Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: skagit on March 31, 2010, 07:54:58 PM
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So I have an 11 month old Brittany that is from a hunting line and he is a great all around dog and listens pretty good most of the time. I am trying to leash train him so that my wife can walk him without having her arm dislocated. Is this a losing battle since he is a bird dog and just wants to run and chase birds? Any recommendations?
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Put him on a leash and start walking him.
Show him who is boss and that pulling you around will not be tolerated.
Give a jerk on the leash to pull him back to you.
When he starts pulling, yank him back and or change directions of travel, Yank the leash when you change dirrection, he will get the picture ;)
Do this often, and only need about 15 minutes a day to train him.
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Our trainer taught the method Gasman describes and insisted that we use a training collar. The collar she recommends is the choker type with the metal fingers.
We have come to call it the behave me collar. If our dogs regress we only have to take it out and all of a sudden they behave immediately. Fortunately the training went well and we needn't take it out often.
Keep in mind this fingered collar is only an enforcer of the command with a sharp/quick tug, it doesn't hurt the dog when fitted properly and is only used when training.
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Depending on the dogs drive to drag, I'd just start with a normal collar then progress to a pinch collar if need be.
Just remember to have a real collar, the kind that has a metal buckle like a belt. You'll break a POS plastic clip type one ;)
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I would stick with the normal collar for a while. the dog should pick it up with that. theres the chance that the training collar will prompt the dog to behave, and then when you switch back to a normal collar they will think it's ok to tug...
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11 months is way to old not to have good leash manners. All hunting dogs should be steady on leash and obey. It has absolutely nothing to do with bird drive and a steady dog will have better drive than a non-steady untrained punk. The type of leash doesn't matter. It is the standards you enforce which are all that really matter. If you are ok with a dog who will bolt, break, tug, aligator or just generally be an A-hole, then he will be one.
If you demand manners and are consistent with the rules, your dog will be happier first of all because you and your wife are happy with him.
A quote from a famous trainer, "you own what you condone"
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:yeah:
It's amazing how many hound guys never train their dogs because they heard they were knuckleheads....well they can be knuckleheads, but they can be well trained and obedient knuckleheads!! :chuckle:
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A choke chain and a leash, and learn the "heel" command. My GWP took about 3 10-12 minute sessions and decided that heel was easier than ouch...She is a great dog, but stubborn as the day is long, but when the choke chain is on her neck, she is the best dog in the world, with or without a leash hooked to it!
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Most commonly dogs start to pull because they are distracted from the task they are told to do. Start with a 4' leash and a nice sturdy collar, give the dog enough leash that its front shoulder is in-line with yours and walk. When he starts to pull tap him with your right foot (if he is on your left, or your left foot if he is on your right) and DON"T give a command or he will learn to only walk good when given the command. Heel is an off leash command!! That brief touch with your foot is enough to divert his attention back to you where it belongs. Once the dog walks good next to you then allow him to walk in front, this is when the slight jerk comes in. Anytime he starts to pull give the jerk and bring him all the way back to your side and star over. If you want to teach heel then do it after he learns to walk on the leash, and make him heel behind you rather than next to. After he is good next to and in front of I like to add a nice finishing touch. I make my dog sit everytime I stop, and with minimal training both of my dogs will return to my side and sit the instant I stop any forward progress. The key is consistency, and it also helps to do it everyday instead of once or twice a week.
Brandon
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after i hook the leash to the collar,i take my leash and wrap it around the waist of the dog then back under the loop so it is in a strait line the rope/leash sits on the flank and is not very pleasant for them to pull against. they usually learn quick with this way and you don't have to choke the hell out of them with a choker
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11 months is way to old not to have good leash manners. All hunting dogs should be steady on leash and obey. It has absolutely nothing to do with bird drive and a steady dog will have better drive than a non-steady untrained punk. The type of leash doesn't matter. It is the standards you enforce which are all that really matter. If you are ok with a dog who will bolt, break, tug, aligator or just generally be an A-hole, then he will be one.
If you demand manners and are consistent with the rules, your dog will be happier first of all because you and your wife are happy with him.
A quote from a famous trainer, "you own what you condone"
Good advice
Basic obedience training is a necessity for any dog. Start them young
"Sit" "Stay or Whoa" "Heal" "Come" are basic commands all dogs, whether hunting or not, need to know.
Very important
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Thanks for the tips everyone!
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So.... What's the most effective yet humane type of pinch collar? I have heard that pinch collars are safer then choke chains because they apply pressure equally around the neck. What types have worked for other people?
