May 2007 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Pet Owners
We just got back from walking Xena and I was EMBARRASSED to be seen with her. (This is the first time I've walked her; Greg usually carries the leash.)
So... she's "grounded" from walks until we can figure out what to do until we can get her into a more strict training class. We've discussed a pinch collar and also the Head Collar (I can't stand the thought of the pinch collar; Greg thinks the Head Collar is ridiculous). She's a good solid 70 pounds, but she's still slimmer than full-size Shepherds, so the pinch collar makes me think it could harm her!
Does anyone have experience with either? (Mandy, does Rich recommend anything since he's had experience with GSDs?)
Re: Pet Owners
Our dog is nuts too but listens to DH, she's too much for me to handle.
What about a harness? That way there is a bit more control with her and a very short leash, not the retractable kind. I think I remember an episode of the dog whisperer and you need to walk side by side and not with the dog in front.
Oooh - I forgot to mention that yes, we follow that, Melanie. She is not allowed to be out front. We've put her through 3 training classes (during which, she'd walk and heel like an angel, always was trained through positive reinforcement.) We tried both the Gentle Leader harness (the one that hooks in the front), as well as a halter harness (two "arms" go under her "dog pits") but due to her deep chest cavity, they always sit poorly and rub her little doggy pits raw!
We have tried the "stop and plant your feet when she pulls", "stop and go the opposite direction when she pulls", "back" with a gentle tug on the leash when she pulls, and short leash (like 1 foot), but over the winter, she's filled out and forgotten how to walk, obviously! I swear she does it on purpose because she acts like the dumbest dog you've ever seen when she's actually quite intelligent. (She never seems to "get it"... like they say "If you just stand there and wait, she'll "get it" and sit down. Then you reward her and she "gets it" by positive influence." That's never worked with her. LOL)
I'm wondering if the Dog Whisperer ISN'T the freaking answer... call him up!
Actually, we are the only people I've met where she easily looks at me as the Alpha because I'm stricter and more consistent with command words, whereas Greg sits on the floor with her and plays more and goofs around with her so she looks at him (and treats him) like he's the playmate and I'm the Alpha dog.
Don't get me wrong, she's a great dog overall, but the walking has GOT to be fixed. We can't afford to drive her to and from the dog park EVERY single day for her to run free.
We used a pinch color when training my parents dog (a mixed shepherd) and it worked wonders on her. And for Toby we use a harness. Obviously he's not a big dog but when he's on just a collar he's all over the place. The harness is the only thing that helps keep him in line.
So my suggestion would be either of those but I see you've already tried both. Maybe Mandy's husband could offer some advice!
.: Diary of a Recovering Runner :.
Mandy, yes she does for the most part. Yesterday was probably the WORST I'd ever seen her, but when we walk together with her (him having the leash), I have no idea how hard she's pulling and I always have to remind him to pull her back because she'll be all the way out in front of us.
I actually ended up crying on my way to work talking about it with Greg because he seems so less concerned with it than I am. (It burns more because I keep thinking "FCOL, we've already spent $400+ on her training and now the only other classes I can find in town are $130 for less weeks and I'm not sold on them!"
Val, that is EXACTLY it. She'd see another dog and she's progressively gotten worse - now she growls, barks, and tries to "hop/lunge" toward them. She's not viscious by any means, but if you were another pet owner and saw that, you wouldn't know that and I'd be frightened since she's pretty intimidating.
Sorry...can't help you. Frankie is harmless.
Good Luck with the training!
She has been spayed since she was 8 weeks old. She's overall a great dog - but her walking is RIDICULOUS (especially considering that last year at this time, she was heeling, off-leash, in a store surrounded and taunted with toys, other dogs, and people while we JOGGED.)
I saw a Sporn harness that looked just like the Gentle Leader except the underbelly strap came back farther (like around or behind their rib cage instead of right behind their front legs). I can't find it even online anymroe, but it's in our JB Pet catalog. She did GREAT with the Gentle Leader harness until it started rubbing her raw underneath (even with an extra protective covering around it.)