| Re: Mac'n'Roe's loose leash walk training progress
Well, please enlighten me to the many other problems that you feel are from all this. I really don't see a problem...I have two well behaved dogs. I'm just trying to get some guidance as how to move forward in their training. Here's how it breaks down.
I have two dogs that are VERY different. I also was completely new to dogs when I found this litter (when they were 6 weeks old). I successfully potty trained them, with only one accident thus far. When I went to my first training class (at 4 months old), the trainer suggested a prong to help control the pulling. I have used the prong for walks, nothing else. I wasn't taught how to use the tool for any other training methods and never have.
I took Roe to Stage I first because I felt she needed it more (she was harder to handle at 4 months). She graduated and was GREAT in class. She has basic commands sit, sit/stay, wait, WATCH ME, leave it, heel, automatic sit, come (which is a struggle) touch, bow, down, down/stay. I worked these mostly in class and the backyard. I have not taken them individually out to other areas to practice.
I trained Mac's Stage I skills at home. He was a lot easier to train. I took Mac Mac to Stage II where we learned more advanced heeling techniques, automatic sit, down at a distance, sit while walking, front, finish, figure 8's stuff like that. We could ALMOST compete in a Rally Obedience trial with some preparation.
I also taught "sit/wait at the door/fence until my cue to walk through", sit/wait to eat until I cue, sit and wait until I open the car door and grab leashes and cue to exit the car. I did these all on my own with no food reward...just using a negative marker and the exit/food/exit, respectively, as the reward.
So, here's where I'm at. Well behaved in the house, we have good behavior in the backyard and NOW, I've made improvements on walking with a loose leash with the prong collar.
I don't have problem dogs. We have some territorial aggressive behavior to strangers coming on the property (but that's another story). I can get handle on that by having people come over and help desensitize them to visitors.
All of this training has been with positive reinforcement, and walks have been on a prong collar with NO corrections. Just using the prong to better control them, as they don't PULL on the leash with the prong collar on. I'm just trying to get a handle on how to move to the next step. I know I have a lot of work to do and its all a little overwhelming I guess. And with two, it's just that much harder. Either I need a trainer to help guide me...or I'm making too big a deal out of it.
I'm a smart girl, and a natural with the dogs. I just don't have the experience to take them to the next step, and it's my natural instinct to always want to improve. the normal dog owner would probably just say..okay, they are trained and well behaved. We are good to go. I'm not like that..I want to have something to continue to work towards. I spend time working with my dogs daily..and we are a litte bored with our routine. I need to continue to move forward.
I think my next step is to take them individually to parks/petsmart/OUTSIDE THE DOG PARK etc...and practice their skills with distractions and work on phasing out the prong collar on walks. There, I answered my own question.
Last edited by Mac'N'Roe; 02-27-2009 at 09:41 AM..
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Not sure how this thread got into prong training. I was actually just trying to document my progress with mac'n'roe...not really ask for help with their training. Huh, guess it got a little off subject with all the long winded stuff. 
