[Fiona]

What’s the reason you put the puppy in prong collar if I may ask? I have two puppies almost the same age as yours, I walk them one by one, quite ok on leash, but if reach some places that has something got them scared, pulling will start, should I help them overcome the fear or put them on prong collar? Thanks.

[Ed]

I think that if a dog is afraid of something the prong will probably make it worse.

I put my 10 month-old puppy on the prog so that he gets used it and leans that type of leash pressure. I was going to wait till he was past 1 year, but since this instructor is going to require it I figure I would get him started.

On the fear things, I would get down to their level, perhaps sit on the floor, and either just hang out at that distance where the suspicion begins till they see that there is no danger. Depending on the pup, move closer, or move closer on another day. At this age the pup gets suspicious of things and tries to figure out what can hurt him vs. what won’t. It is our job to gently help them overcome these things. Mine has been suspicious of a chandelier, his reflection on a fireplace, and a few other things. I remember Bailey, the Pit, was suspicious of balloons till I got him playing with a real estate folding sign and he popped a few… LOL.

[Fiona]

Thanks for the tips on overcoming fear, I have walked my two puppies outside of house since month three, and occasionally in parks with more people and dogs, in the latter case they will tremble a while before getting back to normal, last week I brought them to a mall, they got scared totally, pulling hard trying to run away, any tips on letting know how to walk in a mall (9 months old) ? Thanks again

[Tara]

My experience with my now 20 week old pup and a prong for the last few weeks….

During obedience class while trying to heal without luring he was pulling hard. Trainer introduced us to prong. Nearly night and day difference! Walks are enjoyable and not a fight and heal is perfect (he only heals when asked to). I also have a problem with him being fearful and pulling near anything that scares him (cars,people,and anything he thinks is odd basically). I watched a lot of videos that said to keep his attention on me with lots and lots of treats while he is scared. He needs to know I “got this” so he could build confidence in me and himself. I was doing this for a few days at the park before I used the prong. Again, night and day difference with the prong. Since he knows he can’t lunge and pull he doesn’t seem as threatened by everything. I literally train him at the park, in the grass, next to the sidewalk and a busy two way street a University is on, with people running, babies in strollers, dogs walking, bicycles and so on. We stop and sit, heel, stay, come with all these distractions with absolutely no lunging, pulling or barking. We can walk by people on a trail and he is perfect. Our trainer even says it’s like he is a new dog, huge change, not only in the pulling but his confidence. For us the prong has made a huge difference!! Hope this helps!

[Ed]

Another tip to overcome fear is to capture and reward the state you want. For example. I want my Pit to be more confident. He is a bit gun shy now with two dogs that are twice his size where, my 5 yo female is dog assertive, and the 10 mo pup has crazy energy and does his kamikaze charges. So when he, or any of the other two, stand “puffed up” (the equivalent of a person standing up straight with his/shoulders back) I let out a huge smile and praise with a proud voice “what a handsome boy!” — I picked this up from one of the folks Robert interviewed.

[Patricia]

I thought the hair fluffed up was fear. I didn’t realize that could be part of confidence building. Interesting idea!

[Ed]

Oh I meant puffed up as in taking on a prouder posture, not as in raised hackles.

[Ed]

That seems more intense than what I seen. I would ask Robert in the AMA or member chat. What has worked for me when the dog trembles in fear is to ask for some easy obedience like “high 5”, “paw”, etc and then praise the dog profusely. After a few correctly executed commands followed by praise the dog seems to get out of it. I would not do down, but I would do sit. Stand may be too difficult under that stress. Silly ones like paw and high 5 are good. After he stops trembling and seems to gain a bit of confidence I would high tail out of there ASAP keeping it on a high note and do it again some other day. Good luck!!

[Tara]

Excellent ideas!

[Fiona]

Thanks.

[Fiona]

good idea, what prong collar you have for your pup? thanks

[Ed]

I use the Herm Sprenger 3.2 or 4 mm. Robert likes the smaller ones because they are lighter and deliver a sharper correction. Perhaps he would go for the 3 mm (?). He does think the 4 mm is too big. The 4 mm looks much larger, and the prongs are less sharp, which is why I have my dog walker use it (in case she uses the collar to hold the dog as opposed to communicate with the dog, so the prongs will dig in less — it is also a 100 lb dog). They come in chrome-plated, stainless, black stainless and hypoallergenic. All are good. I would stay away from the models with quick release as they open unexpectedly depending on the twists and turns.

[Fiona]

Herm Sprenger has one that has two rings, and another one with swivel, which one is better? thanks

[Ed]

I would go with this type

[Tara]

We use the 2.25 Herm Sprenger. This is the one Robert recommends and uses with his dogs. He has a video on it.

[Fiona]

Thanks, I got the same one but 2.25mm Herm Sprenger.