My rottweiler HATES his gentle leader. He constantly tries getting it off (rubbing his head on my leg, clawing at his face, etc.).
I have a prong collar which he is fine with, but I can't control him with it when he has a major freak out (like sees another dog or human he doesn't like). Plus prong collars are not allowed in our obedience class.
Is there something else I can use to keep him under control that won't make him crazy? Keep in mind, I only weigh 5 more pounds than him.
exactly how snug should the prong be?
I think you should gain some weight so you can control him with the prong collar.
I am submitting your rottie to be on the Dog Whisper. Now that I have video of one of his freak outs, there is no way Ceasar will say no.
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June 19th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
How about a choke collar(If you know how to use one)?
Or just deal with his rubbing.
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June 19th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
gentle leaders suck…I don't care what anyone says about those things..and if the obedience class does not allow prong collars I would be finding another trainer. Are you sure you have the prong fitted correctly they need to be kind of snug on the dog or else they do not work correctly. Choke chains are bad do not use those.
Here is a great site that explains how to properly fit one.
http://leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm
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June 19th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Ask your instructor about the "Easy Walk Harness" by Gentle Leader. It is not the one that goes around the mouth. Instead, it is a self restraining harness that the leash attaches in the front of the chest area. When the dog pulls, it causes the harness to squeeze that area and it is relieved when the dog stops pulling. It's very important that the harness is fitted just right or when the dog first pulls (and possibly goes down if pulling suddenly and hard), the dog will first want to get out of it and can slip out if it isn't adjusted right. If you decide to get this, get the two toned one. It's slightly more expensive but, imo, a much better quality.
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June 19th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Often the shorter nosed breeds really hate the nose type harnesses like halti and gentle leader. I use a Sporn brand harness for my two staffordshire bull terriers and it has been great. They work much better than a check chain for really strong 'pully' dogs and they can't use them like a weight pulling harness to drag you along either. My 10 year old can walk them with no problems in this style of harness.
The sporn goes around the chest and under their front legs. When the dog pulls this puts pressure the the 'strings' that go under the chest/legs.
http://www.sporn.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=SPUS100
mine look a bit different to this model but you still get the idea
Ours look like this one http://www.ozpetshop.com.au/product_info.php/products_id/1241 - maybe the Australian model is a bit different …?
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June 19th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Let him be! Don't take it off when you see him doing that because you will be reinforcing that behavior. He knows you will take it off when he does that. Leave it on for 10 minutes for a few days in the house & then take it off. But be sure to supervise him all times. Let him get used to the feeling of it. Then increase the time to 20 mins per day. He will get used to it. Later try attaching the collar to it. Always reward him if he's not trying to paw it off. Do a few heel sessions in your house. If he tries to paw it off, give a tug to pull his head up. Hope this helped.
ADD: Choke collars can be dangerous because the pressure is only on one side of the neck & if jerked too hard it can snap the dog's neck. Prong collars may look dangerous & mean but it IS safer because the pressure is all around. I don't use the prong collars though because my dogs don't need them. Do NOT simply use the prong collar if you don't know how to.
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June 19th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Just a suggestion: Get some food he really likes (Hamburgers, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Peanut Butter) and put the Gentle Leader on inside the house with no leash. Keep offering him small amounts of hamburger until he stops fighting it.
Put the leash on and armed with the food, work him inside the house. Then progress onto your front steps, etc.
Sooner or later he will figure out that wearing a Gentle Leader means he gets hamburgers.
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June 19th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
harness
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June 19th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I think you should gain some weight so you can control him with the prong collar.
I am submitting your rottie to be on the Dog Whisper. Now that I have video of one of his freak outs, there is no way Ceasar will say no.
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