Flat or Correction Collar??? - Page 1

                For about a week now, I have been working with Prince with a ball instead of treats.....This has worked out great for us. Within a weeks time we have progressed to hand signals for sits and downs. Also, this has worked great for front sits and finishes too. He seems much more motivated by the ball and has a much better focus on me....I have been using a flat collar when we are doing this type of obedience practice. Does anyone see a problem with using a flat collar, rather than a correction collar for this type of work?...........Thanks

                                                                                                        Ruger1

Depends on the dog. I have worked with some softer dogs that a flat collar correction was effective. Nobody can tell you if it works over the net. Most of my GSDs, the flat collar was ineffective at puppyhood. The only thing I used a flat for was ragwork or if I was building drive. No need to correct if the dog doesn't know it yet or you're just out to have fun and build drive, etc.

    Rutavenhaus....Prince responds to me very well while we are working obedience,especially with the ball When we are working obedience, I will break out and play fetch, and let him run about with his 30ft tracking leash attached. This is the original reason I went back to the flat collar, I did not want him to catch his leash around a tree or something and get yanked...I am trying to use the correction collar for the times I know a firmer correction will most likely be necessary....Does this makes sense???? or am I missing something..???

When Jam is focused on me, knowing I have the toy, no need for pinch. Now if there was a small room with one hundred squirrels in it, I think I would need my pinch. She is very strong dog :)

Always,
Cee

Think, guys.

Her dog has shown aggression issues and she needs to be able to resolve it. Will she be able to on a flat buckle collar? Pretty damn unlikely. Dogs are not stupid. If she only puts the training collar on the dog to walk him around people or train him around people when he gets aggressive, don't you think he will start to associate wearing that collar with being around things he doesn't like? This will result in one of two things 1.) the dog now has a greater reason to resent people and 2.) eventually the dog will learn to behave when the collar is on, but not when it comes off.

Ruger1, just because he's wearing the collar does not mean you have to be using it if you do not need it. If he enjoys this motivational work, don't you think that it would help give him a more positive association with wearing it? If you are concerned about the long line catching, attach the line to his buckle collar and put a short pull tab on your pinch collar. Problem solved.

I sure wish you were closer to me, I'd love to help you out.

 Yeah, I agree with KCzaja's post.

KCzaja....Wow, I never looked at it that way. I think I will start putting his correction collar on most of the time we go out,to play and work our obedience. I will just have to switch the clip before letting him run loose with the leash. The last thing I want, is to cause any negative associations with his correction collar. Two times this past weekend, I had the opportunity to have a strangers over our house. Prince never showed any signs or aggression.....He sat a my side and focused on me...I was very encouraged........


                    ** Is there something in between a flat collar and a pronged collar, that would be a better option for me???

                                               Thanks...    Ruger1