I discovered if I took my 6' leash and looped it around the head, so the loop dangled on the chest and forelegs, it held the dog in a near perfect heel position, and the flat collar was all I needed. Attached to the collar, looped and so you have 2 layers of leash in your hand. She's very submissive, and a verbal is all the correction ever necessary, and she'll shutdown at the site of the prong...I had to find another way.

Pat,

I've seen a couple people with this problem. The problem is caused by inconsistent handling and a confused dog. The handler has decided that the dog cannot walk at the end of the leash, but hasn't taught the dog where to walk. All the handler has taught is the word "slow" is going to hurt.

Teach your dog to come to your side. Give the word "slow" EVERY time the dog moves more than 1 inch out of position - use a lot of treats, play praise for being in the correct position.

If your dog still has issues with the word "slow", teach your dog to back up one step. Then intead of saying slow, use "back" and reward the dog for correcting its position.

OK, I guess no one has a prolbem with the prong collar. SO...

I liked the leash idea, and tried it this morning. Not much pulling, just a couple of pops on the dog end of the leash to keep him where he needs to be. I used alot of praise, and he refused treats, as I figured he would. I am guessing that I jumped the gun by not giving him a place to walk, but correcting him for walking where he wanted to.

In a couple of months he will get the idea of where he needs to walk, right? Then I need to correct him when he gets out of place?

This dog is a 2 year old GSD that I got about 6 weeks ago. I guess that I am going too fast for him. I did Ed's Groundwork, and he is learning sit and down, but is not consistent yet.

He has some prey drive, and some food drive, but distraction is his weakness. I have tried to reward him with a hotdog piece during a walk and have had him spit it out. So I have to make sure he is hungry, and work with him in the back yard. When anywhere but the back yard he will ignore his toys.

Am I getting on track to fixing his walking behaviors?

just a heads up but you probably already know. If your doing Ed training. All the learning needs to be done in house or backyard with no distraction. Then you need to correct for breaking command and then you can add distractions.

You mentioned you were having problems with distractions. That should be the last step make sure you really got the first two down first.

IMO remember ground work should always be going on to help keep any unwanted behavior to creep up.

remember patience
have you tried liver some dogs like this more than hotdogs
Good luck

Yeah, it looks like I am trying to push him too fast...

Gonna Try Moc's Liver treats and tracking bait this week.

pat

Wow! Great replies everyone.

Candi: I agree, I would LOVE some hands on demonstration or even to see a trainer work a dog. But Sarnia has very limited resources as far as training. The one class I took Emma to, was "all=positive" training methods with food. This worked very well for Emma as she was very insecure and she is also a food hound, so she learned quickly and gained confidence almost overnight. However, there was no demonstration of the different training tools or anything like that. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Emma used a flat collar.

I have the basic OB video, but there were some things I wanted to know that weren't covered (I understand why, it is already a 4 h video). So I am very thankful for this forum!

Now I have this other dog, he's skittish but hard - when I correct him most of the time he ignores me like he didn't even feel it. He isn't the easiest to train - Catahoulas were bred to work independently of the handler, not WITH the handler.

I agree 100% that I haven't taught the dog where to walk - he pulls so hard and even though he is a "hound" type dog, he doesn't appear overly intrested in sniffing everything. He also doesn't appear to be extremely hyper and excited about the walk - he just pulls.

Like Patrick's, this dog doesn't take treats readily. He's a rescue and still nervous about a new environment. His tail isn't tucked in, but he isn't interested in the treats. So I try to praise him, but as soon as I say anything he goes right back to the end of the leash again.

I dont want to do obedience heeling or anything like that, just have a nice walk in the park.

So.... should I forget the prong collar entirely and just use a flat collar and praise/treats?

Use a prong collar AND praise/treats?

Use a prong collar and corrections only?

Thanks for all the help so far and keep the suggestions coming!

EDIT: This dog isn't the mastiff type. He's more Weimeraner/Foxhound/German Shorthaired Pointer type. So he doesn't have a lot of loose skin on his neck, but the prong keeps sliding down. GGGrrrr... (Although I can understand how the prong would be hard to use on a bully type dog.)

Angela, IMHO, right now your male Catahoula is not trained well enough for you to walk him out in public -- His distraction level is too high for your handling prowess...

Train him indoors first, then when he's well mannered inside, train him in the backyard & when he's well mannered there, move your training to the front yard, before taking him off your property on the leash -- He's too big, too energetic, too strong & too bull-headed for you to manage him properly on the street yet, IMHO

You know, as obvious as that might sound, it makes a lot of sense. I can physically control him (hold him back) but he's not paying enough attention to me.

My only question is: I'm trying to socialise him. Is there any way that I can work with him at home (say, on the prong) and also, take him out and socialise him (say, on a flat collar?) at the same time? Or is this trying to move to quickly?

Oh wait I have two questions: How do I know if it's time to move from one step to the next, such as from indoors to the back yard?

Socialize him at home first by having everyone you know stop by your house frequently, get all the neighborhood kids to drop in regularly, etc. -- Once he learns to obey commands under distraction indoors, then start the process again outside...

Did you ever get Ed's DVD, "Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months" ??? Follow his instructions on that video, then when you & the Catahoulas have mastered those lessons, you can move on to his "Basic Obedience" DVD <:-)

Thank you Candi. I did not get the video because the dog was already 9 months when he came to live with me. I have the basic OB DVD, though, unfortunately Rusty loses interest in treats if you don't give it to him immediately (as in, you hold it above his nose to make him sit). The DVD does not show how to do it with another method. So far I push his butt down, and he seems to be "getting it" that way.

Anyway thanks for the advice and Rusty and i will do some work tonight in the basement. I will let you know how it goes!