[jaynav]

My staffy is now 13 weeks old, wears collar all day but when on lead pulls to point of choking and coughing, I worry about hurting her, is a harness better or should I get her to learn that its not comfy so don't pull?

[labman]

If your dog is at least 4 - 5 months old, start with a good 6' leather
leash and a sturdy slip collar, the metal chain ones with the rings on each
end. You want the shortest one that will go on and off easily. If you walk
with the dog on the left, pull the chain through one loop forming a "P".
Facing it, slip it over its head. The free end should come over the neck to the leash, and the other end should drop slack when there is no pull on the leash. Before 4 months use a conventional flat collar to protect the tender young neck.


Easier dogs will give up their pulling with a few good snaps of the leash
combined with a stern "Bad dog!". You can work up to forceful corrections
with the leash doubled up in both hands and your whole body behind it. But
you don't want to use any more force than you need. One gentle technique I
like is to just stop when he pulls. He wants to go. If you move forward when
the leash is slack, and stop when he pulls, he should quickly figure out the
only way to get to go, is not to pull. This is about teaching him not to
pull, not getting somewhere. The man that taught it to me said "If in a half
hour you haven't made it out to the front walk, fine, you have taught him a
lesson. Pulling the dog backwards is a good technique too

Still, you may want to switch to a head collar. The leading brands are Promise, Haltie, and Gentle Leader. They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle. They work by pulling the dogs head around. No other way gives you such great control with so little force. The prong collar is now a
dangerous relic of value only for its macho looks. Do not consider using one
without hands on instruction from somebody with plenty of experience with them.


All but the most recalcitrant young puppies can be controlled before they are 4 months old with the flat collar and patience. If you must have something more with a younger puppy, use a fabric restricted slip collar. These are sort of a cross between the conventional flat collar and the slip collar. Some of them are adjustable, Good for a growing puppy. They have a fabric loop at one end with a metal ring holding the other end in the loop, allowing it to slid back a forth. Find one, or adjust one to where it will go on over the puppies head, but will not tighten up past a snug fit around the neck. Put it on the same way as the metal slip collar. The service dog school my Pepper belongs to uses them on all their dogs, puppies and working dogs, except where they must use a head collar.

[Poly]

... you may want to switch to a head collar. The leading brands are Promise, Haltie, and Gentle Leader. They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle. They work by pulling the dogs head around. No other way gives you such great control with so little force.

Labman: I've been told that these collars are to be used more as training aids with older dogs and not as permanent collars - once the dog isn't pulling any more, switch back to a regular collar. Is that right?

I was also told - as you confirm - that they shouldn't be used on young dogs at all.

[labman]

I was told to put one on my Holly at 11 weeks by a field trainer working for a large assistance dog school. They have tons of experience compared to most other people giving dog advice. Some dogs can be quickly trained out of pulling with a heat collar. Others need it for a long time.

[RubyPitbull]

Staffies can be the hardest dogs to train because they have such a high tolerance for discomfort and pain. jaynav please follow labman's advice. The stopping in your tracks works wonders. I actually prefer the Martingale type collar to the slip chain ones but this is just personal preference. They both are effective. Another trick when training is to take a few steps and then turn in the opposite direction. Then do it again. Your dog will have no choice but to follow you and she won't have time to be distracted to the point of pulling you around. You will find the Gentle Leader & Halti collars to be very helpful when you are out in a public area with a lot of people or other dogs around. Another good tool is the Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness. Shorten up your leash and it forces her to stay at your side and makes it all but impossible for her to pull you. I am glad that you are trying to get this under control now. You need to be consistent and break her of this habit of pulling as early as possible. As she grows, so will her strength. If you continue to have problems, post back with as much detail as possible and we will do our best to help you.