Hi,

I am new to this board, but have been lurking for a few months. I bought the 8wks to 8mths and the basic training dvd, and enjoyed both.

I have a 4.5 month Red Setter. She is from a working line (field trials.) She will be with us on hikes and possibly for hunting as our kids get older. Right now, she is our pet and she WANTS to run!

I take her for a long walk every morning. I use a flexible leash. We live on a quiet rural road and she is able to explore as we go. We do go out on a more narrow road where I feel she needs to stay with me, but she will absolutely choke herself and try to pull me along. I have given her pops (not the nagging kind) on the leash to discourage this. But it is absolutely not working. She has a very short memory. If I were to ever let the leash slip, she would be gone. And I think she has got to be doing damage to herself as she is literally gagging herself for a mile.

I thought 4.5 months might be to young for a prong, but what she is doing to herself seems to be more harsh than a prong could ever be.

Thanks for any input.

Betsy

I don't think from the description you give that your dog is too young for the prong collar. What she is too young for is corrections with a prong collar. At this age, you let the dog self correct with it. She will find that if she pulls, it is uncomfortable- if she bolts, it gets really uncomfortable.

It is "power steering for dogs" as Ed says. In situations where the dog has little to no regard for it's own life, you have to be in charge.