Advice for a sort of new puppy owner?

[Kaitie09]

They make regular flat nylon training collars that have "choke chain" type of system. The good thing about them is that can adjust with size.

http://www.petco.com/product/117826/Coastal-Pet-Check-Personalized-Training-Dog-Collar-in-Red.aspx


As for real collars, I really recommend the lupine brand. They are a little expensive upfront, but they have a lifetime guarantee (even chewing) I have a dog that would gnaw on my others collar when playing. I just send in the chewed collar and they send me a replacement.



Are you sure the collar is fit right? If it is does not, it is not supposed to fit over their heads. I believe you are only supposed to fit 2 fingers in between the collar and skin.

"Adjust the collar to the appropriate size and fasten the buckle. The collar should be tight enough that it does not fall off, but loose enough that your dog can move her head up and down and not choke while performing normal daily activities."

Read more: How to Fit a Dog Collar | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4489274_fit-dog-collar.html#ixzz1pfs5vXYY​

 

[mama24]

Her collar is a little too big. I'm sure it will fit her correctly in a couple more weeks. Thanks for the link to the nylon version of a choke chain. Those are very nice!

Her collar that she is wearing is very nice. I got it at the feed store. Again, she wasn't with me, so it's a little too big, but it will fit her very soon! It has a stainless steel clasp instead of plastic.

And, I was right about that extra part her kennel came with! It's a divider!


She's starting to look more like a husky as she grows.

 

[dainerra]

martingale or limited slip is what you are looking for. They are especially good for dogs that like to slip out of their collars.

 

[mama24]

She better not keep trying to slip out when she gets older!

I don't put up with any nonsense from my dogs. I cut them some slack when they're babies, but she is already getting close to being a "teenage" dog, and not a baby anymore! I'm a strict doggy mama!

 

[mama24]

Practice NILIF.

I never heard of NILIF before, so I looked it up just. Definitely the way I always treat dogs. I never show them affection when they demand it. You are rewarding bad behavior. One of my best friends has a spoiled shih tzu who has learned that I will pet and baby him when he comes and sits quietly next to me and not until then. I completely ignore his excitement until he does that. That's the way I was raised to treat dogs, seems like it should be common sense. I think it's weird that so many people need a trainer to tell them this about their dog. But I guess I am lucky I grew up in a family that has always had dogs, generation after generation. We love them, but they are dogs, and cannot be treated like children. Sheila learned that lesson within the first 2 days of life here. She definitely gets excited when she sees me, but she stays back wagging her little stubby tail like crazy till I call her over for some rubs and love. And when I am sitting here at the computer, she is ALWAYS sitting quietly at my feet. A calm dog is a happy dog. Right now she is alternating chewing on a chewy toy and licking my bare toes. lol

My last dog before I moved out of my parents house was a 120lb American bulldog. I could walk that dog without a leash and call him to my side with a snap of my fingers and a point to the spot where I wanted him. If you know anything about that breed, you'll know you don't get that from them without a heck of a lot of work and a heck of a lot of their respect. You can't spoil them and have them act that way.

 

[Tigertrea]

martingale or limited slip is what you are looking for. They are especially good for dogs that like to slip out of their collars.

Absolutely. i never, ever put chokers on my puppies until they are about 5 months old. I don't use them for training at all but, at shows they are shown on chokers, I just cannot show my dogs on martingales...I've never gotten the knack.

funny story. I do most of my training on flat collars even. I was at training class one time with a 6mo old pup (he is 8 now!) and the teacher asked if I was entered in the show the following weekend, 3 days away. I said, "yep, his first show. I'm excited to see how he does". She says "Has he had a choker on yet?"..."Um, nope. Guess I had better work on that". I went to my car and got a show collar to put on him. He screamed, yelled, spun, did flips and had a all out hissy fit for a good 5 minutes. When he finally decided I was not trying to kill him we settled into the rest of the class and he was fine. Since then I try to remember to at least put puppies on a choker at training classes once they are trained with the buckle collar.

I will only use the "clip" type buckles, not the belt style. You can get ones with metal buckles that are less likely to break. I like the clip type better in case of emergency. If the dog get hung-up somewhere they come undone easy. I once had a client bring in 2 Great pyrs that had been playing in the yard. One had managed to get his jaw caught in the collar of the other. They were on very strong leather collars with belt style buckles. It took us quite awhile to cut the collar off the dog. We nearly lost the one who was being choked. The next day I started changing collars on all my dogs.

 

[dainerra]

yes, hanging is a very serious risk with a too-large collar on a puppy. Many people I know won't even let their dogs wear collars in the house, especially in a multi-dog household. Too many cases of the dogs getting seriously injured when the collar gets caught on something. One woman had her dog's jaw broken when it became stuck under another dog's collar and the dogs panicked.

 

[mama24]

It has a metal clip, not the buckles.

I am having some anxiety over her today. We have a school field trip to the zoo, so we will be gone ALL DAY! I have never left her alone yet for more than a couple hours. I have my bathroom all set up for her, so she'll at least be closed in without having to be in her crate all day.

She did really well last night in her crate, first night since I put in the divider and covered it with a blanket. She finished her kong in less than an hour and I was still awake, so I put peanut butter in it. She whined a few times, but no barking or howling. But this morning, when I took her outside, she peed, then went and laid down on the step in front of the door. It rained all night and is still misty. She refused to poop, so I thought I'd feed her and take her out again. Same thing, just pee and then laid down on the step and refused to move. So I took her in the house and she almost immediately pooped on the floor. grrr! She'll get it eventually... It's just frustrating. She needs to learn that wet grass is ok, I guess.

 

[Tigertrea]

When I used the crate to speed training I will actually put them back into their crate if I know they have to potty and have not. I then take them out every 20min or so until they do potty.

I also always keep puppies on leash outside. It makes praising and giving a treat easier. I can also kind of keep them moving until they go potty. I also always take them to the exact same spot each time.

If I sound like I have a lot of advice it is because I have house trained somewhere around 20 pups myself on top of all the advice I've had to give as a vet tech. Seriously, almost no matter the issue I have been there done that.

 

[mama24]

I appreciate it! You have been very helpful without sounding condescending! You have given me some really great advice!

She did fine today while we were gone, btw. She knocked over our cloth hamper and peed onit, but otherwise cant even tell she was in there. I left her both her kong and a tricky treat ball with pb, but didn't touch them. Should have used some canned food. Shes such a fast learner! She already sits on command.