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gentle leader and dog aggression?
if my dog is off leash she is fine with other dogs, but if the dog gets too close to me, my wife, or my neighbor then she gets aggressive and tries to attack the dog. I've been trying her on the gentle leader in hopes she will become more subservient.
basically how can I use the gentle leader to break her of her aggression. to the point that I can pet other dogs.
she's a female red Australian shepherd a year and a half old
(I know that I should seek some professional help, but I can't afford it yet so please only helpful tips.)
i've known many australian shepherds and I don't believe that aggression is a genetic disposition for aussies
15 Answers
- BonBonMomLv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
Be careful on prong collar when you are working on aggression problem. Different people have different point of views, but I have worked with dog trainers that need to "rehab" dogs from prong collars. Prong collars may not give sharp pain but it's still discomfort to a dog. Let's imagine you are a dog, "you don't like other dogs approaching to your family because you feel the need to protect....but then everytime a dog starts coming to you, there is discomfort happening....so you become even more aggressive to the other dogs because now not only for the need to protect, other dogs cause me pain!"
I don't believe love and treats all the times method but I believe in positive reinforcement training. I have a great trainer...more like a canine behaviourist. This is what she shares with me. Start with learning how to use a clicker, I like it better than the verbal cue. Train the dog to associate high reward treats with the clicker noise, treats such as liver, hot dogs, meatballs work great. Then start slow, set up with a friend with dogs. Have your friend walks his/her dog on the street. Everytime your dog starts focusing on the other dog, click and treat. Gradually (not in one day) decreasing the distance. Or reverse the scenario....have your friend inviting your dog to come to him/her for treats with his/her dog in presence. Then you use treats to invite both dogs back to you, then play games with both dogs.
The difference of positive reinforcment training method is you won't run the risk of intensifying the problem, there is actual story that aggressive dog gets more aggressive with the use of prong collar. Positive reinforcement is also fun. And don't rush the result, do a bit at a time. And don't over do it, it's still a stressful exercise. Do two to three times max in a week. And if there is set back (most likely because you rush it too fast), just walk away with the dog and tomorrow is another brand new day. Therapy takes repetition and time.
This is my own personal experience. My dog is very afraid of children. I did not use any negative training tools. I work with this trainer and shows me lots of tips on positive reinforcement training. Two to three times a week, my dog and I will go to a school yard (of course with a fence in between). Everytime my dog starts looking at the kids, I click and treat. After doing this for few days, I let the children to feed him cookie thru the fence, but I will quickly turn him around to break the contact. I have been doing this exercise for around two months. Today, he actually wants to walk into the school to play with the kids.
- RemdogLv 51 decade ago
I couldn't agree more with Bells. I used to try and train with gentle leaders, back when I thought corrections and prong collars were cruel (hey, we all learn at some point!) and the best way to train a dog was with treats and hugs. My dog HATED it- constantly pulling against it and trying to paw it off. .
However, he loves his prong collar, after I learned how to use it with the help of a professional. He visibly relaxed, now that the rules are clear. He hears that jingle when I get the leash and he comes running before sitting nicely while i put it on. Does that sound like a tortured abused dog? No.
Prong collars and other training collars, with proper understanding of how to use them, are extremely effective with leash aggression. They help redirect the dogs focus, and you can enforce a sit or down when meeting new dogs. It's pretty much impossible for a dog to be aggressive in the down position. Dollar for dollar, you wasted more money on the gentle leader than a good group obedience class that teaches reward and correction. I also feel confident that I'm training him correctly, since I've been shown how. It's the best money I've ever spent on my dog- he's happy, I'm happy, and the neighborhood is happy that I have a well mannered dog on walks.
- ?Lv 45 years ago
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YES! I love it. I work at an animal shelter, and I use it every chance I get to help train some of the crazy dogs. The ones really bad on the lead. I like it because it does all the work for you. You don't have to tug or jerk. And larger breeds, like pit bulls, with so much muscle and high pain tolerance respond to it, unlike chokers that they just keep pulling through the pain. Did you know that they make gentle leader harnesses that also work very well. EDIT I see several people mentioned others thought it looks like a muzzle. This is actually a good thing. Would be a great lead to use at large public events, or when introducing two dogs. I use a gentle leader on each dog at the shelter when we introduce dogs to see if they would work in that family. It cuts down on the amount of aggression, and lessen the risks of injury to each dog if they do attack.
- 1 decade ago
The gentle leader is a tool to help reduce pulling on a leash. Nothing more. It takes a lot of time and training with treats to help reduce that type of behavior. My dog is exactly the same way and I've been working several months with him and he is just now getting to the point where he will have minimal reaction towards his triggers when I tell him to 'leave it.'
I'll try to remember my process:
-Use a super special high value treat that they will ONLY get during walks. Hot dogs work well
-Teach 'leave it'
-Figure out your dogs threshold. How close can you get without a reaction? Once you figure out do NOT move closer.
-As soon as your dog notices its trigger do 'leave it' command and treat for no reaction. If there is any type of reaction they get a leash pop and a sit command. Leash pops are most effective when the collar is tight enough to fit right under the chin and right behind the ears. This is also the proper fitting for choke chains and prong collars. A collar was effective enough for my dog, so I suggest trying that first. I got a second one that fit properly to use just on walks. After a while, you should be able to notice subtle signs your dog exhibits before a reaction occurs. You can use that to your advantage and correct before a full blown one actually occurs. For example, my dog would stop and stare then give a very low and quiet growl at which point I would correct him.
-Once you get a reliable non-reaction to 'leave it' at her threshold point, then very very gradually move closer. And by gradually I mean a few feet, and repeat the process.
