Walk vs. Patrol

Ember90710 · Oct 30, 2011

When I walk Ember, I feel as though she is on patrol. She scans trees and walls for squirrels and lowers her head to check under cars for cats. If we go by a house where she know there is a dog, she becomes a monster, barking, snarling, nipping and pulling.

We were working with a trainer and it doesn't seem to make any difference. She endorse the prong collar and since I didn't know any better, I went along. This doesn't seem to affect Ember, just frustrated me and I was using more force, so I threw it out.

We are looking for a new trainer, but in the meantime, someone recommended a 'Gentle Leader' collar. It has made all the difference. Ember walks like the perfect dog using it.

However, she hates it. When I take it out, she runs and hides and I have to bribe her with treats to come to me to put it on. She does let me put it on, though. After it is on she hangs her head and looks at me with those huge sad brown eyes. If I try to pay fetch with her she just sits and hangs her head. When we get home, she stands in the doorway, hanging her head until I take it off. I am leaving it on for short periods in the house to she if she will get used to it....she will go and lay down and go to sleep.

My questions are...Will she get used to it? Will we have to use it forever? Is it ok to task it off at end of walk and play fetch (as a reward?) Is there a way to help her got used to it faster?

Thank you for your responses...Sandy (and Ember)

corbinam · Oct 30, 2011

I know how you feel--one of my dogs is a bit reactive on leash as well and we use the GL.

I know many people have been able to wean their dogs off the GL and are now walking with normal collars. However, I don't see that happening with my Bentley. He still reacts with the GL, just doesn't seem to go as over the top. Even with lots of walking and treats we haven't been able to curb his penchant for lunging and barking when things get over his threshold.

He used to really hate the GL, would paw at it, refuse to walk, etc...We just patiently waited him out and rewarded him when he was walking nicely.

I would work to make the GL a really fun thing. Dinner with the GL, rewards with it on, etc...and I think taking it off to play fetch is a good idea. Or maybe you can just loosen it, or take the nose part off so it's still "on" but it becomes more fun?

Ember90710 · Oct 30, 2011

Great ideas! Thank you!! It weird, how for Ember, it's like a switch is turned on when we put it on! She goes from 'out of control devil-dog' to 'Miss Perfect Dog'. I love it!!

take4roll10 · Oct 30, 2011

Bailey does the patrol walk as well. She wears a "holt", which is almost the same as a gentle leader.

Occasionally she'll paw at it, but usually she doesn't mind. When she is off leash at the park, I always give her a treat as I'm putting the head collar back on her. This way she won't run away as soon as she sees her leash.

If you want her to get used to the GL, I would give her treats as your putting it on. Maybe let her wear it for an hour or so around the house and give her treats. Just do everything you can to make her associate the collar with yummy treats.

Ember90710 · Oct 30, 2011

Great ideas, but my little girl is a food-hound and the treats are a problem, you see, as Ember has gotten fat and is on a diet...I have cut her treats into quarters to stretch them, but give her as much love and 'good girls' as I can.

Sandy

corbinam · Oct 31, 2011

Ember90710 said:
Great ideas, but my little girl is a food-hound and the treats are a problem, you see, as Ember has gotten fat and is on a diet...I have cut her treats into quarters to stretch them, but give her as much love and 'good girls' as I can.

Sandy

Try using green beans, or even using her dinner as her treats. When my dog was on a diet he would get his dinner as treats (on a walk, during class, etc...)

take4roll10 · Oct 31, 2011

corbinam said:
Try using green beans, or even using her dinner as her treats. When my dog was on a diet he would get his dinner as treats (on a walk, during class, etc...)

That's what I do. I don't always use treats. Most of the time I use Bailey's kibble from her meals.

dmeyer123 · Oct 31, 2011

Hi Sandy....I remember Ember's behavior at the beach where she was around lots of dogs off leash. She was beautifully behaved! I know you'll be able to over come this problem with the help of a good trainer. So glad you threw out the prong collar!!!

Ember90710 · Oct 31, 2011

Will try the dinner as treats..great idea! Thank you.

And Dawn, thanks...I hated how I reacted to her on the prong collar (or her regular collar) when she gets out of control. I really don't see how the GL collar could cause problems, unless someone yanked it hard. Ember is really responsive to it. Now to find a new trainer...any suggestions??

Sandy

Caro · Nov 1, 2011

corbinam said:
I would work to make the GL a really fun thing. Dinner with the GL, rewards with it on, etc...and I think taking it off to play fetch is a good idea. Or maybe you can just loosen it, or take the nose part off so it's still "on" but it becomes more fun?

I did the same to get Tully used to the GL - she had her meals with it on and i would take the nose part off but leave the gL on so she could play fetch.

Tully never got completely used to it, she would start off cringing but then forget about it as we started walking, but then she also hides when I get her harness out and we only do fun things with that on.

Fortunately it made a world of difference fixing Tully's walking and she doesn't use it any more. Very occassionally I will get it out, mostly when she starts her 'car chasing' on lead which is usually in Spring (like atm).