holiver0711

Thank you for all the information! It can get confusing since when I watched dog trainers using it on their dogs they seemed healthy and happy. From what I know the proper fitting prong collar should be right behind the ears and the prong parts should be on the back of the head instead of the throat and not able to slide over the dogs head. One reason why I dislike walking dogs on a flat collar is the pressure it applies to one area on the throat. Yes, when Koda sees another dog out on our outings he will bark, hair raises and will start lunging. Something that definitely worries me for when he gets bigger. I definitely am going to see if the trainer will allow us to keep using our front attachment harness since I feel most comfortable using that.

From my readings you either get a complete no that it hurts the dog(didn't hurt me at all and has no sharp edges but a dog is different) or you get that it's just a uncomfortable feeling when the leash is tight but the idea is lose leash walking anyways.

A front attachment harness was what the trainer first recommended us to get in Koda's yearling classes . I do really like the harness but we had to move up his training to more on leash walking since he saw the issue with other dogs. That's when he gave us the prong collar to use for training and when my confliction on using the collar arrived. Since there is so much talk about prong collars and if it's safe to use them.

Yes, he currently has a front clip harness that I use but the trainer seemed to want us to use the pinch/prong collar for training now but I'm not sure how comfortable I am with it. He is a puppy at 8 months and just learning to walk beside me still. So far it's been small steps. The only time Koda will really pull is if he sees another dog and will then turn agressive, keeping in mind he isn't puppy size anymore. I am tempted to ask my trainer if we really need to use the prong collar since I'm still unsure about it. There are so many different views on using this tool for training. The goal at the end is for Koda to be able walk around other dogs and etc. The trainer has worked with many similar dogs before and has never pushed Koda over his threshold when we have been reconditioning him. It's just this one thing about the prong collar that I'm conflicted on.

Hello, I have been going to a trainer for a few weeks now to help build confidence in my male 8 month old German Shepherd. We have also been working on socialization with people. My German Shepherd lives with two other dogs who he gets along well with but is agressive to stranger dogs. There has definitely been some improvement already in his confidence around other people. The trainer had bronght out his well behaved dog to observe Koda(my German Shepherd) actions while I held him tight on the leash and gave treats. We are taking our next step in training now. So far the training is positive reinforcement with lots of treats but due to Koda's agression and my size compared to him we have started uping the training some. So that I can walk him one day without being worried I will be hurt or someone else. However, today the trainer introduced a pinch collar(Prong). It's one that has no sharp edges and is well rounded. I was instructed only to use this during training after he would show me of course how to use it. I have never been a hudge fan of prong collars or using flat collars for that matter, rather a proper fitting harness. I did try the prong collar on my arm and it didn't hurt at all. I have been trying to read up and gather more research but often still end up mixed up. I don't want to make Koda anymore nervouse and skittish then what he is or hurt him. So I was wondering what your thoughts on this are? Expessialy for a nervouse and dog agressive German shepherd. Thank you

Thank you for the replies will definitely be trying these tips. For the paws on the table he will steal things off the table and run away. We have also put up any easy reach smaller trash cans that we have as he likes to steal stuff out of there too.

Thank you for the tips. It took us a bit off guard by the severity of the bitting since our Siberian Husky(Ash) caught on quickly to no bitting or nipping. Our German Shepherd puppy(Koda) has improved with his bitting. A few nips to our legs here and there as well as some humping. Ash and Koda seem to be getting along pretty well together. They sometimes play too rough and both try to steal toys from each other. Ash will sometimes let Koda take the toy and other times won't. When we give Koda a toy Ash will steal it and bully Koda a bit. Keeping high valued toys and food seperate from them. Still using "drop it" and "leave it" for Ash but sometimes it doesn't work aswell when he is really distracted, we have been working on that. Noticed Koda is starting to jump on us more so we are just ignoring him when he does. He is also now at the size to get his front paws onto low tables and take things off. Is there a way we can teach him not to do this? Like a "down" command? Koda also gets really excited with food which is good that he is so food driven but he keeps getting our fingers and hands when we give him a treat. Been putting food in a closed fist and only opening when he is gentle.

