huski

..... Perhaps "that will deliver a clearer message" is a better impression rather than "heavy duty" ? What one dog feels at one level, another might feel at a different level. Doesn't necessarily mean that the correction is more severe to that dog. I knew you would have a better description than me ;) perhaps 'communicates more clearly to the dog' would also have been a better phrase? Yep I've experienced myself too which is why I will never use them. It was very scary when the dog grabbed onto Daisy, luckily she was physically ok (I think I was worse off from the fright, lol). The owner makes sure the dog has an appropriate collar on now thank goodness. awww thanks Erny! It must have been one I uploaded from obedience club. Definitely not an actual trial ;) I have to get over my nerves before I am game enough to enter one of those

I think we need a video update from you Tiggy!!

Totally agree! Even if you talk to a dog person who doesn't do dog sports like obedience. A couple I met the other day who also owned a beagle were in awe that Daisy went into heel position when I commanded her to

Wahoo congrats everyone especially Nik with Soaks! What a great achievement

I prefer them to a check chain as well, although for some dogs, a martingale is not enough/suitable/sufficient. Yes I agree with you there Erny, I certainly know of some dogs who have required something a bit more heavy duty (so to speak) than a martingale. ETA: I had a problem a few weeks ago at obedience club when a new handler turned up to the grounds with their very strong dog on a dodgy flat collar (it was one of those nylon clasp ones). It lunged on the leash, broke free of the collar, and attacked Daisy hence why I like to see people using good quality equipment on their dogs (leashes, collars etc).

Whereabouts are you located, SL? It might be worthwhile meeting a trainer for a one on one session so they can show you exactly how the method works best for your dog.

Yes I would think so considering that I just said I don't like them. Oh wait - you were being sarcastic, right? Nice work Corvus, that really adds something to the discussion I wouldn't use any club that required me to use a tool like a head collar, check chain etc. I can understand clubs or trainers who want to ensure you are using good quality, strong equipment though. SL also said that the head collar is included in the registration price which is what struck me as odd. I wouldn't want to pay for a tool I would never use.

SL a martingale is a flat collar with a bit of chain - it looks like this; I find them way better than check chains as you can fit them properly to sit at the top of the dog's neck. I taught loose leash walking by working with my trainer here in Brissy, we used the change of direction technique and she had my Sibe walking on a loose leash for me in one session - he'd been pulling on the leash for four years! Of course that's different again from how I teach formal heelwork.

Staffy lover, I taught both my dogs to walk on a loose leash with a well fitted martingale. IMO it is less about the tool as it is about the method you use.

I would run from any training club that required me to use a head collar. I can't stand them and will not put them on my dog, especially for obedience, where you can't use one in the ring anyway. My dogs all work on flat collars or martingales (for safety with my Sibe - he can work on a flat collar if I need him to) and all the obedience training I do is done off leash or on leash with a flat collar. What about people who join your club who don't require a head collar? i.e. their dog already walks on a loose leash.

I have!!!! I would use English for training/trialling as then if you do get a grumpy judge it wont matter :D Really?? That's terrible! I know Seita uses German words for trialling and AFAIK she has never been told no.

If you decide to do obedience trials you will need to give your commands in English. From the dogs perspective all commands are just sounds regardless of what language they are, so if you are consistant like everyone has said no problems, except if someone else wants your dog to do something and they don't speak Affrikaans:laugh: cheers M-J You don't have to use English commands in obedience trials, you just need to ask the judge before hand if they mind if you use a different language. I've never heard of a judge saying no :D

I understand that, but I don't understand not vaccinating at all.

Totally agree

As long as you are consistent with her not at all IMO I know people who have two different sets of commands, one in English and one in another language, one is used for home and one is used for training. It works well

I wouldn't bother, she's delusional and you will just be banging your head against a wall.

