is 7 mo too young....

[scout]

for a prong collar? I have one for Atticus, but I have avoided using it because of his age. I have been using a nylon limited choke, but it's so big it doesn't even really pinch much. He's starting to test just how hard he can pull, and I'd like to keep enjoying my walks with them.

Can I use it now???

Thanks

 

[Mary Kay & Guy Germaine]

I'm sure one of our resident experts will respond pretty quickly, but I don't think it's too soon, if you don't over-do it. I used one on Ozzie when he was around 6 months, but only used very gentle tugs on the leash. It doesn't take much pressure at all for them to get the idea. As a matter of fact, I only used it on him for about 2 or 3 weeks, and he got the idea of where I wanted him to walk when we went out. He's now 15 months, and when we go for our evening walk, he's right at my left side, and carrying his own leash! (He learned that from Smokie! )

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

I'm not sure what the experts will say, but I wish I had tried it sooner with our Lucy. She used to pull my arm out of the socket, trying to be the "lead dog" when we walked the girls together. (Walking her alone was never a problem...she's just alpha-girl) The first time I put the collar on her and made a gentle correction, she seemed to stand up and take notice. By the end of the walk, she was behaving beautifully on lead. Now, when she hears the jingle of her "special collar", she knows it's walk time, and loves to go. The important thing to remember is that you can't be rough at all with this on your dog....nor do you need to be. Gentle corrections are usually all that's required with the prong collars, for them to know that it's "business time" and they'll walk nicely with you.

 

[ardeagold]

Yep...it's old enough. We use it on Goldens at 6 mos old...because even they, at that age are hovering around 60 lbs (the males).

It's time to teach him who's walking whom!

 

[Angela]

I have used prong collars at that age, but I must say I feel it needs to be used in conjunction with a "pay attention to me, the person" attitude!
I find that if the young dog is pulling and not paying attention to me, then I either stop, and the dog comes back to see why I've stopped, and we continue on in that fashion until he gets the message to walk along with me, OR, I stop, and do an about turn and walk in the other direction.
Either way, he has to see why I have stopped.
Eventually he will walk along in a civilized fashion, but it takes patience and practice.
JMO

 

[Varmint]

Have you tried using a Halti or a Promise Lead? I found that the Halti works so much better than the prong on both my Mastiff and my Newfie. They both out weigh me and I found it easier to control their head. But that is just me.

 

[scout]

I tried the halti on my husky and had no such luck. She would run to the end of her lead and snap back. I stopped using it because I was afraid she'd hurt herself, and after some reading that confirmed numerous injuries attributed to haltis and many testimonials and much research about prong collars, I switched her to that. Scout the husky doesn't pull much at all anymore unless there are other dogs out barking, then she'd rather strangle than not respond. I just refitted her collar so it's higher up the neck and fitted Atticus' collar too. I'm waiting for a student, but after he leaves, I'll be trying them both out as a team. Wish me luck!

Thanks for all the advice folks. I don't know what I'd do without you all.

 

[Kelleyk]

I believe a halty is the head harness type that I had great success with on my Golden. It took him about 15 seconds to figure out that if he pulled ahead his head would turn so he couldn't see ahead. I bought a larger one for Stanley and he didn't do as well. He immediatley figured out that if he backed straight away from me he could back it right off his head. After adjustments he was unable to do this, but he is strong enough to not let his head turn and just force me to keep up. I have been simply using his normal collar, and after the walk starts he settles into a non-pulling walk - unless he smells/sees something interesting at which point a pinch collar might be the ticket to get him moving again. It would be really cool if my 4 yr.old son could walk him (with close supervision)on a lead, but that is impossible now. The pinch collar might allow for this.

[ 09-03-2005, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: Kelleyk ]

 

[NinaA]

I believe we started Moonlight with the prong collar at about six months. She does much better with it than the gentle leader (she has both), but the prong collar tends to draw a lot of stares. Of course people ask if the GL is a muzzle, too.

Nina
et al

 

[Nasus]

A prong should never be used on a Flex lead. prong is for training and control when u are leading your dog.. most newfs get the idea in short order. a small correction is all that is needed with most. a flex can be used once your dog is under your control and u want to give him a little more space to "read the newspaper", (smelling for those in the know haha.)

 

[N2N Mags Dad]

I tried one on myself and it hurt bad. No wonder Lucy pays attention when she's wearing it.

 

[Angela]

Originally posted by N2N Mags Dad:
I tried one on myself and it hurt bad. .

Hey! I bet it didn't hurt as much as putting a choke chain around your neck and getting someone to pull really hard

 

[NinaA]

My trainer always says if they are put on properly they should not hurt at all but should give more of a feeling of surprise and discomfort. There should not be any pain involved.

Nina
et al

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

Gee, honey, was that one of your late-night experiments that I missed? (I might have liked to had the video camera out for it....hehehe)

[ 09-04-2005, 06:29 AM: Message edited by: BoundlessNewfs (N2N) ]

 

[N2N Mags Dad]

No, I tried it on at Pet Smart.

It hurt. There's no way it can't hurt.

 

[Sailorgirl]

Actually, our trainer made us put them on our arms before we put them on our dogs and I gotta say it really didn't hurt that much. Noticeable sure, real pain, not so much.

Where'd you put in on Chris? LOL

Anyway, I don't think 7 months is too young at all. Actually probably the time you need it most.

 

[csk1134]

I was wondering the same thing, Erin. LOL