Hi,

I am having new issues walking my dog using a prong collar. My male GSD is 11 month old and he is a hard dog when it comes to corrections. When I first started using the prong collar there was a massive change when walking, and he was no trying to pull me round and stopped pulling with just a light pop on the leash. Now my problem is when we are off for a walk he has started to pull with the prong collar on and no correction will stop this. If I use the word "slow" he slows but bops his head towards the ground and up again as if waiting for a correction, walks by my side for a few seconds then he speeds up. It's as if he know he should be walking by my side and when I say "slow" he thinks he is gonna get a correction. I have tried all sorts like saying slow and giving a food treat and praise but with no luck. This behaviour is mainly when he is full of energy.

Any ideas?

Cheers

I am not a trainer, but from what I have learned here, I've been able to implement a solution.

My GSD is extremely excited about walks too. We walk with a prong. Just like you, when I first used the prong, he was very much "in line" and it didn't take much on my part to keep it so. However, as I've learned with any training, it takes maintenance AND consistancy.

We've had to essentially start over. Every day, walking with him on prong, one or two steps when he's in line, then tons of praise, treat, or ball, for starts. As we progress, we begin to take more steps, and I change up direction...(yes, I've been swapped with a dizzy spell a couple times--figure 8's help) but it really works. Of course we don't get far on the walk, however, it's training, out in the open lot. Heel with a watch me command. Patience, patience, patience and literally baby steps. Remember, dogs think in black and white and are hyperaware of their body/position.

Good luck, its a tough one, but is possible with perserverence, proper methods and equipment. By the way, does the prong fit properly? There are pages in the site about proper prong fit.

We are able to go on better walks now (even though he is still hyped up at the beginning) but the dog has learned I have an expectation here, he wants to do it right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />