Archive for February, 2010
Gentle Leader Headcollar-Which Collar Is Best For Your Dog
This is the sixth in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.
Today we are going to focus on the Gentle Leader Headcollar. When fitted and used properly, the Gentle Leader can have a very positive effect on behavior modification. When walking on a leash, it provides immediate control by eliminating pulling and lunging without choking. This means that even the elderly and children can easily walk large dogs on a leash without fear of being pulled down or dragged. It also controls problem barking with a gentle pull on the lead, prevents jumping and manages other behavior problems, such as anxiety, fear and aggression. It can be used with a traditional collar, a breakaway collar, or a martingale collar and there has never been a reported strangulation accident with the Gentle Leader.
On the down side, it is not necessarily the most comfortable choice for continual indoor use. It does take some time to introduce the Gentle Leader to the dog and learn how to use this training tool appropriately. However, it does come with an instructional guide booklet and DVD.
It must be carefully fitted when used on bull dogs and other breeds with genetically limited airways or flat noses. If usual breathing difficulties increase when wearing the Headcollar, you should discontinue use. In cases like this we would recommend the Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness.
Martingale Collar-Which Collar Is Best For Your Dog
This is the fifth in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.
Originally designed for Greyhounds, the martingale collar has gained popularity for all breeds. Unlike a traditional collar, the martingale collar is composed of two loops to allow the collar to tighten. It offers greater control and it reduces the risk of your dog backing-out of his collar. If properly fitted, it is much safer than a choke collar because it has limited closure. It can be used with a leash or with your hand.
On the down side of this collar, it will not release if entangled. It will not significantly prevent leash pulling, so if your dog is a puller, it will place pressure on the trachea. When used on puppies, they are likely to try to chew the secondary loop, especially for the first few days of wearing it.
This collar is great for the dog that likes to shoot out the door every time it opens because it is easy to grasp the secondary loop. It is also great for the dog that has figured out how to back out of a traditional collar. Sighthounds are notorious for slipping out of traditional collars. With a neck that is larger than the head, it is easy for them to slip out of a regular collar. The martingale collar was developed with that in mind and significantly reduces that risk.
Breakaway Dog Collar-Which Dog Collar Is Best For Your Dog
This is the fourth in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.
The breakaway dog collar is designed to help prevent strangulation injury or death. It releases if the collar gets snagged or caught on something and pressure is exerted on it. It is reusable and you are able to use it on a leash without fear of it releasing if the dog pulls.
I am sure that just about every dog owner has experience a situation where grabbing the collar of your dog was necessary to restrain your dog. With the breakaway dog collar, you must grasp the collar around the safety buckle or the collar will release and your dog will be gone. As with traditional collars, the breakaway collar does not directly influence behavior modification.
Freak accidents can happen to any dog at any time, whether your dog is a couch potato or an active puppy. For this reason, the breakaway dog collar might be considered a viable option for almost any dog. Here are a couple more strong indications that a breakaway collar might be a wise choice. The breakaway dog collar should be a considered for multiple dog families if the dogs like to wrestle around. If one dog gets his mouth caught on the other dog’s collar, this could prevent injury to both dogs. If your dog runs free in wooded areas or in other areas where he can easily get his collar entangled on something, this collar could prevent any injury he might sustain, struggling to free himself.
Reflective Dog Collars-Which Collar Is Best For Your Dog
This is the third in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.
Reflective dog collars are your basic traditional collar with one or two added features. Depending on the manufacturer, it will either reflect light up to one thousand feet or it will reflect light and glow in the dark after minimal exposure to light.
These features are beneficial to dog owners that walk at night or in the early morning hours. The added visibility that a reflective dog collar offers is especially beneficial in suburban or rural settings where there are no side walks. The glow-in-the-dark feature is an added benefit that you will appreciate if your dog happens to slip out the door at night, allowing you to spot him easily.
If your dog pulls or lunges, it will apply unwanted pressure on the trachea in the same fashion that other traditional collars do. And, as with other traditional collars, it will not prevent the possibility of backing out of the collar.
Rolled Leather Dog Collars-Which Collar Is Best For Your Dog
This is the second in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.
The next collar we will look at is the classic rolled leather dog collar. Because the pros and cons of this collar are so similar to the traditional flat dog collar, this will be brief.
A good quality rolled leather dog collar is made to last. They are durable and strong. Because of the design of the rolled leather dog collar, long haired dogs will experience less matting of the fur in the collar area.
As with a traditional flat collar it can be used with a leash, however it will not prevent lunging and pulling which will put pressure on the trachea. These collars will not prevent a determined dog from backing-out of his collar.
Dog Collars-Which One Is Best For Your Dog
This is the first in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.
Collars are a necessity for all dogs. They carry your dogs ID tags and could be your dog’s ticket home if he ever gets lost. The question is, “Which collar is best for your dog?” Every dog and dog owner is different and for that reason there is no perfect collar for every dog or dog owner. If you have more than one dog, you may find that one collar works best on one dog but not on the other. There are a variety of factors to be considered in order to make a good decision when choosing a collar for your dog. Many owners need more than one style of dog collar . This offers the owner the ability to choose the best collar for the current activity the dog is engaged in.
For the next few days we will be examining the pros and cons of several different styles of dog collars and what situations they might best be used in. We will start with the traditional flat dog collar.
The traditional flat collar can come with a buckle or a quick release. They come in a multitude of colors and designer styles and can also be made of leather. With long haired dogs, matting around the collar area can become an issue . It can be used with a leash but does not prevent pulling and lunging which will put pressure on the trachea. When used with a leash, a determined dog can “back-out” of it. It will not release if entangled, causing possible injury or death.
