Re: Training and collars- way long!

[Ellen Parr <harriers@oregonsbest.com>]

First off, let me say that if you are going to use this type of collar, the 
brand "Gentle Leader" is a much better collar than the Halti, in my 
opinion. It's got a better design. However, the Gentle Leader is a little 
more difficult to find, usually only through vets or training schools.

I think the whole concept of this type of collar is *wonderful*.  It can 
really help in so many ways, the owner's shoulders aside!

One of the more subtle things it does is to reinforce the idea that the dog 
is submissive to you.  If you ever watch dogs, the more dominant dog will 
often gently take the submissive dog's muzzle in it's mouth.  This is 
canine language for "I'm more important than you are."  And when you use 
this type of collar, with a band over the nose, you are telling the dog 
that the whole time he/she is wearing it.

It also really helps you to avoid damaging your dog's neck and throat.  I'm 
sure you have all heard your dogs gagging and choking when they are at the 
end of the leash whether they are on a flat collar, or a slip collar.  Plus 
a side benefit, if your dog ever does have neck problems and can't wear a 
normal collar anymore, having them used to a Gentle Leader is much nicer 
than trying to deal with a harness.   I realize that Goldens don't 
generally have neck problems, but they might.

The concept of the collar is so wonderful, once the dog is used to wearing 
it (the ones the fight it the most are usually the ones that need it the 
most, too), you have gentle easy control of them.  You can get their 
attention and work on training without battling them. It can help with more 
than just pulling. Barking, lunging, vacuuming and many other issues can be 
dealt with.

However, it is a tool and not a bandaid.  You *have* to train your dog too! 
You can certainly use it forever, but you can also work towards not needing 
it.  I never use it on my trained dogs anymore.

And as far as the muzzle thing, well, if people say anything, offer your 
dog a tennis ball when it's on.  It would be a pretty poor muzzle that 
allowed a golden retriever to hold a tennis ball, hmm, about the size of a 
child's arm.  :)  All kidding aside, it's an opportunity to educate people 
about the collar and about the importance of training dogs.  I've 'sold' 
more collars when I've been out with one of my crew than I ever have at 
work as vet tech.  When people see it in action they are often impressed.

I should buy stock in the company.

Ellen



At 03:55 PM 10/19/00 -0700, Gina Heitz wrote:
>At 10:22 AM 10/17/00 -0700, you wrote:
>>I'll make a couple of comments about the halter leads (Halties). On the
>>upside, our first Golden (Acer) was much easier to control with a
>>Haltie. Even better, Acer was the ultimate consumer dog, and the Haltie
>>made it very easy to pick his head up off the ground before he could snarf
>>up whatever was on the ground in front of him. On the downside, most
>>people's first comment was "why do you have a muzzle on a Golden?" It
>>tended to put off lots of adults and children, which is not the situation I
>>want to be in as a Golden owner. Thats why we decided not to put Torrey or
>>Maple in a Haltie.
>>
>>Lbs
>
>Hi Leigh,
>
>Your objections to the Haltie are the same as mine.  However I have 
>noticed many more of them around recently for training.  I don't think 
>that a Haltie is a tool most use beyond beginner training and maybe with 
>some of these head strong puppies it's not a bad idea to re think the use 
>for some of us.
>
>Bringing in Auntie Ellen here...  Ellen would you care to comment?  I know 
>you have trained with and with out them.  Do you need to always use the 
>Haltie while the dog is in training, or can you while in public being just 
>social not training go back to your flat collar?  Give us your take.  Some 
>of these trainers are about to need shoulder replacements!
>
>Gina