Do what I do....beat 'em up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Karate Karmen <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Another example of why I taught Auster "bad dog!" "Bad dog" means it is playtime (I just have to chase her around the yard yelling bad dog and she thinks it is wonderful).

All I have to do is tell someone that Auster is a bad dog, and she goes to the end of the leash and wags her whole body (playtime!). Either they are a dog person and they understand, or they only think they are a dog person and they walk in the other direction. Auster's favorite toy is a lunge whip, so if I say she's such a bad dog she should be whipped she will bark, jump, and go nuts <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> . It's also useful for when she licks a kid and the parent doesn't like it. She gets told that she's a "bad dog".

It's awful, I know. Auster's a sweet dog but some people just don't need to know that. At least it won't get you in as much trouble as Karmen's method.

Sorry Sal - no offense - I am getting distracted at how much Sal Mennella sounds like Salmonella!

Originally posted by Will Rambeau:
I guess ya'll are just more patient than me, I've given up on the pee brains. If people want to make ignorant comments, there is no stopping them - however I have found that being a large tattoo'd man with a shaven head and a pretty much unapproachable dog will keep the general public from coming up to you and giving you unwanted advice < grin >
I'd be glad to hand Fetz over to them for a few moments to let them try their hand at correcting him.......< snicker >

Like Lauren, when I used a Gentle Leader with one of my dogs, I was constantly given snide remarks about my dog and his "muzzle". I also got alot of remarks (he did not like the Gentle Leader and would buck around like a horse) that I was being cruel. Ignore it. I am just glad he has graduated to a flat collar now and don't have to hear the nonsense. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Tom : it is Joe blogs down the streetthat has no insight of why we use a prong collars ,if it bothers you just tell them what it is for and if you still get the comments then to hell with them. But i know what you mean I have a dobe female also and with the non coated breeds as we call them the prong collar stands out so much more . I have never had people ask me what it is ,or how bad it looks . Peter

Peter, you are lucky. I live in Los Angeles and there hasn't been one day without someone starting up about the prong. I was in my hometown of Manhattan, NYC and not one person said a word about the prong...just "Beautiful dog...nice dog, etc." For the last month,I decided to take walks with a leather agitation collar. Once last week, I decided to take a walk with both collars because my dog has collar awareness. 5 minutes out of my house I had someone mouthing off. I took off the prong, put it on my leg and yanked the living shit out of it. I said, "Look, do you see? This delivers a correction but it will not damage the dog's throat." The guy's remark... "Well it still looks F**kin nasty." I said, " I am telling you that this is BETTER for the dog than the innocent looking choke chain." His remark again, "Well, it still LOOKS f**kin nasty." I walked away. Why waste the energy. LOOKS people...now you know why so many plastic surgeons do well in Los Angeles. (Don't worry folks,getting out of LA. I will be moving to Japan in August and joining a Schutzhund club outside of Tokyo. People in Japan respect working dogs and would never dare to say a word about anything.

It seems the people I have dealt with have no genuine concern about my animal, but rather are searching for a flaw, something to attack. I wish I had SchH titles and the confidence like Dean Calderon does. I pity the people who mess with him about training on the street or at a seminar (Hot dogs anyone?? Would you care for some Grey Poupon on the side?? Guys and gals PM me for more info on this one hehe). They don't call Rex Rex for nothing hehehe.

Let the good times ROLL.

I had my doubts about the prong for awhile-but I just started using one on my 8 month GSD this week, and I tell ya what; NO ONE will ever talk me out of it! I'd wrestle someone to keep it. And since the whole neighborhood has seen me going down hills and through creeks on the end of the leash at warp speed, no one really disapproves.
I broke down when some little old german lady walking a chihuahua said to me "you really need to get one of those special metal collars for him, the kind with the spikes on the inside-it won't hurt him, he'll just listen to you".
I shoulda put this on him a long, long time ago. The prong is magic.

Hey Alex,
Hows it goin.Im glad you are enjoying the collar but just wanted to remind you of a few things.The reason you waited so long to use a prong collar was because you didnt want to dampen your dogs prey drives, I know this because I know you want to do Sch. and you are a follower of Flinks method.So I just wanted to remind you that the collar is just a tool that is to be used correctly.Trainers train dogs not collars.So like I was saying you want to continue with the drive and focus you learned from Flinks and not let the collar cause any stress with the pupman wich means youll need to be really enthusiastic and keep a close eye on the pup and be sure there is no stress building up because of the collar.So use it wisely and goodluck.