|
Your Dog's Leash and Other Training Equipment
There are many types of collars, leashes, muzzles, and crates. Use the information below to help you gain an understanding of their uses, then determine the type that you think will be most beneficial
Go to Web Site
|
|
|
|
Guest Articles by Sharda Baker
What you Need to Know about Training Equipment
One of the most common questions that many people have about the training process is the best type of equipment to be used.
This is certainly understandable as a major component in successful training is the equipment that you use. There are many types of collars, leashes, muzzles, and crates. Use the information below to help you gain an understanding of their uses, then determine the type that you think will be most beneficial and comfortable for your dog.
Collars
There are a variety of different collars available. Choose the one that is most appropriate for your dog and his needs.
Flat or Buckle Collar
This type of collar is fit around the dog's neck. These are available in a variety of materials such as nylon, leather, and cloth.
This collar is good for basic restraint for dogs that do not pull forcefully on a leash when walking. If he pulls too hard on the leash, he will choke or gag against the force of the collar. If you need to train your dog not to pull on a leach, this is probably not your best collar.
Halter or Head Collar
This type of collar is fitted on the dog's muzzle and neck. It basically serves the same purpose as a halter on a horse, meaning when his head goes in one direction, his body will follow in the same direction.
The head collar does not use very much force so there is very little pain for the dog, yet there is a maximum amount of control so the dog will move in the direction you want him to.
A head collar can be somewhat uncomfortable for a dog to wear. Some dogs don't accept a head collar, even when he has been wearing it for several weeks. For example, they may stand still and refuse movement, or they may try to remove it with their paws or other objects.
Martingale
This is a slip collar that looks like a typical collar yet it can only be tightened to a certain point. This way, the dog will be comfortable, but it will also give the owner a fair amount of control. This is a very easy collar to fit. It can either be slid over the dog's head, or it can snap around the dog's neck.
An advantage to a Martingale collar is that it can not be easily removed from the dog's neck-even if he is pulling backwards. It has a restricted range of tightness that prevents the dog from choking. However, the Martingale does not work effectively if the dog is a consistent puller.
Choke Collar
A choke collar is a training collar that should only be used for extreme cases of aggressive training. This collar tightens around the dog's neck when it is jerked. The tension is released when you let up. A choke collar can be very dangerous if it is not used properly. If you choose to use this type of collar in training, it is essential that you know how to use it and that you use it with the utmost care. If you don't, you could traumatize and hurt your dog.
Harnesses
A harness is a device that wraps to the dog's body, with the leash attached at the top of the dog's back at the shoulder blades. This is different than a collar because a collar only controls a dog at the neck or head. A harness distributes the dog's pulling force evenly across his chest and shoulders, which can actually allow the dog to pull even harder.
There are several styles of harnesses to choose from, so pick the one that is most comfortable to the dog. The regular harnesses are usually pain-free for the dog and are useful for dogs that have had previous neck injuries.
Hopefully this has provided you with some of the information that you need to understand the equipment that can be used in the training process. Through good quality dog training resources, you will be able to gain the information you need to make the training process much easier for both you and your dog.
Walking your Dog on a Leash
Walking nicely on a leash is something that will take some practice with your dog. Dog pulling is a common problem and unless it is corrected at an early age, it will get harder to correct the older the dog gets.
When you allow your dog to pull without any correction, your dog will believe that it is ok to pull. And since you continue your walk, he will think he's being rewarded for pulling! This is obviously not the message you want to send him.
If your dog pulls and you pull him back, he will only continue to pull harder. This will be fun for him! Therefore, you need to train him to walk properly on the leash.
Before you start walking, stand still and hold the leash with both hands and several treats. Keep your hands close to your body. Whenever your dog looks up at you, praise him and give him a treat. Or, if he is just sitting or standing still, praise him and give him a treat. You want him to know that this is good. He will soon notice that the act of paying attention to you is rewarded.
If your dog begins to lean forward or start to walk forward, lean your body backwards or take a few steps backwards, but don't pull back. Hold your hands against your body and stand still. There may be tension on the leash, but just wait. Once your dog slackens his pull, or when he looks up to you, give him verbal praise and extend your arm down by your side and give him a treat.
Continue to praise your dog until he moves forward toward the end of the leash. If he pulls to the point where there is tension, don't say anything. Once your dog releases the tension, then you can once again praise him.
When your dog resumes standing position next to you, you can begin to walk. Say your dog's name and the command "let's go" or "let's walk" and begin to walk forward. This command should be spoken right before the dog moves forward.
If your dog walks properly without pulling forward, continue to walk and reward him periodically with verbal praise and tasty treats.
If you see that your dog is about to pull forward, stop walking and stand still. Your dog will wonder why you stopped walking so he will look back at you. Once he does this verbally praise him, give him a great, and give him a treat as you start to walk forward. Repeat this whenever your dog is about to pull forward.
It will not take him long to realize that when his collar is tight, you won't follow him, rather the walking stops. Therefore, he will want to walk lightly.
In the early stages of this training exercise you will want to practice this in your home or backyard. This way, your dog will have a chance to get used to walking on the leash in a controlled environment. Then, once he is comfortable here, you can walk him on the sidewalk.
As mentioned in the last chapter, you want to set your dog up for success, not failure. So you want to give him every opportunity to be rewarded.
Because this training exercise will take a lot of practice at first, you may want to use pieces of kibble rather than treats. You can take him on a walk during one of his meal times and give him his meal this way. Once your dog can walk without needing a lot of correction and reward, you can start giving him treats instead.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sharda is the author of The Complete D.I.Y. Dog Training Guide . You can learn about more of her work at PUPPY DOGS INFO!
www.puppy-dogs.info
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2003 - 2012 URL.biz. All rights reserved. |
|
