Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

If I can't train the dog without a prong then i'm doing something wrong.

This statement makes a lot of sense to me and it's something I've had to consider. I use a prong on walks to prevent pulling and to be honest, I know I'm taking the easy/lazy way out because proper heeling is an ongoing struggle for ME to train. Sad but true.

OK try this:

Throw away your dogs collar.

Throw away the dogs leash.

Now teach the dog to heel with a ball, tug or food.

Go on. Do it. The only way you will learn is to take the time to figure out how to manipulate the dogs position and movements entirely based on how you move and communicate with the dog.

Mike,

Sometimes I feel like such an incompetent when it comes to training. But what you said about habits really rang true for me. When we got Hans we had our property landscaped and had a 25 x 25 foot area put in the corner with pea gravel, surrounded by railroad ties. Whenever we let Hans out he was on a line and the first thing we'd do is take him to this area to relieve himself. If we were in the yard playing and he started to look like he had to pee or poop (thank goodness they telegraph that) we'd grab the line and take him to his area.

Then, one day, I was playing fetch with him. He ran out and got the ball, then started back towards me, then turned and trotted into his area and peed. It is now an ingrained habit and the only place he relieves himself on my property is in that area. We can just open the door for him now and tell him to "go potty" and he runs over to the pea gravel and does his thing. If he's outside just laying in the sun and he has to go, he gets up and heads over to the pea gravel.

I have a lawn service for fertilizing and stuff, and the guys who come out are amazed that I have a big dog AND a nice lawn. Everyone I tell about the pea gravel area are amazed. But all it was was building a habit.

Rich, I LOVE that!!! I'm going to do that. It's about time some one comes up with somthing to save the grass