So last week I was in petsmart with my pouch, and he was acting the fool. As this was happening a trainer named Larenzo came up to me, and asked if he could try and work with my pup for a minute. Of course I let him.

He got an appropriate prong collar for him, and a 1/4" leather leash. He walked the dog back and forth for about a 1/2 hour. At the end of the half hour he had my pup heeling and staying in sit till he commanded him off. It was amazing.

Since then, I have been working with the dog in the same fashion. I have also paid for two private leasons, which worked wonders. I haven't been mouthed on since, and I don't have to give a treat everytime the pup does something. All I have to do is praise him.

This guy also works with aggressive breeds like pitbulls and rot's for rehabilitation.

If anyone lives in Indiana, I think they should give him a shot when they are frustrated. You would be amazed at how much the dogs demeanor has changed. Still a long road for perfection, but I think I am heading down the right road now!

yes - it's amazing what a prong collar can do....I have worked with a few out of control dogs and prong collars get their attention PDQ.

Glad you have found something that is allowing you to make headway with your youngster..... You've won half the battle..Just keep on keeping on.

Juli

Josh, Glad to see everthing falling into place for you and Gauge. This exemplifies why being the 'leader' is so important.
It seemed before you were hesitant to take the lead (probably because you were afraid to appear to Gauge that you were exerting too much pressure - natural response for humans).
Using a prong-collar, you are telling Gauge "I am in charge". Gauge will gratefully accept your lead. Most dogs, especially Chessies need direction. They do not fare well if they are left to make their own decisions or have a lack of direction. This lack of leadership often leads to an insecurity in the dog. The dog does not know what to do or what is expected and gets anxious trying to figure it out. Now that Gauge knows you accepted the lead role, he will follow your lead and try to please you more. Why he is no longer 'mouthing'. Part of his mouthing issues were related to his confusion on who is in charge. Now he feels more secure that you took command and subsequently does not have the anxiety he had.
This is also why a pat on the head, a word of praise, or a simple touch from you will surfice instead of having to give treats. Gauge simply wants to please you and make you happy because you are his leader and your touch or a good word will
confirm to him he did his job or what was expected and he made you happy. You are now on the right path. Enjoy the bonds that will now form. They will get stronger day by day. Charlie

For example, he is curled up next to me on the couch right now. Not because he jumped up here to maul me, but because I allowed it! He isn't mouthing at all, he is just resting.

Josh, SEE. You now will have the dog you wanted all along!! Gauge now respects you more and feels secure with you. Charlie

Josh,
Just courious as to what size prong collar the trainer fitted your chessie for?

A large prong or small thin prongs (if you can understand that)?

I use small dog (thin prongs) and link 2 collars togeather to make one collar that will fit my dog. The small thin prongs make a better pinch on the dog and work better than the so called large prongs.

Glad he is respecting you. I am a advocator for obediance classes. Nice to hear you went and got something out of the class.

Josh, that's terrific! So gald to hear that. I usually start all my chessies in prong collars, but only use the small link collars, and by as many extra links as I will need to continue to enlarge the collar as the pup grows. A small link also works better because it puts more links on the neck, and also allows you to fit it better. Basically, the larger the link, the less links you have on the neck and the harder it is to fit the collar properly.

Keep up the good work.

Kathy Miller

It is the small prong collar, and I have 5 extra links just in case.

Like I said earlier, I am committed to making the dog everything he can be. I am set to go back to the trainer tuesday for the next 2.5 months and he is going to work on so much more than just basic obedience. He claims he can get my dog to stay steady and fetch on command also. I hate to doubt him, because he is awesome with the pup.

Here is my confusion, it seems like my pup has natural instincts to hunt. So should i just focus on obedience right now, and figure out retrieving later?

Josh

My strong suggestion is to focus on obedience for now. Obedience is central to retrieving. The recall,force fetch, and blinds are obedience exercises that are part and parcel of field work. Obedience will also help you to develop a positive and respectful relationship with your pup.

Your pup will be fully ready for next fall's hunting season if you continue with what you are starting right now.

For what it's worth,
Claire

Josh, your question "So should i just focus on obedience right now, and figure out retrieving later?"
I hoped others responded, esp those in HT/FT (I learned that a time-line is important is regards to these).
Do you want to participate in Trials (Hunt & Field) or simply use Gauge in hunting as your partner??
If just for hunting, Claire gave EXCELLENT ADVICE !! (thanks Claire). The respect & security you are developing is far more important now to maintain and allow to grow. Because of Gauges' age, there is time to work on the retrieving aspects
later on, but now a secure, respectful, and obedience based relationship is too important. Charlie

He is going to be a family member first, and a hunting companion second. But he will never run in hunt tests, just in the marsh!

Ever since I started using the prong collar, 2 times a day for 30 minutes he almost seems depressed. Though his obedience is awsome, right down to remote sit. Is this normal?

I keep asking these question because I am trying my hardest not to ruin the dog.

