Dragged

[Sugah]

I apologize, this is a semi-rant. I was walking Moosh and Molly tonight and I know to keep a watch out for other dogs because my girls are SUPER excitable. Not aggressive, but they will do what they can to try to get to some dogs and meet them.
Case in point. Tonight we were walking and a woman was passing by with her dog. Moosh and Molly went ballistic. I fell down to the ground to try and hold them back and Moosh (who wears a halti and collar) full on dragged me across the pavement. My jeans have holes.
Have I mentioned I'm almost 5 month pregnant?

I know I'm going to have to start taking them to training all over again. And walking them separately - as I said in a previous post, they feed off each other. But in the meantime what else can I do?? I have to walk them but I clearly don't have the strength and physical dexterity I used to.

I am so unimaginably frustrated right now.

 

[Abbey]

Two words....."Prong collar." It does not hurt them, but the difference is amazing.
I was one of the people that said, "Oh Hell no".......not on my baby. But it really does make a big difference. And if you don't believe me when I say it doesn't hurt, go to the pet store and put one around your thigh. Pull on it HARD......You'll see. It get their attention really fast, But it won't hurt them.

 

[Sugah]

I'll try one again on Moosh but when I used to use it I found it didn't do a thing to her. Perhaps because her hair is so thick. But she just pulled and pulled on it when she wanted to get somewhere.
I should mention both walk without pulling when no other dogs are around.

 

[mrs big dogs]

They need to learn to stay, I use wait and the stand still until they are released of the command, and a prong collar.
I hope you and the baby are ok, please be very carfeul most of our dogs out weigh us, maybe you should get someone else to walk them with you

 

[DAWNMERIE]

I agree with Terri, the prong collar (make sure it's on correctly)....but what I will also mention, is use whatever you can. I used to use fence posts (careful cause Zeke pulled one out of the ground), street sign poles and telephone poles, anything I could wrap the leash around to give me a solid stance, I would also associate a word, so they understood...I used the word stop (it's my favorite command and works perfectly now) I will also mention, if I wasn't around any of the mentioned and I saw another dog coming I would make them sit and stay and always kept cookies to reward when they obeyed Sorry you've gone through this and I hope you are ok, and congrats to you

 

[Bär]

I agree with everybody else. I also was not a fan of the prong collar until I kissed my neighbors car and driveway cutesie of Bär wanting to have teteate with a cat.
The prong is power steering for a newf, I only weigh 90 pounds, no match for the big boy. I have never had to pinch him with it, I don't think it ever touched his skin. I even have a cover over it, so the fur does not get tangled. But it gets his attention with just a little tug.

 

[victoria1140]

We use a gencon

 

[Jeannie]

You need a prong collar. I started using one when my Samantha did the same thing to me. They have to fit snug. If they are too loose the prongs will fold in and not work effectlively. It does not hurt the dog, it only squeezes the next like mommy dog would do when they were puppies. So it is sorta like dog talk to them. It's like putting power steering on you dog. You'll love it.

 

[ozzysma]

angela i went back to training with ozzy when he was 2 because he would not listen when other dogs were around. i have seen how wonderful moosh is in public, so it would seem to me that they may be encouraging each other when togeather. when i walk my two i almost never willl give them the full lead, one on each side of me. prongs on both. classes do help because there is other dogs in the room and it trains them to listen when other dogs are around.

 

[Jager's Mom]

Prong collar...but be sure to give a quick "snap" for the correction... try not to just have a continuous pull/squeeze. Works better if they get a quick "pinch".

If all else fails, you may have to walk each of them separately. For your safety.

 

[wrknnwf]

Hugo was able to drag me on my belly the full length of the yard with a prong collar. And a couple of times, the prongs came apart.

The best thing you can do is walk them separately until you have them trained.

 

[chumleysma]

Use physics to your advantage. Use a very short urban handle. It shortens the leverage the dog has against you. They're forced to walk almost against your hip.

 

[ajcooksey]

Since ours are still young we make them sit/stay anytime anyone or another dog comes near us on a walk. I also don't walk them by myself bc I don't completely trust them yet. I hope you and the baby are ok that sounds like a very scary experience.

 

[Murphy]

Prong collar...but be sure to give a quick "snap" for the correction... try not to just have a continuous pull/squeeze. Works better if they get a quick "pinch".

If all else fails, you may have to walk each of them separately. For your safety.

That is the trick. The snap. The leash should hook on the side of the neck and you give that quick snap to correct. Try to get someone to show you how to use it correctly. Pulling is not the trick. I would not have gone down the driveway without one on my Murphy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nibaQnS44FE


http://www.ehow.com/video_2348830_use-prong-collar-as-basic.html


http://www.packpeople.com/how-to-use-a-prong-collar-and-choke-chain/

 

[mulenag]

Use physics to your advantage. Use a very short urban handle. It shortens the leverage the dog has against you. They're forced to walk almost against your hip.

Agree! If I am walking my 2 in a high distraction area I always use a 2ft lead. So much more control!
I also echo walking them separately. They aren't ready yet and you aren't in the condition to be dealing with their excitement.

 

[NinaA]

Ditto what everybody else said. Prong - used properly - and one at a time, probably always. I make mine sit when another dog approaches if I have any question at all.

 

[Henrys Mom]

I hope you are ok. I would walk them separately. Nothing is worth risking your health and the babies. I've never used a prong collar but people here swear by them so I would try that. I would also keep them on a short leash and work on training them while walking. Best of luck!

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

First off - congrats on the baby!!

Secondly - Go to a trainer and have them teach you about the prong. It's one thing to go buy it and *think* you're using it correctly. After all, it's "just" a collar, right? You should be able to put it and it should work. Unfortunately, that's not the case. You do have to snap it, and it can look very intimidating. I was totally against it but our trainer finally had me put it around my thigh to try it. It was uncomfortable and definitely would get me to stop misbehaving, but it wasn't painful. Remember to always use it WITH a chain collar though, just in case. Elvis' has never come apart, but it can happen so you need a backup.

I know you're well aware, but don't forget that a Newfie and a Setter are two very, very different breeds energy wise. I was never able to walk Elvis and my parent's lab puppy together over the month we had her because the pup was so excited to go and wanted to be out in front, and the Elvis is perfectly fine ambling along behind me. I'd have one arm stretched out front keeping the puppy in line, and the other arm stretched back trying to get Elvis to keep up.

Walk separately and even take them to training both separately and together so they get equal amounts of one-on-one attention. Once they can be trusted to obey you when they're alone, start the training together. I'm NOT a trainer and could be completely wrong on that, but it makes sense to me....

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Although, realistically, you may want to be looking into a dog walker. In just a short few months you're going to have a lot more responsibility and won't be able to take several walks a day.

They still need training, but they're also still going to need walks once the baby arrives.

 

[CMDRTED]

There are sites on the internet on how to fit a prong, but make sure is is fitted and adjusted properly. They work well when properly worn.