How to use a dominant dog collar

You can use the dominant dog collar and prong collar together. There are two ways to do this.

The first is to use the dominant dog collar as a "safety link." To do this, clip a leash on to both collars. If the prong comes open (which can happen rarely) you will maintain control of your dog with the dominant dog collar.

The second way to use them together is to use them on seperate leashes.

So let's say you are walking your dog, and you are passing a fenced yard and a dog is barking at yours.

Before you get to the yard with the dog, start giving your dog the "look" or "watch" command enthusiastically, happily and offering treats and praise for a job well done.

As you get closer to the other dog, the stress level is rising for your dog. If he looks away from you, you use a verbal correction "no." If he disregards your voice, within 1 second of saying "no" give a leash pop on the leash that is attached to the prong collar. If he disregards the prong collar, stop walking and pull directly up, calmly and swiftly on the leash connected to the dominant dog collar. Use the dominant dog collar to lift his front feet off the ground. When he stops showing aggression/gives attention to you, immediately lower him to the ground, check that the collar has loosened and continue walking without acknowledging him.

This should not be a stressful exercise. Simply calm and matter of fact. At any time that your dog minds, then HUGE praise and reward.

If this answers your questions better, Polly, you really don't want to wait until your dog is already showing aggression. You want to start with a command that your dog knows well "look," use a verbal correction "no," if that doesn't work because of distraction/stress, a prong collar correction. If your dog does not mind you at that point, I believe it is no longer a matter of obedience, but of rank, making the dominant dog collar appropriate correction.

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Thanks very much for the detailed answer. I will try to apply it correctly.

ok, well its been about 2 months since i posted my concerns about Tucker, and i just thought i would give an update.

He is coming along BEAUTIFULLY!!!! Although he still has issues with other dogs, he has learned that there is no need to automatically go into defense mode when he sees one. I was correcting him for the posturing and hackles, and i am sure the people that saw me doing that thought i was a horrible owner, but after only a few times of lifting his front feet off the ground and talking calmly to him, he began to realize, it was almost like i could see the little light bulb above his head when he did...lol. Now i knew Tucker was very very driven and loved his tennis ball, but i didn't think it would have the desired effect of focusing his attention on me when another dog was around, boy was i wrong! All i have to do now is when i see him noticing another dog is put my hand in my coat pocket and he's right there in front of me, and the other dog isn't even a concern. I, of course, priase him greatly and throw the ball a few times as his reward. But its amazing how dis-interested he is in the other dog (the one that was going nuts behind the fence) when his ball is in my hand. He's to the point now that whenever he hears that other dog start to freak out he doesn't even turn his head to look, but turns to me to see if i have the ball in my hand.
Anyway, All the advice given to me is really appreciated, and i am sure Tucker appreciates it too!
Thanks again everyone,

Wendy