[NAGDU] collars and getting a dog's attention

Fri Jan 11 05:21:15 UTC 2019

Your right about golden's their isn't a breed like them and I think they are
absolutely wonderful. Mine always made me smile and I miss him every day.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sandra Johnson via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2019 1:02 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sandra Johnson <SLJohnson25 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] collars and getting a dog's attention

Lisa:

You are right.  The collar with the big long links is called a fur-saver.  I
always switch my dogs from the tight chain collars to the fur-saver collars.

This is especially better for my golden retrievers.  I have heard from
trainers and groomers that some light blond dogs necks will get discolored
from the chrome chain collars.  I always use the Herm Sprenger stainless
steel fur saver collars.  The store I got mine from does not have them
anymore but a google search will find them.  Also, they last forever.  I
have had three sizes for many years as my dogs were smaller or larger and
they are just like new after many years of use.  Some people don't like the
fur-saver because they say it does not give good corrections.  I had some
very tough dogs in the last 44 years and I can say if you use good technique
your corrections can be just as good with a fur-saver as they are with a
tightly linked chain collar.

If Dan's friend is using one of the nylon,  canvas or some other material
collar it could be the type of material or the dye used to color the collar.

She might want to try a leather collar, not one that has been dyed but a
natural leather.  since the dog seems not to have problems with the harness
it may be able to wear a leather collar.  There are lots of different kinds
of training collars and other working dog equipment out there so a person
just has to keep on searching until they find what works best for them.

You think half a golden is bad, think of a full golden.  I know all about
the golden awesomeness.  At least from Eva's point of view, all people were
put on this earth just to admire and pet her.  She will soon be six years
old and at times still hops and jumps around like a puppy.  Even in harness
those cute little fuzzy golden paws dance up a storm when she thinks people
will pay attention to her.  In her adorable golden head, she is amazing and
deserves all the admiration.  Okay, she is an amazing guide but she is
working and should not be playing with people.  Oh and yes, the public just
cannot resist rubbing their hands through her long silky fur even when I
tell them to stop.

Sandra and Eva, the Goofy golden

-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa Belville via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2019 1:53 PM
To: Dan Weiner via NAGDU
Cc: Lisa Belville
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] collars and getting a dog's attention

Hi, Dan.

There is a kind of collar with stainless steel links that are large and
loosely woven together.  I want to say this is called a fur saver collar,
but I could be wrong.  I know you and I got our dogs at GDA a few years
apart, but we may have the same type of collar.  the collar Paige has is one
of the stainless steel ones with small, tightly woven links.  Paige's neck
fur isn't thinning, but it does get mashed down and even after a good zoom
groom and Furminator session her fur is still not as smooth or fluffy as the
rest of her body.  I'm not sure if these collars can be used with or adapted
to be martingale collars, but I am just throwing the idea out there.  She
could try a search for Fur Saver Collar on Amazon. . . They have numerous
sites for just about every country out there.

As far as dealing with distractions, I think knowing when your dog is
getting distracted as early as possible helps keep things from escalating.
I rarely need to use a leash correction with Paige except when she decides
to vaperlock her nose to a particularly interesting phone poll or that
particularly fascinating spot of grass in front of her groomer.

Being proactive also helps, assuming your friend knows her dog and what
really distracts it.  I know Paige gets sidetracked by people at her level.
She's a tall dog with that long Golden neck, so navigating tight crowded
places like busy restaurants is a sure distraction for her.  I try to hold
her collar as close to her neck as possible while using the harness as
normal in my left hand.  Paige is very person-motivated and can't seem to
understand that not everyone is in love with her Golden Lab cross
awesomeness.  Oh, who am I kidding. . . They are, and that's the problem.
<sigh>  Working a dog with two hands isn't always my first choice, but I
figure that keeping her on task is worth the inconvenience.

I also use the phrases Leave it or Hop up if I can sense she's not focused
or seems to veer off of the straight line.  This is usually a subtle
movement, so even if I'm not positive she's zoning out, I'll use those
phrases to keep her from completely losing touch with reality.

Lisa Belville

missktlab1217 at frontier.com

On 1/9/2019 11:48 AM, Dan Weiner via NAGDU wrote:
> 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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