"PS I have heard negative things about Training by Julie also :shrug: (not all things they have done have been SO positive) And just to let you know - to show you what your trainer does not know - the prongs DO NOT GO INTO THE DOGS NECK and those plastic nubs really do not do a dang thing but fall off and get sucked up into your vacuum. That collar is designed to pinch the dog, not to choke the dog, not for the prongs to penetrate the skin on the neck hence why they are blunt. These collars also give the dog a chance to self correct if they start pulling on their own unlike a choke collar where they will choke the dog out and you have a potential risk to damage the dogs trachea."
Do not speak of what I know or don't... I do not use prong collars (as I have never needed to,) but I do know the proper usage... As Turbo K-9 said, these are training collars, not regular collars or anti-pull devices. The dog in question has one sized too small, with *remarkably* sharp little points. Perhaps another trainer would have noticed this, especially if they were proficient in its usage?
I am terribly curious on how I'm not positive; there is no such thing as 100% positive training, but negative consequences to a dog's actions should not be based on fear and intimidation. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or comments you would like to discuss.
People too often listen to exaggerated hype tossed out there by those who use 'positive methods only' as a marketing tool. Instead of being honest with their clients they tell half truths and get people believing that a proper prong collar correction on a stubborn, fearless, dominant dog is the same as whipping it with a belt
. Don't take it personally, it's not the client who is perpetrating a fraud against you, it's 'dog trainers' who appeal to the public's need to feel they are being fair and kind, by misinforming the public. Every time I see 'positive methods only! no abusive methods like pinch collars!' I want to puke. And jerking a dogs head to the side with a "Halti" is more humane, how? Really? Ask a vertebrea how it feels about that. It's a marketing ploy, and for those that actually try to practice positive only with NO negative, who aren't thoroughly accomplished... an excuse for what they cannot achieve when they come across 'tough' to train dogs. "Oh, he's not comfortable laying down, he probably feels vulnerable. We'll just teach him 'sit'." - yes, heard that one. Florida K9 Services, Sanford, FL, at your service. They villianize legitimate tools as if they are a 'crutch' to 'incompetent' trainers... - like a wrench is a crutch to a mechanic or a scalpel to a surgeon, I suppose - and then go on to make lame - o excuses when they come across dogs who won't respond to them.
This is actually a very sore subject with me, one I am very passionate about... I believe in moderation of positive and negative... because I know it works, is effective... I have never used fear, pain... as a training tool. I do use prong collars, slip collars, ecollars (distance work - past long line ranges and off lead proofing), treats, tennis balls, heck even bite sleeves as tools and rewards... I treat each dog as an individual. No cookie cutter methods. And, as any trainer worth his/her salt knows, some dogs just don't give a poo at treats, praise, balls... but respond exceedingly well to dominance on the handler's part. Small pop on the collar, a firm voice, and whammo, some yutz is calling you the Jeffrey Dalmer of doggiedom, ROFL. Forget about turning a 100 pound torrent of fur and paws from a destructive undisciplined whirlwind of fluff and teeth into a steady, obedient, SAFE companion.... It's all about treating the dog like "he's my baby!" these days.
I got out of training professionaly a few years back... working with Ms. Farkle and her Afghan Hound pookie... "Ma'am, you need to at the very least speak to the dog as if you mean it, don't say the commands as if you are asking him" "Oh I can't do that, I can't be rude to my baby" - seriously folks.... It was just too much. I stick to working with friends and those with very focused goals... typically pro bono, as I extremely enjoy doing so.
Oh, and so as not to be a hijacker...
Yeah, GR's are nice dogs... pretty, and mostly smart. Many have great prey (ball) drive, but they tend to be a wee nervy and too handler soft for my taste. They make good family dogs, and some, awesome detection and search dogs.
