Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject: Trainer has now suggested SLIP LEAD ?
I have told the trainer who came twice to help with Dexter that he's still jumping up at every person who passes. The trainer has now suggested that I get a leather Slip Lead, as he says this will help both with the jumping and the pulling.
Just wondering what people make of this? The trainer told me to get a Slip Lead with a 'toggle' so that it can be tightened....?
I have never used this type of lead and would appreciate opinions! Right now we're using a Canny Collar: it really helps but of course I know Dexter doesn't like it which makes me feel bad.
TARIMOOR ART has very kindly emailed me with a good way of trying to help Dex get out of the jumping habit so we'll also be trying this!
Do any of you think that in addition to this a Slip Lead might help?
Our trainer told us all to get slip leads at the first class and to throw away our flat collars and leads. I've never had any problems since using a sliplead. Lottie is now so good she is on a normal loose lead.
I walk a very pully,jumpy chocolate lab. I've tried a halti,which was awful (she just tries to rub it off every few minutes) and now we are using Lottie's old slip lead. Much much better. Mine is a short,thick rope lead (I find the shorter ones give you more control)
One important thing is to ask your trainer to show you exactly how to use them. There is a right and a very wrong way and it need to be used properly.
DAISY - point taken, only trouble is Dexter hates wearing a harness and also, having tried three different ones, while they do help a lot with the pulling, they don't seem to prevent him jumping.
Harnesses in my opinion just allow the dog to pull you without any consequences! Fair enough if the dog walks nicely at heel not pulling use a harness if it pleases you, but if your dog is pulling like a freight train then theres no feedback to him to stop it! Just easier for you to hold him!
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I use a rope type slip lead cost about £3 from Wilkinsons stores!
When I first got Milo (at 19mths) He had no lead etiquette and pulled like a train! I used a Rogz harness which seemed to help and I used it for about 18months until recently when I had to use his slip lead because his harness was in the wash! He walked like a dream!!He hardly pulled and when he tried to quicken the pace a sharp tug brought him back to heel!! Needless to say I've been using it ever since! The best 3 quid I've ever spent!
Yeah same here, slip leads everytime. Like Fee said, a harness just gives more leverage for a dog to pull. It's not enough though just to use a slip lead, you have to use it correctly. Skye is a natural born steam train and wants to get there before we've even set off, so I've had to put a lot of hours in getting her to heel - and she'd still pull if I let her get away with it. I kept making her sit, change direction, figures of 8, fast, slow etc etc lots of encouragement and leg tapping, saying "heel" when she was in the correct position. It is hard work (and boring ) but with persistance and consistancy you will get there eventually
DAISY - point taken, only trouble is Dexter hates wearing a harness and also, having tried three different ones, while they do help a lot with the pulling, they don't seem to prevent him jumping.
I would never put a body harness on a puppy - it could damage their joints and teaches them nothing.
Even on an adult dog, there is no substitute for good training a harness really should be a last resort as it achieves nothing.
I use slip leads / check chains with all mine - although I have to say not before about 5/6 months.
Hopefully your trainer is also going to teach you how to use it correctly - as with any other leads/collars there is of course a technique that you need to 'master' before the dog will stop pulling.
You can get both leather or rope slip leads but many trainers prefer the leather ones to the rope ones simply because they 'slip' easier. I disagree with the recommended use of the 'stop/toggle' - I never, ever use one and if the lead comes with one then it is removed immediately. The reason for it to be there is purely if you leave your dog outside a shop or something so you can make sure that the dog can't get out of the lead by accident (i.e when the lead is loose). It should NOT be used to apply a constant pressure on the neck of the dog when walking it normally as the whole idea with a slip lead is to teach the dog that when it's not pulling then there is NO pressure on the lead/neck and the lead needs to be loose!
Lead training is probably the biggest problem for most people maybe because there are no shot cuts, quick fix solutions and it's something that you need to teach the dog. From what you write, you need to do a lot of steadiness with your dog when he's around other dogs and people because he obviously thinks he needs to say hello to every single dog/person. You need to praise him when he's showing calm behaviour and you need to remain calm yourself regardless of the situation. Very simple you can start by teaching him to sit and stay regardless of the situation: on the lead, off the lead at home and/or in the garden, waiting for his food, sit and let other dogs/people pass without saying hello, make him sit and wait as often as you can and in all sorts of situations - start at home by making him sit and wait in your kitchen while you're making a cup of tea
Natasha
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WLF All the Way!!!!
"Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can´t eat it or hump it. **** on it and walk away..."
NATASHA - yes, we do for treats, meals and other things and he's fine with that
SUE - had to use a harness because he's 15 months and so big that three times he's actually injured people he's jumped at!
We're doing our very best to calm him and keep calm ourselves; it's proving an ongoing battle because clearly whoever had Dexter for his first year of life let him jump non stop!
Thanks for the advice re the toggle NATASHA - very helpful indeed and I will take it on board totally!
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) but with persistance and consistancy you will get there eventually 