Josh,

Just my thoughts here. Sounds like you have gotten through to Gauge with the use of the prong collar. I would suggest to back off from using it all the time. This may help improve his attitude. Also, you might try shortening his training sessions - twice a day for thirty minutes may be more than he needs. I also would make sure to keep the sessions upbeat and end them with him being successful. You even might give him a hup hup retrive or two........no strings attached!

Norene S.
Nordom Chesapeakes

what Norene said....

don't overdo the training - about 10 minutes will do ....pinch collars are great tools, but if used too harshly you will get a dog that does not enjoy training....hopefully you will at some point be able to transition to a chain collar...I like show chains, they are much more responsive than regular choke chains - but you have to use them correctly! (placed just behind the dog's ears and high on the throat - where the jaw meets the neck).....


Juli

Actually, we learned a new trick today. When the prong collar is off, we can do anything we want!

He is back to mouthing when the prong collar is off! I guess I will just keep on keeping on with the training!



Josh

quote:

Originally posted by gauge:
Actually, we learned a new trick today. When the prong collar is off, we can do anything we want!

He is back to mouthing when the prong collar is off! I guess I will just keep on keeping on with the training!



Josh

why do you think that is? When the collar was off did you lower your standards?

Prong collars are great - but dogs get wise to them in a hurry....in a big hurry...especially the smart ones. Dont plan on taking it off for a while.....

how much does he weigh now?

Juli

I took it off cause my trainer told me it was only for training periods. Should I be leaving this on all the time?

He is about 45 pounds right now, and 4 months.

only take it off during the day if you cannot keep him under your direct supervision...otherwise, he is in training (not necessarily obedience training - just 'life' training..LOL......



Juli

Your trainer is right........the prong collar is for training. It is usually used for a short period of time to get the dogs attention and/or for correcting certain obedience problems when they arise.....it's not meant to be used instead of a chain or flat collar.

If you are not sure how to progress with your pup, you do not know how/when or you are apprehensive about making corrections, you might look for a 'good' professional trainer. A trainer who would work with you and your pup one on one and give you a program to follow that fits his problems & needs. Again, just my two cents.

If Gauge is 4 months of age.......is he teething by any chance?

Norene S.
Nordom Chesapeake

quote:

Posted Fri October 17 2008 11:53 AM Hide Post
Josh,

Just my thoughts here. Sounds like you have gotten through to Gauge with the use of the prong collar. I would suggest to back off from using it all the time. This may help improve his attitude. Also, you might try shortening his training sessions - twice a day for thirty minutes may be more than he needs. I also would make sure to keep the sessions upbeat and end them with him being successful. You even might give him a hup hup retrive or two........no strings attached!

A big mistake a lot of new dog owners make, especially, is NOT ENOUGH PRAISE!!! Regardless of what kind of collar you put on your dog you need to let him know with an enthusiastic voice how good your pup is every time he responds favorably. If you are not doing this, they you will get the attitude you describe in your pup.

I start all my chessie pups in prong collars as soon as they start pulling. I have had some of the top working obedience dogs in our breed and they are no slouches in the field either because I always praise them profusely when they do something correctly, and don't say much but "AHH" and a slight collar correction when they are doing something wrong, then I help them to do it right. It sounds like you are trying so hard not to ruin your dog, that you will ruin him because of the way your are pursuing his training.

I agree with Kent on the obedience classes. I honestly have not been impressed by anything I've heard or watched at the Petsmart classes. And I recommend that all my puppy buyers enroll their pups in obeidience classes put on my AKC member obedience clubs. The first reason is because each club usually has a high standard established for their trainers based on knowledge and experience in training and competing with their dogs, and so they trainers are knowlegeable. They also attend many obedience seminars throughout their careers which gives them an even better background, and the clubs establish high standards for their clubs and are used to have many different breeds going through their classes.

Josh, I said it once before and will say it again....I don't think this breed is right for you, and you've got to quit worrying about ruining your pup, and start training him, or he will be a candidate for "rescue" in a year or so.

Kathy Miller
Sandy Oak Chesapeakes

LOL...guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that one...

I think once you start using a prong collar, it should be on the dog whenever the dog is with you at least for a couple of weeks, if not more...otherwise the dog gets very wise as to when the collar is on, vs when it is off...I think this is true of dogs that are always seeking to take advantage.....

I worked with an older gentleman and his GSD this summer as a prime example...The owner could not control the dog at all, even I had a hard time getting the dog to mind consistently with a show chain... and so I got out the pinch collar....I suggested that the pinch collar stay on the dog for at least a couple of weeks (under direct supervision)...However, the owner attempted to use the pinch collar only when he was training..which backfired...Within a matter of 3 days the dog figured out what was going on....from that point on if the dog didn't have the collar on, he didn't obey...The owner is elderly and cannot control the dog correctly with a chain or flat collar....Now the dog always wears it during the day...

I think there are probably a lot of dogs that you could use pinch collar just for training...but some dogs just like to always push the limits....

that's my .01 worth....