About the weather, I really thought I would be able to gradually work into these temps, but I just got up and looked at the temp and it is -17 stinkin' degrees!!! That is freakishly cold for this time of year! And we have about 5 inches of snow on the ground with a lovely layer of ice underneath.

I have been using "yes" but not as much as I should, I am sure. I have also not been working with him enough times a day but we are just now starting to spend some time together on leash in the house. But the way you laid it out, Bob was just exactly what I needed. I am going to start doing that right away. I am hoping to get into Bismarck this weekend and pick up a clicker and check out the prong collars and see if a small might be a bit easier to manipulate than a medium. I am sure your method works, Maggie, but I still think a small will be a better fit for him. He really is mostly pretty laid back when his real personality comes out.

Yesterday, we had a dog run at us, off leash, of course, for the first time. We pass this dog every day, usually chained up in his yard, but I think the owner had just let him out for a quick potty break without chaining him (or her). They both jumped around but never actually had any physical contact and then the dog took off back home. It only lasted a couple of seconds but because I was so bundled up, I never heard or saw him coming. I was quite happy that neither barked or growled, and Hank has never shown any aggression to our pekingese, so I don't think he is dog aggressive. And he he has been fine with every person he has met so far. He is far more likely to jump on them and knock them down and be overbearing and rude than aggressive. And I can train all that out of him. But it was a lesson yesterday that you never know when a situation will occur. So, as it stands I think that mostly the prong collar will be a self correcting tool and I would only pop it in the worst of circumstances. I just don't think he is aggressive at all. But, as I have said before, he does have a high prey drive. I fear for any squirrels, bunnies, birds etc. that ever get in our fence. Not sure about cats. Ours shows no fear of him and so far he has only ever stomped on him, never growled or used his mouth BUT, I don't leave them together unsupervised ever.

I have wandered off topic, but I truly appreciate all the great help from the pros and the pet owner's.

And, Bob, my condolences on your daughter's sad choice of pets, lol!

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Ria Neubauer

You guys are way out ahead of me. For the moment, my game plan is, prong collar on walks with no corrections, just as a self correcting tool.
Unless something huge comes up, like aggression toward another dog or person. But I honestly have not seen that in him ever.
Also going to start spending more time outside the kennel but tethered to me. We tried that last night and he seems to be ready for it.
Bump for Ria !!! Did U-C this post B-4 ???

So, one question about that: prong collar or dd collar best for that situation? The big issues I foresee there are jumping on furniture, putting his paws on the windowsill to look outside and POUNCING THE CAT.
For the furniture and window, I think "no" and pulling him back will be enough. For the cat, most times that will work, but sometimes he goes into overdrive and something stronger may be needed. Ideas, anyone?

I am trying not to think too far into the future, just stick with a couple of basics and build on those as we go. I am also seriously considering the online course for basic obedience. Anyone done that, would you recommend over just purchasing the video?

A) I would buy BOTH a Leerburg DD Collar (Follow the SIZING INFO exactly!) and a good HS prong Collar from here (I advise getting a SMALL one & buying Extra Links to "size-up" as needed for fitting his neck measurement)...

B) De-Sensitize him to the Prong by putting it on & taking it off Many Times throughout the day WITHOUT ever hooking it to his leash at all (Do NOT USE It even for "self-corrections" at first, just let him Wear it at Random for a few days)...

C) Tethering is so GREAT for Bonding and for "subconsciously" teaching him that YOU are his Leader...

D) http://leerburg.com/dog-cat.htm

E) I have Not done the Online obedience course, but Ed's DVD Is great-Great-GREAT

Bump 4 Ria ! Did U-C this B-4 ?

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Ria Neubauer

I would love to find some fun non-destructive activities, but right now it's all babysteps and walking we know how to do. I have discovered he LOVES snow, so am hoping to find something fun we can do in it together. He will chase a ball, stick, empty water bottle, whatever we throw and bring it back several times, but that is when we would have the escalation into the nipping, biting play. So, if I can get his repect and teach him to play without trying to run the game, I think that will become a great way to drain energy. But again, baby steps.

On another note, my Leerburg box came today and, darn it all, even after watching the video and measuring very carefully his DD collar is way too big. I don't know how I did that. But I will be ordering another. My other issue is I have very little hand strength and I don't know if I am going to be able to get the prong collar on and off by myself. Will have to keep trying with that.

Unfortunately, ordering those DD collars is like staring in "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" (first one too big, second one Too Small, third one JUST RIGHT)...

I would ALSO get the Herm Sprenger CUROGAN Prong Collar from here (The color matches your dog's coat!) -- I'm 66 years old & a weakling, LOL, so "store-bought" Prongs are HARD for me to put on & take off as well ... But I got a Black Steel HS Prong Collar from here (for my BLACK dog) and it is MUCH easier on my HANDS (again, I would buy it in a Size Small and purchase at the same time Enough EXTRA Links for it to fit your dog's Neck Measurement)

Ria, I didn't want this 1-2 slip through the cracks Either

Yep, I did see those, thanks. Things are going really well with the cat. Read the training article and worked on cat desensitizing this morning. Found a hfv reward he LOVES, and he couldn't care less about the cat if he thinks he will get chicken. 😊 So we will keep working on that.

About the collars, are the HS easier to manipulate? As we are getting more into training, I think I will mostly just use it for walking. He is really responding so well to rewards, I don't think a lot of correction is going to be needed. My hope is I use it to train him to loose leash walk and it becomes a thing of the past, so I don't want to invest a lot of money into it.

