Choosing A Collar
Trainers use all kinds of different tools. Today’s post is about collars.
There are a wide variety of collars available. Flat [or buckle], pinch [a.k.a. prong], choke [a.k.a. training], and so on. With such a variety to choose from, which is the best, safest, and most effective collar to use?
Every trainer and owner has their preference. Mine is the Martingale collar, also called a limited cinch collar. The small cinch responds very similarly to a training collar, in that it “cinches” when pulled on. However, unlike a standard training collar, the pressure is evenly distributed around the dog’s entire neck, thereby preventing damage to the dog’s throat. With other collars, there is a risk of causing injury to the trachea.
Another reason I prefer the Martingale over all other collars is the absence of discomfort for the dog. I have used all types of collars, and what I’ve found with almost all of them – except the Martingale – is that even mild corrections placed an uncomfortable amount of pressure on the dog’s throat, which in turn created a negative impact on the dog’s desire to learn.
When training your dog, you want them to be happy and excited about learning how to be with you. You want them to have a positive experience each and every time, as that helps build and strengthen the bond of mutual trust and respect. So, you want to use tools that facilitate, encourage, and reinforce that. A Martingale collar is a great start.
Have a great day, everyone, and remember: Stay calm and lead on.
Exercise: Getting Physical Is Not Enough
Does this sound familiar to you? No matter how often or for how long you get Fido out for a good run-around and play time, a good hour or so of napping, and he’s ready and rarin’ to go again. And just to make sure you get his message, he misbehaves, vocalizes, or practices any number of other unwanted behaviors. If this does sound familiar to you, it may be that although his body is being exercised, Fido’s brain is not. Let me explain.
Just as we humans need it, dogs also need mental stimulation. Physical exercise is just not enough to keep your dog happy, healthy, and balanced. And for dogs who can’t abide the colder temperatures and snowy conditions of winter, mental stimulation is even more important to their health and well-being.
Brain Games
Scent detection – a great exercise that teaches your dog to use their nose to identify different scents. This is an excellent form of mental stimulation, because the dog must concentrate on using only one of their senses to correctly identify individual scents.
“Find it” – a fun game that engages your dog’s brain as well as his/her body. Hide bite-sized food treats or a favorite toy in different places and help your dog “find it”. This is also a great way to reinforce the bond between you and your dog.
Pick the Color – an exercise in which you teach your dog to select specific colors. Contrary to popular belief, though they don’t see them the same way we humans do, dogs can and do see colors. This exercise is both challenging and fun, and in my experience, it drains out excess mental energy very quickly.
Agility – a fantastic exercise that works your dog’s body and mind, builds trust, and reinforces the bond between you and him/her.
Tricks – teaching a dog a new trick engages their brain in the most wonderful ways. And the more complex the trick, the more mental energy they release. Of course, you want to start with easy tricks first [roll over, spin, etc.] before you get into more complicated things.
Treadmill – one of the most challenging, energy-draining exercises I’ve found to date. Having your dog deal with a moving platform forces them to focus on balancing their body while they’re “walking”. Not only is a treadmill an awesome way to help your dog release built-up mental energy, it’s an excellent way to keep your dog in optimum physical health.
Taking Fido out to let him run and play is a wonderful way to show him you love him and you want him to be happy. Add some great brain games to his activities, and those unwanted behaviors you’ve been dealing with just might go away. A truly happy dog is a tired dog.
Have a fantastic day, and remember: Stay calm and lead on.
Happy 2018!
Happy New Year! A brand new year has begun, and to start it off, I’ve given the website a fresh, new look I hope you’ll find to be more appealing and easier to navigate.
In other news, a recent review Read More