Is she too young to start a prong collar?

History:
I have never used correction on her, we have done basic obedience in a puppy class situation that focused on positive reinforcement. So she will sit, down, stay, and come pretty well when not distracted. After finding this board, I have been working on her drive and focus with tug and clicker training so I can get more reliable and "snappy" responses. Specifically with the come. She definitely has a mind of her own and will only comply is she is properly motivated or in the right mood

Since starting the focus work, when in drive she is giving great eye contact and is listening. Her responses could be snappier though. I am positive she knows the commands (except maybe come), she responds to verbal commands and hand cues. So I'm thinking at this point she needs some form of correction. Since she hasn't had any correction before, I am wondering what the best way to do this is. She just wears a regular fabric collar for ID purposes.

I know prongs are not for puppies, but I wonder when "puppy" ends? Especially because she knows commands but chooses to ignore them sometimes. Suggestions?

Not sure that using a prong to train the come command is that good an idea. You want the dog to come to you because you are the BEST thing in the world. Do this with that "special" toy or treat that is only used for training that the dog just goes bonkers for.

And, you are right; puppyhood is a touchy thing. I'm of the mind that NO form of correction need be done on a dog that is younger than 12 months. Just simply don't reward the unwanted behaviour. And if you question "Well then how do I keep them from pooping on the floor" or some such, I'll refer you to a phrase I heard from hear a while back:

Corrections for a Puppy
When your puppy does something that you rather they would not have done, the best tool is newspaper. Nothing administers a correction like newspaper. Take the newspaper, roll it tightly and beat firmly on YOUR forehead while saying:

 Quote:

I should have been watching my puppy!

Let them be a kid! Until they are around 14mo old, they really don't have the mental wiring that connects "correction" with "Oh, I should not have done that." Until then, "correction" translates to "What just happened?!?"

When my wife and I are training our 8mo dog, we simply withhold whatever it was he was after or wanting. Dinner time? He does a down so that we can put the bowl on the ground. No down? No bowl. Wanting to come back inside? He waits at the door until we go through first. If he charges past, we put him back at the stoop and try again. Yes, this means that I've spent as much as 10 extra minutes outside. But, it also means that when he sees me take the keys out of my pocket to get back inside, he drops to a down like somebody threw a bucket of water on him, looking up at me and wagging his tail with that doggy grin we all love so much.

That's focus. That's the response you want. Corrections can wait.

Luck!
-J

Good post jim!!

 Quote: jim thomas

Let them be a kid! Until they are around 14mo old, they really don't have the mental wiring that connects "correction" with "Oh, I should not have done that."

Uh, for a Boxer, add 12 more mos

Seriously though, I'd keep using positives. I didn't put a prong on my dog until she was 13 mos and it was solely for loose lead walking. I do add distractions to her training now and I haven't had to correct her much at all with her prong. It's been less than 10 times. Matter of fact, we went for a walk at the park yesterday, and I put her in a down and went to hide behind a bush. She maintained her down, on the second try, a lady was walking her Husky and looked scared because she thought my dog was going to lunge. My dog maintained her down and the lady looked shocked! I trained that using only positives. Corrections are good and needed, but I'd wait.

Thanks for the response! I guess I just wanted to make sure we were "on track" more than anything and I shouldn't be something different, know what I mean? She does really great when focused, so if that's all I should expect right now, I'm fine with that.

I only had a few reasons for moving to corrections, the main one being that she chases the cats. Not in an aggressive way, and she wouldn't hurt them-but they don't enjoy this and it's obnoxious behavior. She knows the "leave it" command, which I use on her when she does this and she will stop. But then 5 seconds later she is doing it again!! Other than that, she doesn't have any behavior that I can't correct with a "no" and redirection or a look. She is housetrained so I think I can put the newspaper away I have heard that before, so funny!

We (well I should say I, this is part of the problem) do the waiting thing. I ask her to sit before we leave/enter the house and sometimes it's quick, sometimes it's not. It just depends on how much she wants to get in or out.

Also the loosh leash walking could use some work. She cannot do it on a regular collar, only if we are using a gentle walk harness and even then if she is super excited she will pull.

The snappiness in the obedience can wait though I will just continue to use the clicker to shape, like you get clicked for quickness, not for taking your sweet time!

Yeah Boxers are permanent puppies! I will just keep up with the positive reinforcement. How do you know they are ready for distractions? I try to set her up for sucess now by only asking her to do things when I know she will and is focused. How should I transition? When I take her to the pet store, she gets very distracted but can manage a sit on command with a friendly hand on butt reminder. If I can't correct her, how do I make her do it without help or asking her 20 times? I don't want the command she learns to be "Sit...sit...sit...sit" LOL

I think you can start adding distractions when you feel your pup needs it. For example, if she knows how to sit. Can she stay seated if you walk away? Can she stay seated if someone walks by her? Those are simple distractions you can correct with a verbal reinforcement, or a light leash pop on a nylon collar. Nothing with a prong. I think a pet store is extremely distracting. My dog has problems with that at times and she has some training invested in her. Once, your dog can handle all distractions at home, it's time to try somewhere else. Another example, at home, I can put my dog in a down or sit and run by her or run into the house, bang on the wall, door, etc. She keeps her position, at the park though, I don't expect the same.