[NAGDU] tips please

Mardi Hadfield wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com
Fri Jan 1 10:17:43 UTC 2016


Hi Dar, Mardi here. I have had a heart attack, but don't have too much
damage to my heart yet. I do understand about getting tired after
struggling with an energetic dog. The only dog I've had that did not need a
gentle leader or a halti is my current dog Neechee.I use my dogs from a
wheel chair so that makes things easier for me.I prefer to use the halti as
there is less pressure on the nose when not pulling on it. You pull when
you need to slow the dog down and then the pressure on the nose releases
when you are no longer pulling on the leash. What Julie said about playing
catch or teaching tricks is good.You and your dog can enjoy this.Others
have also given some good advice.I know it is hard to get out when it is
snowy and icy,especially in Montana. Your dog is young and may be testing
you.This can be very frustrating. Some times it is will against will. When
Shaman was young, he tested me a lot.He also did not like the halti. I had
to put it on him and keep the leash on him with it. I would click and treat
when he would stop fighting it. I could not just leave it on him with out
the leash,because he just chewed it off.Talk about frustrating! The pinch
collar is also a good tool to use.Don't be put off if people think you are
cruel for using this type of collar. It is not cruel and most people who
know nothing about dog training are the ones who will criticize the use of
a very good tool.They also don't understand that people with other
disabilities besides blindness, some times have strength issues. When I was
working Shaman,I needed to use the halti all the time. He had a real hard
pull.What I did was put one part of the leash on the halti and the other
snap on the collar. If I needed to give a leash correction, I would drop
the harness handle and tug on the part of the leash that was attached to
the collar. In those days I needed to do a leash correction just about
every time I was working him. After a while I needed to do less and less
corrections as he matured.I still had to use the halti to keep him from
pulling my arm off,but even that was less after he matured and realized
what I wanted him to do. Hang in there, there is hope. You can always ask
questions and the others on this list ,I am sure can give you some good
tips and support. You can always e mail me off list if you want. Mardi and
Shaman,retired and Neechee and Sedona, future guide dog.

-- 
http://wolfsinger-lakota.blogspot.com/
http://wolfsinger2-thegoldendragon.blogspot.com



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