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Subject: Finding the Right Collar

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mmtb6b

Newbie

07/18/2007 6:04 PM
I recently got a rat terrier named Rocky. He is only about 4 months old, weighs 5 pounds, and I've had him for about 2 months. Lately, trying to take him for a walk has been a nightmare!! I think the problem is his collar. I just have him on a regular collar, and all he does is pull the entire time. I bought him a harness, and the situation remained the same. I finally bought a metal choke collar for him, and that seems to help me out much better. However, I feel like I'm really hurting him with it. His neck gets really red, and I'm afraid I could severely hurt his trachea or something. I need our walks to be better and I have to have control over this little 5 pound dog!! Any suggestions????

Lucy's Colleen

Bratty Ratty

07/18/2007 7:34 PM
I would try to teach him to heel or praise with treats when he isn't pulling during your walks. I always fear, for my self, using a choke chain because I don't have training with one and would be afraid of doing something that might harm my dog. And yes, you will need to gain control over a 5 pound puppy because before you know it he will be a 17 pound dog with the same behavioral issues. I do hope someone on here will have better advice for you. But I guess what I would do is to treat the puppy everytime he is walking at your side. Eventually he will get the idea that if he walks there he will get something special.

Colleen Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/

Katie'sMom

Newbie

07/18/2007 7:48 PM
I prefer the prong collar to the choker collar -- but you need someone to show you how to use it. A quick pull (yes he will yelp, but try it on your hand, it isn't bad, it's just the surprise) and he will learn not to pull. I personally think they are safer than chain collars for the very reason you stated. JMO - some folks really disagree with this, but many trainers have used them and so have some folks on here (besides me). They are very effective. Do you have someplace like PetSmart? They have trainers who could show you the proper way to use one. Good luck.

anacodia

Ratterific

07/18/2007 10:13 PM
Our puppy trainer told us to use the collar and harness together, and clip the leash to the FRONT ring on the harness (the one on the dogs chest) as well as the ring on the collar, together. That way when the dog pulls, her shoulders are pulled to the side which defeats the purpose of pulling for them. We had a very difficult time teaching our dog to heel, but this really helped. She's since graduated to wearing just a regular old collar and no harness. We also would stop walking when she pulled, and would not start again until she stopped pulling with the leash slack, or turn around and walk in the other direction. This made for some ridiculous looking walks, but the result is having a dog that is a pleasure to walk. Good luck!

mmtb6b

Newbie

07/18/2007 10:26 PM
I used treats when I taught him to be potty trained, so I guess I should just continue the positive reinforcement. Thank you, and I'll give it a try!

mmtb6b

Newbie

07/18/2007 10:29 PM
So you're saying to clip the ring on the dog's chest to the ring that yanks on the choke collar? Or do you mean a regular collar. This sounds like a helpful idea since it won't be primarily yanking on the neck. I would like to try this tomorrow on my walk. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks.

jeremy

Rattie

07/19/2007 12:59 PM
I tried using a harness & clipped the leash to the front ring as descibed, but Bandit was content to hobble along sideways on 3 legs, still pulling with all his might. I tried the "Gentle Leader" headcollar too. He absolutley hated it & every time he'd see me with it he'd freak out worse and worse. It got to the point that it was taking me 10 minutes to wrestle the thing on him. We'd both be exhausted before setting foot out the door & he'd spend half the walk thrashing on the ground. I've been working with him on learning to "heel" with his regular collar & that's the only way I've been able to make any progress so far... Best of luck to you!!

Mitzy's Mom

PAWesome

07/20/2007 7:35 AM
I just wanted to add that there is a correct way to use the chain choke collar and if you're not using it that way it CAN hurt him. The prong collar is a better choice, just get a little instruction in it's use. I believe it mimics the mother dog's bite instead of the choking action of the straight chain collar.

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org Pics of my current fosters: http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/willow http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona

anacodia

Ratterific

07/20/2007 6:26 PM
Yes, I meant a regular old flat collar with a regular old 5 or 6 foot leash. This worked for my dog as long as I made it NOT REWARDING for her to pull. If she pulls and gets to go where she wants, she's being rewarded for pulling. Sorry, but I get to decide where we go when she's on leash. If she pulls towards another dog, something to smell, a leaf blowing by, whatever....then I either turned around and started walking so she's going the other direction, away from whatever it is that she wants to get to, or just stopped cold until she stopped straining, then continuing our walk. If with the next step she pulls again, stop, turn around or whatever. It makes for some foolish looking walks, but these little guys get the message pretty fast. I personally wouldn't use a choke or prong collar with my rattie, but I guess that's why they make a variety of different collars.

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