As I've said I've been working several months now with my dog on this. It's a lot of hard work. It will be frustrating, but it's very important that you remain calm, provide consistent training, and not rush things. And one of the best pieces of advice I've read was to never hesitate to praise your dog for doing something good.
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- Anonymous7 years ago
Go here for the best dog training couse http://dog-training.gelaf.info/
Since it is obvious that you do not have a clue about obedience training, your services should be for free. You cannot train even an adult dog for 8 hours a day. About the most that can be done at any one time is 10 - 20 minutes and that is with an adult dog and not a puppy. The attention span on this baby is extremely short and training session should be no more than 10 minutes and twice a day. Additionally, there isn't going to be much learned if you will only be training for 5 days. Obedience training is cumulative and is done over a much longer period of at least several weeks to several months.
What you can charge is determined by your experience, reputation, and accomplishments and in a case like this, should also include guaranteed expectations. Just working with dogs over several years, is not the experience that is necessary to be a dog trainer. There are too many people who are putting that title to their name and fleecing the public. Don't be one of them.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
A gentle leader is a walking aid. Its purpose is to teach a dog how to walk correctly on a leash.
Aggression isn't something you can address with a gentle leader. You will need to use a negative-consequence training aid, but you really should have a professional guidance in both how to use the training aid and in other methods of dealing with and eliminating your dog's aggression.
In the meantime, I'd muzzle the dog in public if this were my dog.
- 1 decade ago
A head collar is typically used as a substitute for obedience training & works by preventing the dog from using is weight against its owner, because the the dog is controlled by its head. However the disadvantage is that when you take the head collar off, you still have an untrained dog that has not been taught what behaivor is expected or it & corrected for ignoring a command.
You need to take control back & ensure that yout dog is VERY clear in her head that you will not tolerate bad behavior & EVERY time she so much as curls a lip in aggression at another dog, immediately correct bad behavior, so she learns that ignoring you will cause a negative consequence she would rather avoid.
My advice would be to consider purchasing a prong collar & sturdy medium length leader lead.
Despite its bad press, a prong collar is simply one of many training tools that a capable handler, who knows how to fit & use it correctly, can make use of when training their dog. I use a prong for general obedience training & simply as a collar to control my dog, when I take him out on walks.
I like the mechanics of the prong collar because of the even way it distributes the pressure around the dog's neck & only bites {pressure, then immediate release} when you check the collar to correct the dog. It's a great piece of training equipment & I was pleased how effective it was on my Dobermann.
Consistent obedience training with a prong will teach the dog that YOU are in control, DEMAND compliance & that bad behaivor will immediatley cause a negative effect that the dog should want to avoid {nagging corrections are not effective} & good behavior avoids a correction & the dog is praised.
If you dog has a genetically weak temperament & her behavior is fear based, then that is something you cannot fix with training, but may be able to control with obediece training. If that is the case, your dog would not be growling/lunging at other dogs because it came close to you, your wife of neighbor, it would be because it came to close your DOG & flight was not an option because she was on a lead.
- 5 years ago
Every dog needs some type of training. The first class I ever took a dog to was https://tr.im/Dfcir
It's a very basic kind of class. They will help you with your dog, and show you how to work with your dog at home.
They'll also answer any questions you have about your dog's particular problems and how to handle them. The most important thing in dog training is to be consistent and work with your dog at home on the lessons. The PetSmart class teaches sit, down, come, and the very basics every dog needs to know. They will also help socialize your dog. You are unhappy with an untrained dog, and believe it or not, the dog is actually unhappy to. You need to take your dog now, as the older he gets, the harder it will be to correct your dog's bad habits. Plus the classes are fun for you and your dog. My dog went from that first PetSmart class on to advanced obedience classes. You might also contact your local humane society. The one in my area offers obedience classes with a very good trainer at a reduced price.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Part of being a responsible dog owner, and in loving your pet, is training your dog. Behavior problems can be reduced or eliminated entirely when a pet owner takes the time to learn proper dog training techniques.
1. Get Advice From Professional Training Sites
Before you begin training your pet, do some research. One excellent way to gain the information you need is to review dog training sites online. There are a multitude of quality dog training sites that offer all the information you need to begin training your dog.
2. Set Realistic Goals
If you bought and brought your dog home two weeks ago, don't expect it to be trained within the month. Proper training means you're giving your pet enough time to adjust to his surroundings and to adjust to you. Once he or she feels comfortable, he or she is more open to dog training.
3. Be Patient
Once you begin training your pet, it's important to be patient. This ties into setting realistic goals. Your dog can be trained, but not all dogs are the same. Some pets learn faster than other pets. Be patient and realize that with persistence, the training will come.
4. Don't Forget About The Rewards
Whenever your dog makes progress, be sure to give a reward. One typical reward is a healthy treat that your dog loves, however an abundance of praise can accomplish the same effect for your dog.
5. Keep Track Of Your Pet's Progress
It's fun to see how far you've come with dog training. The easiest way to do that is to keep track of your pet's progress. Purchase a notebook and maintain a log of what you are training your dog to do. Record the dogs progress as well as whatever he or she has mastered.
6. Don't Forget A Proper Diet And Exercise
A dog is more amenable to training when he or she has been nourished. Don't forget to feed your dog a good diet to keep him or her sharp and alert. In addition, make sure your dog is getting the proper amount of exercise. Just like with humans, a healthy diet and exercise make for a healthy dog who is ready to be trained.
Don't forget to have fun. Dog training is serious, but don't overdo it. Reserve time to get down to business, but be sure there's plenty of time for love and playtime, as well.
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