Thanks for bringing those back to my attention. Sorry I didn't respond. I have ADHD and tend to be rather scatterbrained.

 Quote: Ria Neubauer

Yep, I did see those, thanks. Things are going really well with the cat. Read the training article and worked on cat desensitizing this morning. Found a hfv reward he LOVES, and he couldn't care less about the cat if he thinks he will get chicken. 😊 So we will keep working on that.

About the collars, are the HS easier to manipulate? As we are getting more into training, I think I will mostly just use it for walking. He is really responding so well to rewards, I don't think a lot of correction is going to be needed. My hope is I use it to train him to loose leash walk and it becomes a thing of the past, so I don't want to invest a lot of money into it.

Thanks for bringing those back to my attention. Sorry I didn't respond. I have ADHD and tend to be rather scatterbrained.

Yes, I had sent you another PM earlier this morning, Re: food rewards while walking

I use the Small Size HS Prong Collar (with extra links to make it fit my dog's neck) and a Leerburg DD Collar (as the backup) especially & particularly while out walking her (EASIER to Open & Close) -- Once a dog has already Been Trained to perform "loose lead" heeling well, you're Home Free ... Adobe does not even "self-correct" when wearing her Prong Collar, because just FEELING those snug Little Teeth high up all around her gullet works like a "magical miracle" to prevent Forging!

I use this kind of prong collar for all mine. It's easy as pie to put on and take off because it has a snap-on buckle thingy. Just like putting on a flat web collar, except with the magic of prongs.

http://www.gmspetsupplies.com/Prong_Collars-Herm_Sprenger_Prong_Collar_with_Snap_on_Buckle..html

I haven't chimed in on this thread, but have been following along. As a fellow ower of a pushy-but-loveable Pit mix, I think you are doing everything exactly right, and you are already starting to see the results of it.

Cinco (my Pit) can be a lunkhead, but once you do break through, they really are wonderfully affectionate and intelligent. But there will always be a strong personality there to manage. I'm not saying it's universal to the breed, but Handsome Hank sounds enough like Cinco that I feel like I know much of what you're going through.

My best advice has already been given by others: Find ways to use up that energy--especially mentally. Playing "hide and seek" with a toy hidden in the house can wear out Cinco as much as hiking 4 miles. An hour of agility training (which uses both mental and physical energy) is completely draining.

The other small suggestion would be to realize that you have to match the "size" of the leadership to the "size" of the dog. A pushy dog may require some pushback from the leader, especially at first, if not always. It will earn his respect. Ways to do that: step strongly into the dog's space. If he's in anyway giving you sass or blowing you off, step right in and take the spot that he's standing on and make him move. (That's the way dogs behave to each other---they understand this gesture.) Never walk around him. If he's laying in your path, make him move. Always, always, make him show deference (i.e. "sit and wait") before he is fed. Waiting for "permission" to exit a door, or exiting the car. These kind of leadership/deference gestures will simply become part of the dog's daily life with you.

Good luck with him, and give him a belly scratch from me.

Thanks, Tracy, for the nice compliment. I have been doing a lot of what you suggest, but there is definitely room for improvement. He does seem to appreciate me taking over as leader. I really don't think he wanted it, but somebody had to do it. The big hurdle is really going to be my husband. But he is watching me and just staying completely away from Hank for now, and he is seeing the effects and he really likes it. I think he will always be more my dog, actually that was the plan all along, but I am hoping they can also develop a good relationship.

Our next big thing to work on is the door and gate. And the stairs into the yard from the deck. There are only 3 steps but he thinks he can charge down them. So, tomorrow we begin a huge focused effort on those areas. And, someday, we will start working on his fear of the steps into the basement. That is where our bedroom is, and I would really like him to sleep in his crate down there someday, but he is terrified of them. Not knowing his past, I don't know why, but my suspicion is he was locked in a basement or even fell or was thrown down a flight of stairs at some point. But that is not a necessity right now, so I will wait a bit for that. And buy a LOT of chicken, lol!

Side note, since I got him and have been walking him regularly I have lost a few pounds, yay! We are both benefiting from this exercise, training program.

And I will get right on that belly scratch, now that he is submitting and showing me his belly.

Forgot my main reason for posting. I played around with the prong collar and realized the link on the other side is much easier to get on and off, so we have success there. Now to get him used to it, although I put it on to see his reaction and he is now sleeping with it on. He has either worn one enough to be used to it or just doesn't care. So, the saga continues.

Ria, in re reading a bit I see your comment about letting the dog self correct while wearing the prong.

There are lots of dogs that find it easy to lay into the pinch with no problem at all. IF your going to use it then learn to pop it correctly and don't allow him to run in the yard un attended with it on. To easy to get snagged on something.

Don't let the prong control keep you from doing marker training either. You'll be way ahead of the game

 Quote: Bob Scott

Ria, in re reading a bit I see your comment about letting the dog self correct while wearing the prong.

There are lots of dogs that find it easy to lay into the pinch with no problem at all. IF your going to use it then learn to pop it correctly

I was thinking the same thing when Ria described Hank as being indifferent to the prong. It was pbly misused on him before, and he has no problem with it. I see far too many owners who think it is a self-correcting device.

Ria, the dog needs to learn proper heel and casual walking etiquette, with the collar used for enforcement. It is not nearly as effective if the dog learns he can still pull, just not as hard.

Have you read any of the free articles about proper use of the prong collar?