What Do You Use To Walk Your Dog

[Hownd]

Eight dog legs, two human legs and one pushy.

[Mooper]

We tried the halter but that signals "car ride" so training was waaay too exciting. Up until now, training has been with a check chain.

I recently bought a Sporn halter while in the US and we've been using that for walking.

We haven't been to OB training this term because the in-laws were with us for six weeks (teaching all sorts of bad habits!) so we're doing some remedial work at home before returning next term.

If the instructors are cool with it, we'll try the Sporn halter at training, too.

Eventually, I aim to get him used to a flat collar but Jack is a strong boy, and acts like a puppy despite being 5 yrs old. Couple that with my lack of training experience and the Sporn is my new friend.

ETA: Link to Sporn halter page, which includes a short QuickTime movie of a woman fitting a pooch with its halter.

Edited June 16, 2005 by Mooper

[Guest Tess32]

I use a limited slip for safety reasons.

Or if it's going to be a very long day, I use a Sense-ation harness.

Nat

[Guest LittlePixie]

Brody was going to be walked on a harness... but even the smallest size is too big for his skinny little girly chest. So, he is walked on a flat collar.

Ben was also walked on a flat collar.

Latest foster dog will need to be walked on a check chain... I just can't hold her in a flat collar. But as soon as the check chain is on, without using it at all, she walks beautifully to heel.

[Daisy]

I walk Hazel (staffy cross from Rescue, approx 12 months old), with a Sporn halter. She is starting obedience training this weekend, but we have had to wait for a few months from when we got her until the next lot of classes start, and she is quite strong and pulls.

I wanted to walk her regularly even tho she hasn't learned how to walk nicely on lead yet, and this seemed like the best solution (reccommended by Raelene from ARF).

If you haven't seen a Sporn halter, they are a bit difficult to explain, but apparently have a website, I think www.sporn.com. I have done a little bit of reading about Haltis and Gentle Leaders, and while I don't know a lot about them, it seems to me that the Sporn halter doesn't have the potential for injuring your dog that some of the facial halters have.

Edited June 16, 2005 by daisy2002

[Weimlover]

Hi There,

I use the sporn no-pull harness when walking Bailey. At 42kg he is just too heavy and strong for a collar, I find it works Great . I do use the black dog training collar on him just for his training classes though, which he is good with.

[espinay2]

For general walking or obedience etc I use martingale collars (Premier collars - I love the colours! ) for safety reasons. I love that they can't slip off over the head. I have seen too many accidents or near accidents from dogs pulling back and flat collars slipping off over the head to be comfortable using them for anythign except tag holders.

[Innana]

I've used a regular harness on mine since puppyhood because when we were training to walk on lead,the slightest pressure at her throat really stressed my dog.She was too tense to relax and learn.My goal was to use voice commands and hand signals to direct her as these were more suited to her personality than any physical correction.

I was warned by a trainer that she would pull in a harness but thankfully my intuition was right and she actually relaxed from the moment I walked her in the harness and training her became much easier and fun for both of us.I don't think this is the solution for most dogs but using a harness made a huge difference with mine.

[Brockstar]

We tried all sorts of things (halti, flat, choker, etc) with Bronte and ended up with a harness. Several reasons for this:

1. flat collar and she pulled my back out several times and this does not wash well for time of work.

2. She seems more comfy in it and doesn't pull.

3. It also doubles as her harness for securing in the car.

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Edited June 17, 2005 by jodi_b

[Mystiqview]

I only use flat collars, at most a martingale. I have two black-dog halters here at home, which I don't use.

I have trained my dogs from 8 weeks to walk politely on a lead without pulling. I have also done heaps of focus training where the dog watches you. With food, and heaps of praise. Did all the initial training with food and without a lead attached, so never had a pulling uncontrollable dog.

Dog trained properly should never need a halti. They are evil things. People pull on them like they pull on check chains causing the dog to whip their heads around to their bums. No wonder those dogs often then need to see dog chiropracters.

(also note: same goes with check/choke chains, incorrect use of those also causes damage)

Biggest thing I find with MOST obedience establishments, the trainers do not spend enough time SHOWING people how to PROPERLY use the equipment before getting out there and doing the paddock bash routine. Then if they have shown the people how to use it properly, they do not stop and correct the PERSON when they are using the equipment incorrectly.

[katetk]

Flat collar. Used this at obedience school too.