The Gentle Leader Headcollar-Training Your Dog
Many years ago I acquired a pure bred dog from a friend of a friend. They had decided that they were not committed enough to owning the dog and choose to give her up. She was very sweet but had no training whatsoever. At seven months old, she did not respond to the most basic commands and she wasn’t even house broke. Because she was the only pure bred dog I had ever owned, I had it in my head that I wanted her to be perfect. I invested several hundred dollars in a professional dog trainer and Sophie and I went to weekly training sessions for six weeks. I am not a big fan of any choke collar, especially not the ones with the prongs on them but this is what the trainer required. Although we achieved the results I was hoping for, I was not excited about the methods he used.
I decided I would find a better and more humane method for training any other dogs I had after that. Since that time, so many new and innovative dog training tools have become available to dog owners. The one I am most impressed with is the Gentle Leader Headcollar. This handy little training aid proves that the old adage, “No Pain, No Gain” does not have to apply to dog training. It is humane and very effective in achieving the goal of owning a well behaved dog.
The Gentle Leader is most widely known for teaching a dog to walk on a leash without lunging and pulling, but that is not the whole story. The Gentle Leader comes with a guide booklet and a DVD and I found that I am able to accomplish the same results as the professional trainer did. It can be use to teach a dog all the basic commands (sit, stay, come) and as an added bonus, it can be used to control excessive barking and it helps manage some behavior problems.
For a fraction of the cost of a professional dog trainer, I have found the Gentle Leader to be the solution for my dog training needs. I have found that the feeling of accomplishment and pride is so much more satisfying when you train your dog yourself.
Walk Your Dog To Connect With Him
In the fast paced life that many of us have grown accustomed to, we sometimes seem to run short of time in our day. Realizing we can’t get everything done we had hoped to, we start prioritizing and eliminating things that can be put off until tomorrow. Unfortunately, Fido often seems to fall into that category. Sorry buddy, no walk today. We can go on a walk tomorrow or the day after. Its not that important, or is it?
Did you ever notice how the demeanor of your dog changes when you bring that leash out and clip it to his dog collar? He becomes happy and excited. You will notice that if you skip a day or two of walking your dog, he starts to do annoying things and becomes more difficult to be around.
The time you spend walking your dog or taking him to the neighborhood dog park is one of the biggest events in your dog’s daily life. It is a special time that he not only looks forward to, but needs. From destructive behavior to whining, a bored dog with pent up energy can turn the dog you love into an annoyance you just don’t want to be around.
Walking your dog on a daily basis will help keep your dog on an even keel. It will lessen the likelihood of destructive and obnoxious behavior and make him a more enjoyable dog to be around.
If you think of your dog as another human that doesn’t really need daily walks, you are sadly mistaken. However, if you take the time to walk him every day, you will be amazed at how much happier your dog will be and how much stronger the bond becomes between you and your dog.
Dog Toys-A Stress Release For Your Dog
There aren’t many dogs who don’t enjoy a good rubber dog toy to play with, but rubber dog toys aren’t just a luxury for your dog. They are an important part of a dogs early development and a great stress reliever as they get older. I would like to emphasize “good rubber dog toys”. There are many indestructible rubber dog toys on the market market today and that is what you want. Good rubber dog toys will see your dog from his puppy stage all the way through his adult life.
As a puppy, playing with these toys will help strengthen the jaw, which will aid in the physical development. They are also more appropriate and safer to chew on than your good shoes when the puppy is teething. When your puppy starts chewing on something he shouldn’t, divert his attention to his own rubber dog toys.
Adult dogs chew to relieve anxiety and stress. When they chew on the toy, their body produces chemicals called endorphins. The endorphins actually work much the same in dogs as they do in people, providing a calming effect. Chewing is also a great way for your dog to remove plaque from his gums and teeth, helping to keep them healthy and strong.
Some rubber dog toys can be filled with kibble and dispense treats as the dog chews. Theses toys are great for dogs that suffer from separation anxiety and can keep some dogs busy for hours. They can also be used to amuse your dog when traveling.
Provide an assortment of toys for your dog and get a basket or box to store them in and keep it in an area where you dog frequently spends time, giving him easy access to the dog toy of his choice.
Dog Life Jackets Could Have Prevented a Tragic Accident
The story of the man who died trying to save his two dogs caught my eye yesterday. While out on a walk with his two dogs, the dogs wandered out on the ice and fell through. This tragedy may have been avoided completely if the dogs were on leashes. At the very least, the outcome might have been different if the dogs had been wearing dog life jackets.
No matter how well behaved your unleashed dog is, it only takes an instant for him to spot a rabbit or some other small animal and take off after it. If your dog has access to any large body of water, even if you think it is completely frozen over, your dog should be wearing a dog life jacket. Perhaps if these two dogs were wearing dog life jackets, the man would have realized he had a minute to think about the best way of retrieving his pets without putting himself at risk. Instead, he plunged in after them with very sad consequences. Not only did he die, but the dogs weren’t found, leaving use to assume they died also.
Dogs are like children in that they don’t always know what is best for them. As a responsible pet owner, that becomes your job. Even if you keep your dog on a leash in a situation like this, there is always the possibility of your dog lunging at something when you are least expecting it. The leash gets pulled from your hand and the dog is out on the ice. As odd as you may think it looks to see your dog in a life jacket in the middle of winter, it just may save his life.