Anna, All I want to add here is, while you are in the process of retraining, etc... A chain or latch on all doors higher than a child can reach might be worthwhile. You will then have that added buffer if someone does come to the door.

What is the difference between the two? The prong looks like it hurts more.

Anna

Yes Barbara, good idea... the wife of the person my dog bit suggested the same thing!

Yeah yeah Anna,
It's ugly looks keep alot of people away from it. And in some places it's actually banned.......on it's looks alone. Looks alone.
But I maintain now and have for a long time, after a flat collar and lead, and after food/or tug as a reward, the pinch collar is the most humane avenue toward getting the dogs attention.
The e-collar used correctly comes in as a tie with the pinch for me so far, but that's probably only because I've used the pinch so much longer.

Anna, have you thought about going to a trainer one on one? That way you could get help with your timing in corrections. Very important that....timing.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.

M & M Enterprises

I would strongly suggest the pack leadership video. Strongly.
Get that first and watch it.
Go to the pet store after you watch the video on the web site on how to use a prong and put one on your own thigh snugly with the leash attached to both rings.
Give a tug and you will find that it doesn't hurt.....unless you need it to...far better to give a correction to the dog that hurts less than your typical spanking given a child. Guarantee that it will hurt the dog less than the nip hurt the poor man at your door!!!
Good luck!

I use a prong collar on Dozer and I have yet to correct him so harshly that he yelps or whines. It's a quick up and to the side correction. Actually, he rarely pulls any longer when we are on a walk, since wearing the collar. I'm grateful that one of the trainers told me that this is what I needed.

 Quote: Anna Anderson

What is the difference between the two? The prong looks like it hurts more.

Anna

Anna, there is a big difference between how you use a dominant dog collar (I think that's what you mean by an 'aggression'collar), and a prong collar.

The prong is used to correct the dog before aggression has escalated to the point that he is out of control. It also provides great control for a smaller person who has a large dog (like me ), when walking the dog and in any other situation where you need to have good control of your dog.

If a prong is fitted correctly, the force of the correction does not need to be great. It compresses the skin and muscle around the dog's neck; yes, it's uncomfortable for the dog, but the prongs are not meant to penetrate into the skin, and a good prong will have very blunted tips. My dog has one on at all times when we are oustide, and this gives me the control that I need with her; she's 90 lbs, and I'm not going to win a battle of strength with her. I almost NEVER have to give her a correction.

A dominant dog collar is used to regain control of an out-of-control, aggressive dog, and you do this by lifting straight up on the collar. The collar will cut off the dog's air supply,and the dog will realize pretty quickly that it's not in a position to keep acting like a knuckle-head. If you are not strong enough to lift the dog up (front paws off the ground little bit) then a dominant dog collar won't work for you. In additon, your dog does not sound really out of control to me, so I'm not sure that this collar is what you want, anyway.

As others have suggested, start working on the pack structure issues, and manage the dog's environment so that no opportunities are given for her to be aggressive.

I had my husband read up on the aggression collar and he agrees with your replys. I won't be able to use the aggression collar correctly on Greta. When she is already in the "frame of mind", she is too strong for me to left up on. I will have my husband read up on the pitch collar. I always looked at that thing and thought, OH MY, it looks like it is going to hurt.

As for timing, according to Ed's video on training. What I understand that the correction and reward should be a split second after the action. This is why it has been hard for me to correct her if she gets in this particular "frame of mind". I usually can she immediately when she starts to go into it, even before the action. As soon as I see her looing a certain way at something, I can say "nop" and she will stop right away. She even will turn her head away from looking at the person or dog and keep walking. If she even glances over again, I will say "nop" and she looks aways again and keeps walking.

If I miss the very beginning of this "frame of mind" because because I am not paying attention, then I need to go into a stronger correction mode. I am pushing 60 now, and I have noticed that my strength is not has good as it use to be. The snap of the collar I give is nothing to her. It sounds like the prong collar is the way to go. Boy that thing looks scarry!

Shrug, no matter it's looks, both my dogs come running with wagging tails when they hear the jingle as I pick them out of the basket of tools.
Each one sits nicely, and struts proudly after they've been put on. They don't seem to mind the collar a bit.

Anna, the pinch as with any tool or collar can be abusive, it's up to you as the trainer/handler to make sure it's not used in that manner.

Hint, hint. The only pinch collar I will ever use is the top of the line Herm Sprenger brand, I haven't found any other that uses as large a wire for the working parts or one that has the quality of workmanship......they last forever.


If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
M & M Enterprises

Thanks Randy, Coming from your dog's point of view, that makes me feel better.

Anna