8 Months and on a martingale

[Maxxx]

I recently switched from a flat buckle to a martingale since Max is getting to the point where he's 80lbs and likes to pull me towards female dogs

I like the fact it gives me more/better control than a flat buckle and isn't as intimidating as a prong. Although I would not be adverse to using a prong if and when necessary, I can get what I want right now from the martingale. I used it in our OB class last night for the first time and he was much better behaved. They prefer the flat buckle, but I just can't get the control with a flat buckle anymore. He's way too interested in the ladies in the class.

Is this the best collar to use at this point? I just give the leash a quick tug and I find the zip of the chain snaps him out of what ever he's thinking and I can get his attention from there. I just found the flat buckle to be impossible to correct with. Is this a normal progression for an 8 month male?

Thanks in advance for your input!

[Zumie05]

I started using the martingale when my guy was around 5 months. It made a huge difference for me as far as walking goes. In class, not so much. It depends on the dog, every dog is different.

If it is working for you right now, that is awesome and stick with it! One day you might find it isn't working out as well as it used to, and that will be when you have to make the next decision....a prong? A halti?

That is what I am currently thinking about hehe...and my guy is 6.5 months. I'm going to wait until his class starts on thursday and see what our new trainer has to say.

[alice's mommy]

Zumie05: I was just thinking on my walk about how you/Gary are doing with your walks! I have Arthur on the Gentle Leader Easy Walker body harness and walking him is (again) becoming a nightmare. Arthur has the martingale collar for at home and my store, and the sound of it does seem to get his attention...but on walks...ugh. I start my new training on Thursday as well and will be asking about other options. He's all over the place again with trying to Hoover up anything that crosses his path. You just don't realize how many cigarette butts there are on the streets until you walk this dog!

Maxxx: I'm jealous that you only had to go to the martingale at 8 months old. :) Arthur was just too big to handle in class with the flat-buckle collar they wanted him on. Sure, it's great for 20 pound dogs...but come on! lol

[Maxxx]

Alice's Mommy: We'll see how long the martingale lasts! If he doesn't stop thinking he's Cassanova, I'm going to have to visit other collars :) He was perfectly fine until about 7 1/2 months old and then wow. Females took on a whole new meaning! He just loves them. Both the 2 legged ones and the 4 legged ones. I've started walking him with the leash around my waist so if I miss a correction he doesn't bolt off and try to get friskie! LOL I've also stepped up my constant vigilance on our walks and at training so I can correct him when he's just getting the thought. We're working through it together :)

[Zumie05]

Alice's Mommy: I haven't been walking Gary for the past 2 weeks now due to a limp he has developed in his right leg. He has been to the vet for xrays and everything came back normal, so he is finishing up some anti inflammatory meds and is on a strict no/low activity schedule.

The poor guy is goind MAD! He is so full of energy and we are getting quite frusterated with him, which is why we have decided to finally enroll him into another much needed obedience class this Thursday! I'm excited to start, but worried that it might hurt his leg (I don't want to be doing too much walking, although the vet said a little is okay).

Right before we started quitting walks though I noticed that I had to make the martingale a little tighter, as it just seemed like the corrections weren't phasing him anymore. He is great at walking with distractions like garbage and stuff on the ground, but when people pass it's different. When people pass by he hops and tries to say hi (yeah right with a 70lb PUPPY), and whats weird is that once or twice he has done a fear bark/grunt at some people walking by like he has done out in our front yard before. Now I know Gary is great with people and thrives on attention, but some things are just strange to him (yet another reason he needs a class).

I can't wait to hear the suggestions my new trainer has for me though! Good luck in your class too :p