The meeting went well between all the dogs and they are playing good together. Ash will accidentally step on the German Shepherd puppy sometimes(Koda) but then Koda just comes right back. We are even able to have Koda's toys out when Ash is around. However, we are still keeping Ash's toys away from Koda because he is more guarding of those and haven't taught Koda to leave it yet. We are experiencing a problem and wasn't sure if I should make a new discussion about it or continue here. The German Shepherd puppy only bites harder if you make yelping sounds like his litter mates would. Saw another post about this and read it and trying those on him now. He likes to bite hands, pants, legs and holds on when he does. He has broke skin only two times but leaves marks and some bruises from biting. Trying the patience game where you put treats in your hand and close it, only opening when he is gentle. Also trying the placing a treat on the other side of your legs and as he walks acrossed petting him. We can get him to let go sometimes by tossing a toy away from us but then he just comes right back. It's the same with teaching him drop it we will ask him to drop whatever body part or clothing item he has and give him a treat but then goes right back to biting and holding on. Mainly teaching it with a tug toy but trying to use it when he bites. He mainly does it when we are walking and if we stand perfectly still (which is hard) he will continue and gets to a point that we can't stand there because it's hurting too bad.

Thank you for all of this information. I've narrowed it down to I feel like a mix of just because he can and a bully. Me and my significant other used the "leave it" and "stay" command when we gave the Golden a ball and Ash listened well. Only had a few moments where he would try to sneak it and we would give him the "leave it" command again. One point he had gotten the ball (sneaky fella) and with a quick "drop it" he droped the ball. We will continue working with him on this aswell as having seperate play session's of equal times. You are completely right about Husky's and their energetic levels. We had a few days that we couldn't exercise Ash because he had a infection and had to have a cone, poor boy. When we were able to exercise him he could hardly control himself. Now he is back to his runs,walks, and playing. Me and my significant other have also already picked out a place where Ash and the new German shepherd puppy can meet in neautral ground and walk home. We plan on introducing Ash and Golden(Dusty is his name) at different times to the puppy until it seems more calm and then bring them all together. We know things may not go smoothly at first or that their may be hiccups later down the line. Really grateful that I found your Brain Training for dogs so that we can learn more. Thank you again.

Would also like to add that Ash won't steal food from the Golden. They also play really well together. We had another Golden who was the brother to the one we have now but he past away almost 2 years ago. All three boys got along really well. His toy problem seems to come more with family or friends dogs. Since the other dogs seem to like toys more then what my golden has. The Golden will walk by all Ash's toys without messing with any of them.

Thank you for getting back so soon. The new puppy will be a male German Shepherd. What I ment by other dogs was my Golden or friends/family dogs. I tend to pick up toys if a friend or familys dog comes over to avoid any situations but sometimes even a stick will become a toy. My Golden isn't one for playing with toys much but the few times I might give him a ball Ash will take it. When this happends the Golden will let Ash do this.

Hello, we have a 3 year old male Siberian Husky who does pretty well with his training, doesn't always listen when distracted but working on that. Our Siberian Husky has tendencies to play to rough with some dogs and has also gotten into a few arguments but has never pierced the skin of another dog. He tends to boss others around. We also have a 13 year old male Golden Retriever who is fine with anything and wouldn't even hurt a fly. Our Siberian Husky, Ash, has never been to happy with sharing toys. He is fine with treats around our Golden only but not strange dogs. Ash and our Golden both tend to get along well as the golden is submissive and are good buddies. However, we are planning to get a puppy soon and Ash will take the toy away from other dogs sometimes growl and snap to get the other dog to leave the toy. We tried playing with both dogs with different toys in the same room but he just wanted whatever the other dog had. Wondering if we should give treats to Ash while the other dog plays? Not really sure what next step to take with this. So far we avoid these situations if possible by picking up the toys. I would like to eventually bring the toys back out with both around and not just separate play times forever. We also have bought new toys just for the puppy that we won't let Ash play with and just give him his own.