[NAGDU] collars and getting a dog's attention

[Julie Johnson]

If the collar is working to manage behavior and the issue is the skin/fur, I 
would first try the same style of collar in a different material.  So if 
she's using a nylon collar, try leather.  It could be something in the dye 
or the material itself that the dog is sensitive to.

To manage distractions, I use a wide variety of techniques and tools 
depending on the particular dog and the situation.  Here's a list in no 
particular order.
*a verbal correction, sometimes this is no, leave it or even just a sound 
that the dog knows means he has goofed
*a leash/collar correction.  I have used just about every collar available 
over the years.  Currently Monty works in just a plain buckle collar.  Jetta 
is in a nylon martingale.
*stopping and having the dog sit in a sort of time out.  this is beneficial 
for me too.
*stopping to do a bit of obedience or targeting or something similar
*my new and most favorite is to step and call the dog to me.  This is a bit 
more complicated because you are doing several things simultaneously, 
stepping back, dropping the harness handle. giving small tugs on the leash, 
calling the dog and paying attention to your surroundings so you don't back 
into a bush or something
*heeling the dog and using a sighted guide or getting out the cane.  I've 
only done this a handful of times over the past 15 years or however long 
it's been, but sometimes I've just had enough and need to get on with 
getting on
*altering the route.  if I know a particular house has a dog that is going 
to lunge at the fence and create a ruckus for me and my dog and I have the 
option of walking some other way to get where I am going, I will
*talking the dog through the situation.  sometimes the dog just needs a bit 
of extra coaching to keep focused and on task
*a gentle pat.  I have only ever used this with Monty.  sometimes he gets to 
looking at something new or novel and doesn't seem to hear me.  if I bend 
down and give his shoulder a pat he's back with me and happy to do what I'm 
asking.  He's older though, so maybe this is an aging thing?  Sometimes I 
get lost in my own thoughts and have to have people repeat things.  I'm not 
trying to ignore them, honest

There are likely others, but that is what immediately comes to mind. I hope 
it will help your friend.
Julie
On The Go with Guide-and-Service-Dogs.com
http://www.guide-and-service-dogs.com
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-----Original Message----- 
From: Dan Weiner via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2019 11:48 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Dan Weiner
Subject: [NAGDU] collars and getting a dog's attention

Hello and happy new year to all.

Dan here with the Parker nut, I mean dog--smile.

Well I'm asking for a friend who lives in Europe, she has a guide dog
and uses a martingale collar.  Her dog's fur seems to be thinning under
the collar or changing color, so she's wondering if there are any other
collars  that might be recommendable and what people use here.

Also she's curious, what command  word, or method  we use to get our
dog's attention back on the handler,  when   there is a distraction.  .
I know what I answered her on both accounts but I'll not influence
anyone with my answers--smile I'll just collect the data and tell her
and hopefully I can get her to write herself at some point...

  I'm just the messenger--smile


Cordially,

Dan from Florida



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