[Lee Watt]

We have a 8 month old chessie who has already grown to 80 lbs of energy. yes he is about 5 lbs fat but i live in northern alberta and he spends 70-100% of his day outside so i'm okay with the extra insulation right now.

The problem is the last dog my wife walked seem to be a natural heeler. our dog has not had a ton of training yet due to the weather and my work schedule. As such he pulls for her. he will get out of position and she will have a hard time getting him back. She more pulls him back then pops a correction. I will admit that he isn't perfect for me either but i am happy for the time i have spent. I am more consistent with my corrections when he is on leash and he is getting better.

Just curious what people think. We will be moving shortly to a city and i thought that a obedience class would be good for both of them. time doing something together and it would give her confidence when dealing with the dog. Also would make the dog listen to her consistently and increase their bond.

She wants to get a prong collar. I am not of favor of this as its going to the top end of the pain scale right of the bat and i always like keeping an ace in the hole for later.

I should also mention that my wife is 8 months pregnant and then will bee walking the dog with a stroller once the child is born.

I know there are a lot of chessie guys on this site so just curious what you think

Thanks
Lee Lindsey and sam

 

[1st retriever]

Prong collar does not cause pain when used correctly. It is more gentle than a choke chain. Head halters work really well. I used one on my Wolfhound.

 

[Rob Paye]

Prong collar is the only way to go. Your wife's safety comes first!! 80# puppy is nothing to mess around with.

 

[traklover]

I use a prong on mine if I think they will pull. I find that they pull once, ouch, they try it a second time, same, and there is no third. I am not giving a jerk with it, they punish themselves. They are not stupid, and will walk quietly, not pulling at my side, after they have punished themselves.

 

[Mary Lynn Metras]

Obedience lessons and use a prong collar - much better than a choke chain. IMHO

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

We have a 8 month old chessie......

.......She wants to get a prong collar.........


Thanks
Lee Lindsey and sam

She is a smart Girl;-)

.

 

[Chris Videtto]

I am not familiar with it but how about that Delmar Smith wonder lead. Read about it on a recent thread.

 

[Labs R Us]

Prong collar is the best way to go.

 

[Scott Parker]

I use a prong also the first one I bought was a cheap one and it was a pain to use. So I bought a Sprenger prong collar it was a little more money but it was well worth it. It's very easy to put on and take off and it works better.

 

[Pam Spears]

Especially under the circumstances you describe, prong collar is the answer. She doesn't have to pull or pop as long as he stays in position, and if he doesn't, he gives himself the correction. Better that he get some exercise that way than none, when his behavior will only get worse. Also agree 100% on putting them both in an obedience class if she's up to it... but she may have her hands full with the baby and be uninterested in a class.

 

[captainjack]

I am not familiar with it but how about that Delmar Smith wonder lead. Read about it on a recent thread.

Its like a British slip lead but with stiff rope. I wouldn't put it on an 80# Chessie that hasn't been trained to heel. Then again, I wouldn't take any dog for walks that was constantly tugging on the lead. I'd train them first. The more time a dog spends dragging the handler around, the harder it will be to teach them not to drag the handler around.

 

[Chris Atkinson]

I think a prong collar is definitely a good tool to use for a full-grown dog that's pulling. There's no good reason for lady and dog to be beating themselves up trying to gain compliance with a choke chain on a dog at this point.

If your wife is interested in getting a prong collar, and taking a more proactive role in teaching the dog with manners, I'd suggest you support it and buy her one right away.

I'd suggest you don't hold anything "in reserve". The sooner your dog is a good citizen on lead, the better.

Here's the discussion from last week on the Delmar Smith lead:

http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/showthread.php?t=81475&highlight=wonder+lead

That one could also potentially be a very nice tool to have for this application.

Chris

 

[Rachel Young]

We have had Chessies for 27 years - even our smaller male at 75 lbs. can pull me if he wants to with a choker chain (he's master level training) but respects the prong collar. Chessies have thick skin, high pain tolerance, and are strong. Train your dog, forget being PC and get a prong collar. It uses pressure to control the dog.

 

[Kelly Greenwood]

The longer your wife walks him and nags him with ineffective corrections the harder it is to fix and the more resistant the dog becomes to corrections. Get a prong now.

 

[Lee Watt]

Thank you all for the responses and I guess that answers the question.

Prong collar and heeling stick on order right now.

Thanks

Lee

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

Good Job,
and a stick as well. MooseGooser did that a while back. Now what did his Mrs. call it???? Oh, "Mr, Happy Stick!" Goosers OB is solid now.


.

 

[metalone67]

A pinch collar and one of these should do the trick.

 

[Rachel Young]

No 2 X 4 needed. Use patience, consistency, fairness, firmness, love and respect your Chessie and you will have a great dog.

Rachel Young
Nativeland Chesapeakes

 

[Hunt'EmUp]

once you get the collar you won't know how you did without it. Welcome to the world of Power steering

 

[Terry A]

Prong collar is the only way to go. Your wife's safety comes first!! 80# puppy is nothing to mess around with.

I agree 110%