We have never paid for dog training classes in the past. Yes, we have consulted a trainer in the past when we were having issues, but never went to a formal class. We prefer to train our dogs ourselves and I have the knowledge and experience to do so. With this recent move, we did make the decision to put our pug and border collie through puppy classes to maintain their social skills and improve their training when there are distractions around us. I do recommend you look into your local dog trainers and training facilities to find the right fit for you and your dog.
So let’s talk about some training tools.
1. Slip-Lead
Slip-leads are the easiest tool to use for training your dog. My favorite product is the Fida slip-lead. The rope is soft, bendable, and thick. The Fida slip-lead also immediately releases tension around the neck once your dog stops pulling. Their new slip-leads now include an anti-choke clip that you can measure your dogs neck and move in place for extra protection. Full disclosure; I did not want to use a slip-lead for our pug’s training, but did it anyway. Biscuit was prone to panic on a slip-lead, which meant she would twist and spin and pull away so frantically that I thought her eyes might pop out. She arrived at her first training class in her usual body harness as she rarely pulls on walks at home. The trainer asked me to try a slip-lead just for classes, so I complied. I was comfortable with these leashes for my other dogs. I sat back and watched the trainer put the slip lead on Biscuit, I saw the panic in her eyes for a brief moment… but then I saw her relief when the trainer offered a limitless handful of treats while she got used to the lead. We can now use a Fida slip-lead for training sessions and there is no fear of a lost eyeball.
2. Head halter
One of my favorites, although I am not currently using it. Head halters are easy to use once you learn how to fit your dog for one and they make it VERY easy to control a strong dog. Please be aware, this is NOT a muzzle. Countless people saw me walking my dogs with head halters years ago and asked “Why are they wearing that? Do they bite?”. A dog head halter is similar to a halter you would use on a horse. If you control where the head goes, you control where the body goes. For those of you that have a dog that insists on pulling on walks or may be reactive to people or animals while on a leash, I highly recommend you try a head halter. This product is not an excuse to not train your dog to heel, but it certainly makes it easier to grab your dog’s attention. Many people will give up on using the head halter because their dog keeps pawing at their face to get it off. This is normal at first and you can’t expect your dog to just accept any new training tool you throw at them. Train them to be comfortable with it. Just like Biscuit and the slip-lead. Make it a positive experience. Our previous dog Leroy almost exclusively walked with a head halter because he was 85 pounds, strong, and could catch you off guard and pull you around if he wanted too. 98% of the time he was the perfect gentleman. 2% of the time I thought I was walking a wild animal. The head halter gave me peace of mind for when my parents or in-law were at the other end of his leash.
3. Choke chain
This is exactly what it sounds like. A chain that chokes your dog. I am not a fan of this product and do not recommend that you use this. Many clients over the years have brought their dogs into the veterinary hospital on choke chains. You can hear the dogs wheezing and struggling to breathe as their esophagus is on the verge of collapse. Yes, your dog will eventually stop pulling, when they pass out.
4. Prong/pinch collar
Another “tool” that I do not like and do not recommend. A lot of trainers use them and if an owner is taught how to safely fit and use them, then yes, they are effective tools. Prong collars utilize metal or plastic spikes that essentially stab into your dog’s neck every time they pull or you tug on the leash to make a correction. You should never see physical damage to your dog’s neck from these products, but you should understand that this tool hurts and can cause physical and psychological damage. If you don’t believe me, put it on your neck and have your spouse tug you around the yard on a leash. Your neighbors might think you are crazy but at least you’ll know how your dog feels. Too many people think prong collars are the magic solution to not wanting to take the time to train your dog. I have seen clients bring their dogs in with a retractable leash hooked up to a prong collar. This kind of defeats the purpose of both of these products. Not to mention how unsafe this is for the dog and people around him. Prong collars that are misused will puncture holes into your dogs’ neck.
5. Electric shock collar
This is a big no from me. Again, many trainers use them effectively and stand by training with them. I am adamantly against them. Giving your dog an electric shock every time they bark or don’t do as you ask is barbaric. You do not need to cause physical pain to get your dog to listen to you. There are better ways of training and studies have proven in humans, dogs, apes, elephants, crows, literally every living being, that positive reinforcement gets better results. My fellow technicians had to run into an exam room to get the owner to turn off an electric bark collar because the poor dog kept getting shocked every time he made a noise in our treatment area. I imagine he will remember that torture during his next veterinary visit and it will make our jobs that much harder. If you are currently using an electric shock collar on your dog, I highly encourage you to consider other options. If you are using an electric shock collar to help recall your hunting dog from a distance, you may want to look into non-shock alternatives. There are a plethora of Sound & Vibration collars that allow you to train your dog to come to you at the sound of a beep or a quick vibration.
6. Front Clip Harnesses
I’m not against front-clip harnesses, like the EasyWalk harness. Walking your dog on a harness makes the walk much more comfortable for them and it prevents any harm from being done to the throat. This is especially important if your dog has been diagnosed with collapsing trachea, a thyroid tumor, tracheal paralysis, or neck/spine issues. That being said, my issue with front-clip harnesses is that, like with many other training tools, they are advertised as this amazing magic tool that will get your dog to stop pulling without any training. In reality, your dog just trips over the leash a lot, escapes out of the harness, or you have to clip the harness to the collar which is still putting pressure on the neck. I think it’s a great concept, but it doesn’t work as beautifully as it is advertised. If you wish to use a front-clip harness effectively, without getting tangled up, you will have to spend 5-10 minutes a day training your dog to heel.
Recommendations
My recommendation, is that no matter what training tool you choose to use, take 5-10 minutes per day training your dog. Grab a couple treats in your left hand, drop your hand to your side, start to walk away and say “heel”. If your dog knows you have treats, they will follow that hand. You can do this in your living room without a leash, or outside on leash. When your dog is consistent heeling at the command “heel”, decrease the use of treats. Use treats one day, don’t use treats the next, etc. If your dog isn’t enthusiastic about the treats you offer, then get better smelling treats.
*Please feel free to send me a tip on Ko-Fi. Each donation gives you free access to messaging services. You can then send me a direct message and I will happily assist with any questions or training struggles that you may be having.
