STEVSH
Well-Known Member
OK, I have been trying all sorts of different collars on Topaz to see what works best for the both of us. The latest one is the gentle leader. She will cower when I put it on her, because she hates it, but she still lets me put it on her. The first few walks with it, she did fine except for the occasional freak out episode because of her not wanting me to have control of her head. But eventually, she got used to it. HOwever NOW, she pulls on it constantly and I'm afraid it's hurting her and it's starting to hurt my hand. If I keep her right by me in a heel, my hand ends up completley sore from her constant pulling. Even if I pull up to correct her and redirect her head, she goes right back to pulling. By the end of the walk, she has the imprint of the halti on her face, and my hand is killing me from having to restrain her.
However, if I let her go and don't keep her right next to me, she is great. She will walk my pace, and even stop and wait for me if she feels the 6ft leash go tight from her getting to far ahead. The only way I learned this was because my hand just couldn't take it anymore and we were still blocks from home. I always usually have my dogs in a heel the whole walk.
We used the prong collar previously, which she did well on, but I think was too much for the both of us. I think it was making her more leash reactive than helping it.
She's leash reactive, but not an aggressive dog. She's actually quite submissive off leash, so I think her lunging is more of a fear lunging and protective thing over me (She's extremely protective of me and my daughter). And I'm sure she feels me tense up when we see another dog now too. I give every dog a wide berth or turn the other way because she will lunge.
I've also used a martingale, but it just doesn't stay high up on the neck like it needs to and I always end up with a sore hand that way too. I feel like I'm going to choke her to death if I tighten it anymore to stay up there.
What am I doing wrong? Any other collars that someone can suggest I give a try?
I also want to try biking with her alongside this spring, as I think she will just get out more energy that way. She LOVES to just run and run. Although she chases and bites at everything on wheels (scared of hubby's motorcycle, my moped, and kids riding bikes), so I have to work with her quite a bit. But that will be good for the both of us to get her over that hump. She's half weimaraner and has a wicked prey drive, so I want to try to get that settled down too.
However, if I let her go and don't keep her right next to me, she is great. She will walk my pace, and even stop and wait for me if she feels the 6ft leash go tight from her getting to far ahead. The only way I learned this was because my hand just couldn't take it anymore and we were still blocks from home. I always usually have my dogs in a heel the whole walk.
We used the prong collar previously, which she did well on, but I think was too much for the both of us. I think it was making her more leash reactive than helping it.
She's leash reactive, but not an aggressive dog. She's actually quite submissive off leash, so I think her lunging is more of a fear lunging and protective thing over me (She's extremely protective of me and my daughter). And I'm sure she feels me tense up when we see another dog now too. I give every dog a wide berth or turn the other way because she will lunge.
I've also used a martingale, but it just doesn't stay high up on the neck like it needs to and I always end up with a sore hand that way too. I feel like I'm going to choke her to death if I tighten it anymore to stay up there.
What am I doing wrong? Any other collars that someone can suggest I give a try?
I also want to try biking with her alongside this spring, as I think she will just get out more energy that way. She LOVES to just run and run. Although she chases and bites at everything on wheels (scared of hubby's motorcycle, my moped, and kids riding bikes), so I have to work with her quite a bit. But that will be good for the both of us to get her over that hump. She's half weimaraner and has a wicked prey drive, so I want to try to get that settled down too.