need some advice from trainers - non newf

[misamala00]

We are prepearing a couple of dog for the "final exam" and I've got a problem with one of the dogs. It's a lovely golden retriever.

He can do all excercises on leash perfect (We do heel, sit in movement, down in movement, and come). But when he's off the lesh, he just wants to run around. The owner could do nothing about it. So we tried with a longer lesh that I was holding in my hands and I was correcting him if he tried to run away. He only tried it once and never again. Than we put him on a thin string so he would think he was off the leash - well, it didn't work, because the dog new he wasn't free yet. When after a couple of weeks of an on leash trainig (when he did great), we tried an off leash - well the dog run away again! Now I don't know what to do to persuade him that he's not supposed to do that (he ccannot be punished when he comes to the owner).

I belive this can be quite a comon thing with smart and lively dogs, so I hope that someone could help me.

Mirjam & Misha

 

[Annie Milliron]

I'm a bit reluctant to suggest this, because it may seem extreme. My answer is going to be lengthy, cause I've gotta give some backround first in order to make my point! Sorry!!!

I think that the biggest problem is the owner... if they are unwilling to "correct" the dog... well.....

As long as he gets away with it, he's going to continue to do so. This is very similar to a dog (lets call him Jerry) that comes to our all-breed training club. Jerry was completely out of control when off lead. While on lead, he managed to behave, and work well. The worst part of this story is that Jerry was allowed off-lead when coming and going from the building. Even though this was against club policy, the owner is rather arrogant and felt she had control over Jerry... (have you figured out who I'm talking about Jeannie?).

Well, one day, Jerry came in and ended up supposedly attacking a dog. Now Jerry is not aggressive, so my guess as to what really happened was that he got in some other dogs space and things blew up. As a result, Jerry has been banned from the club for 1 year.

This finally opened the owners eyes, and she knew she had to take action. There is a lady in our pet therapy group that is a dealer for a radio controlled training collar. She sells them, and the owners go to her for training on how to properly use the collar. Jerry's owner took him to her, purchased the collar, and received training on how to use it.

I saw Jerry a couple of months ago (not knowing all of the above details). The difference in his behavior was absolutely amazing. He is still allowed off lead in most public places... coming and going to from cars, but he stays right with his owner.. he doesn't run away. He is as happy and cheerful as he's always been.

I have spoken at length with both the owner and trainer. The owner obviously is delighted beyond words. The collar is expensive, but she feels more than worth it. I realize that this is controversial.. and many of you may be against this form of training/correction.

However, there are times, when a dog will not respond to normal correction. Our Kira is one of these dogs. I often make light of her being a "wild child". She is a wild child... and Russell is very concerned that she will never quite come around. Certainly, she's alot better. Yet, if she were ever to get loose, she'd be gone... and probably would end up running out in front of a car.

We saw a Lab running loose on a busy road just last week. It upset Russell greatly... he has nightmares about this happening to Kira. We love her dearly... we want the best for her. I'm really leaning towards one of these collars. I've seen the difference they make. I know a couple of "Newf" friends that have used them in special circumstances, and the results are very positive.

However, after this diatribe, I realize that it all comes down to the owner. If they're not willing to even consider correcting their Golden... well, then they may as well call it a day.

My $.02!!! (more like $.10

)

 

[Summer]

Annie,

I totally agree with you. I do have one and ONLY use it for the end of the driveway. This is the only area open to the road. If they go past a certain point, I'll use it. All of my neighbors have lost dogs on the road and come and ask me how I keep mine away from the road after they've buried theirs. I only use it when the dog is new and won't stop at a designated point, and then if they need re-inforcement later. I don't need the dummy collar cause it only takes once. Then the habit is in place. They learn to associate the end of the driveway as an off limits area. When you've seen dogs totally dismembered from a truck, believe me, it's a small price.

Sometimes we need to protect them from themselves!

 

[Kodiak]

I used the Tri-Tronic electronic collar on my golden in obedience class while training for off lead work when he was 9 months old. I had to be taught how and when to use the remote and of course lots of praise. The kit was expensive, but it was worth the investment.

Brenda

 

[misamala00]

Thank you Annie for your answer. I agree with you about the use of this collar, but right now I just don't feel I have the knowledge to use it - maybe some of my collegues at club do.
I belive it's a very good way to teach some of the "problem" dogs how to behave - but it has to be used wisely. We'll talk about it at the club and then decide - as far as I know the situation, this golden is not really a "problem dog", it's more like his owner is a "problem owner".
Thanks again for your help.

 

[Annie Milliron]

LOL.... maybe the collar should be put on the owner then!!!

Seriously, I agree.. it has to be used wisely, and only in circumstances where it is absolutely necessary. If you do decide to purchase the collar, then I would strongly suggest that you pay a little extra for the training that goes with it. Then you'll know how to operate it properly.

This is what I'm hoping we do with Kira.

Good Luck!