The youtube channel belongs to Linny who used to post here a few years ago until she was banned for promoting DDs - she has her own forum now. No surprise to see she is posting the same drivel she was when she was on DOL

I don't agree with yearly vaccination but it's dangerous not to vaccinate EVER - Dr Jean Dodds recommends people vaccinate when the dog is a pup, and then once again a year later. Who on earth wouldn't vaccinate AT ALL?? I would be walking away for sure! And the breeder can take the dog back if they decide it's show quality - bugger off! As a pet buyer I would NEVER agree to that.

When that first aired, DOLers got together and managed to get them to run another segment to talk about the issues with DDs with a panel of experts including our very own Cordelia We all sent emails in voicing our disgust on the program, I think mine actually got read out on air ETA: Just searching for the follow up segment on youtube... it was posted on there at some stage.

thats what I wrote before maybe you missed it. I have not seen a dog that walks ahead of its own accord (I dont mean commanded to do it) be reliable IMO. Maybe from the owners perspective they are. I am not talking dramatically far ahead of me, I am talking no more than a metre with the leash still completely loose. I am simply refuting your generalised statements that any dog who is not exactly walking beside their owner is not calm/under control/responsive to the owner's commands. You are talking about dogs who do not always walk precisely next to their owners, my dogs don't always do this, therefore you are including them in your generalisations. What do you deem as reliable? my dogs MIGHT walk SLIGHTLY ahead of me, but stop when I stop, turn when I turn, stop if the leash goes tight, sit when I stop walking, respond to my command to look/heel/down etc when I ask them too. I'm not sure how much more control is required under your definition of reliable

I don't see how My dogs are taught a formal heel position, when I ask Daisy to heel I am giving a command, she knows exactly what it means and where she needs to be. I don't have "several walking positions" - there is no command associated with walking, there's just walking. I like the leash to be loose and generally walk with the dogs to my left side out of habit. I don't let my dogs zig zag all over the path walking miles ahead of me, I let them walk perhaps a metre or so in front unless I want to bring them in closer then I do so. Often they walk next to me anyway. Almost daily I walk down to our local sports oval to do training, yep that means casual walking where I might let Daisy walk a little in front of me (still on a loose leash) and I can get her walking in formal heel position with a single verbal command. You said you saw some videos of Daisy - does she look confused to you because I am quite confident she is not even remotely confused ;) I honestly am baffled that people are making such a massive deal out of those of us who aren't so strict on our walks, so I don't make my dogs walk in a specific position the entire time, who cares when they are still under control and responsive to my commands. ETA: I am getting the impression you think my dogs do what they like on walks, which is very far from the truth.

And what I fail to see is how having my dog sometimes walk maybe a meter ahead of me means that my walks aren't easy, predictable or my dog isn't calm

That's great news Kathq!! Well after Wednesday's very negative training night I took Daisy down to our local sports oval tonight - lots of kids there playing hockey again and despite us keeping our distance and minding our own business loads of kids came over to watch her They wanted to get involved so I used them as figure eight posts again which they thought was awesome (LOL) and then they got their hockey sticks and held them up a little way off the ground and I called Daisy over them which they thought was the coolest thing they'd ever seen Nothing like training with some kids to make you feel good about your training again - they even awww'd and ahhh'd over Daisy doing automatic sits

Dee I don't think that having your dog walk beside you always hinders their enjoyment, most of the time Micha walks beside me and Daisy often does too. My point is tha letting your dog walk a little in front does not mean you have little or no control, or that your dog should keep his head up and only scent on command the whole time. Like I said I understand why some people do it, but it does not mean it's necessary for all dogs

You have trained Daisy for what you need...............seen your vids she is very good , she's a trained dog essentially like mine are too and depends on what you train for with general walking really. thanks Daisy doesn't scent when we are training but to get that level of focus we have to train drive. I honestly believe there is no way we could have a full half hour or hour long walk without her scenting because obviously I don't want her in drive when we are just walking down the street. And hey she gives me pretty good focus when we are training, I am happy for her to have walks be time for her to do what beagles like to do. Within reason obviously