is acceptable and what is not; which you, as the leader of the pack, decides. Then, the dog can relax and play follow the leader, instead of trying to be something he is not.

Make sure you make it black and white for your dog, and go slowly. When he does the right thing (submit to you and your decisions), praise the bejesus out of him. Teach 'leave it, here, on by (a mushing command I find useful when my dogs walk through crowds), down, stay, and enough'. Make sure the prong is fitted properly, high on the neck, so the corrections have more import.

Analyze your timing. If you correct the dog after he lunges, or after he shows aggression, you have waited too long, and your corrections become confusing and/or ineffectual. Are you correcting for breaking the sit, showing some teeth, or barking? You want to correct the dog for thinking about it, before he is so aroused that he reacts. This also means you have to step back, and gradually increase distractions.

Don't forget praise! You don't want to become Stalin, you want to be a calm, authoritive, in control leader that you dog has absolute confidence in. The prong is just the physical, and it is not a cure all, you've surely seen people give correction after correction and the dog just ignores it. Your attitude is what makes you the real leader.

Good luck! Just my .02, but I hope this helps!

Melissa,
I appreciate your thoughtful analysis of my situation. I am working on sit, down, and leave it during situations on our walks that I think will trigger her. Where she used to look like the out of control dog, she now will focus on me and some basic commands, until I release her. Her trigger, now, seems to be strangers approaching me and or trying to engage me in conversation. As you mentioned, I will need to be several steps ahead of her reactions. I think the prong is necessary at this point, since she has lunged at people, if they are coming at me to talk etc. I understand what your saying about being black and white, and yes, I do praise and always have a pocket of tidbits for rewards. I'm just a bit perplexed by her in that she can be "soft" submissive and always responds to me except during the above situations. I don't think she had much in the way of boundarys, and or socialization before I adopted her. I have enjoyed working with her and watching her learn. She just last month figured out how to chase, run and wrestle with a ball. She is a work in progress.
Your suggestions were worth much more than .02 cents!!
Thanks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Linda

Its me again!
I did order a prong collar. However, when my dog just saw the collar she kind of fell into a heap on the floor cowering and then showing me her belly. She seemed really frightned of it??? I don't know if she has had experience with this type of collar before.
Should I just put it on briefly at first, let her wear it, and make no big deal? Should I not begin to train with it until she appears to have less of a reaction to it? She knew we were going for a walk, which usually gets her going bananas from excitement.
Any feedback would be much appreciated!

Regards,

Linda

You never mentioned your response to these situations.

You could start out by turning it around so the prongs are actually sticking up instead of turned in towards her neck. Put it on her and then give her a treat, and take it back off again. In 10 minutes or so, repeat, and after a few ties, leave it on a little longer, and then 10 minutes later, do it again, but for a little longer. See if you can get her excited and wanting to play while she's wearing it. If you can make the act of putting the collar on a good experience, she should warm up to it pretty quickly and start to look forward to seeing you pick it up. I hardly ever use the collar on my dog now, so it stays in a drawer in the kitchen. If I have to go rummaging through the drawer for something, the second she hears the prong collar jingle, she comes running into the kitchen, tail wagging, ready to go train! This is the kind of reaction you want from your dog - you don't want her to be afraid of the collar, or become afraid when you put it on.

For now, I wouldn't take her for a walk with it. Just let her start wearing it for short periods around the house, but always when you can supervise her. As she gets used to it, you can try turning it around the way it's supposed to be worn. Don't make a big deal of it when you do put it on this way. Just put it on and go about your business. Putting it on and then waiting 15 or 20 minutes or so before you hook up the leash and go out will also help to keep her from becoming collarwise. When you get back, leave the collar on her for another 15-20 minutes before you take it off.

Kristen,
Thanks so much for the sound advice! I kinda thought that your approach would be the way to desensitize her so to speak, before using it as a training aid. I like the idea of turning the prongs outward also. I will definitely utilise your suggestions/techniques. This dog has had trust and confidence issue, and is really coming along, I don't want her to backslide. I really like the idea of the positive associations I can imprint on her with the behavior modifications you suggested. Thanks you so much.

Jeff, you asked in the previous reply how I handled or reacted to her. I just proceed to placed the collar on her, got her to stand up by talking excitedly to her, praised her and then removed the collar. I tried to act like it was no big deal. Took prong off and we went for a nice walk, then car ride. So there were no "hard feelings" I guess.

Regards,

Linda