Testing me with training collars

[Trinitii]

I am having the hardest time with training collars :) My athena who will be 7 months here in about a week has started testing me while walking. I was using the gentle lead on her as it gives me security to know I can control her strength with this, however she hates it soo bad as I have mentioned before. Just over the last week she has decided to show me her hatred to it a little more than just trying to take it off. She was trying to get it off when I told her leave it then pulled her head up and told her to heel. She heeled but along the way up to my side she nipped me in the booty! She has been nipping at my hand with the gentle or choke collar. My male did this with the prong so I stopped using it. My goal here is to teach her to heel but not have to use a choke or gentle lead. I want her to be able to obey my commands with a buckle eventually. I know she is young and this may be a ways off. I am thinking of sticking to choke collar just because I feel that with the gentle she hates it no matter what so the correction on her nose may not even be a correction. The choke I know she receives and understands the correction. I tell her no when she nips at me and make her sit and do some commands then we proceed walking. Is there something else I should be doing?

Thanks for the advice

Trinitii

[Chiclid]

I know Im new and all, but can I ask, if the Choke collar was working, why would you switch??? I used a Choke on Rock when he was a pup and it worked wonders during training. He always thought that I wasnt the one doing the correcting and that he had just strayed outside of mommys confort zone. The zone is always by mommys side when on the leash. And he must always sit at every corner before we cross a street. I have since switched to a pinch collar so he can control his own destiny. He is very obiedient and the only time he really gets a pinch in when he is excited to see people, he has to be reminded of his manners. just a small nudge is all it takes. I would keep with what works to begin with. Sorry to ramble about Rock!

[Trinitii]

No need to ever be sorry for rambling about our dogs :)

I switched because the obedience trainer didn't approve of the choke and gave us the gentle lead. I thought it was a god send and it is still hard to switch from it because the control is amazing. I am tempted to give up all training collars and just use the training techniques with a buckle. The only problem with that is she is a strong girl and I am over cautious to make sure she never breaks loose from me.

Trinitii

[Chiclid]

The German Shepard rescue told me to use the gentle lead, but Kane the Shepard, being Rocks little brother. Rock is 2years 4 months and Kane is 1 year 4 month, follows Rocks lead. Training has been so easy with Shepard because of Rock. Rock is very stubborn though and is sometimes tooo smart for his own good. He has a very large vocabulary and he knows go to your kitchen and Shame, very well. That is when he is a bad boy. I have an amazing training tape I bought that did wonders on Rock and I would recommend it. It is called "David Dikemans Command Performance." It teaches you how to let the dog correct them selves and that you are its saftey place when he is near you. I walk the dogs on 30 foot leads and they never leave my side. I keep them on the leads as a saftey measure for them so I something would happen like a stray dog or a car I can keep them at my side should they become nervous. Amazing tape I tell you.:p ;)

[Judi W]

I believe the nipping at you is a completely different issue than what equipment to use for training. I would suggest you nip the nipping firmly and with authority.

As far as the GL is concerned, some dogs will never learn to love it. With a collar, when you release leash pressure, all pressure is released from the dog. With the GL, the pressure on a discipline portion of the muzzle is always felt whether the dog is performing or not. Some dogs adapt to this and be accustomed to it, others do not and fight it or become depressed when no matter how they perform they still feel they are receiving corrective pressure. So, treat these two things as different issues. Teeth on you is a BIG wrong thing to do, no matter what training equipment or what you are asking the dog to do. Don't look for reasons or excuses. (now I do have to admit, that the nip in the booty certainly was giving you a message that you noticed and did make me smile) Biting at your hands is interferring with you and your instructions and I'd let her know in very clear terms that is not going to happen. As far as training equipment is concerned, get busy and train/teach, rather than using physical control which is a different thing entirely.

Luck - and keep at it!

[Trinitii]

Thanks for the input! I walked her on the choke chain last night and we did wonderful. Even when people passed us I had control and had her sit to calm down then we continued to heel. I reninforced her heeling nicely with a good girl or a little touch. (forgot the treats but am trying to ween them out).

Judi,

On the nipping thing, I always used the command no bite in a stern voice as she was younger and she responds to this with a lick. In your opinion shall I continue to correct her with this command or would you have other suggestions to show her this is wrong?

Thanks for the help and sorry for so many questions! I feel like such a needy member.

Trinitii

[Judi W]

Well, I personally would pitch such a fit if a dog of mine bit at my fingers, they probably wouldn't want to ever repeat the act!!!! Perhaps you are not objecting very strongly so it is, nibble, "don't bite", lick, nibble, "don't bite", lick..... She'd not a tiny baby any more so you are entitled to defend yourself from teeth.

I don't believe treats are necessary in order to take a walk with your dog. You've had a good run, keep on with it. Treats are good for serious attention heeling, however for simple leash manners "going for a walk" manners, they are not necessary under normal conditions with a normal dog.

[Trinitii]

Judi,

The nibble, lick, nibble is just about exactly how it is. What kind of fit? Louder deeper voice about what a bad dog she is?

Trinitii

[Judi W]

I'd probably have to show you. It's alot more drama than just louder/deeper voice - and not just drama either - I get truly p'd off at a dog putting parts of me between their chompers.

[Trinitii]

hehe can you post a mini movie of it?!! hehe just kidding. I think I get the idea.

Trinitii