The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Hi! My 7 month old fosters will be able to go for short walks in two weeks. They have absolutely no leash training whatsoever having been found wandering the streets and being under quarantine for a month. Which is better to start leash training with, a collar or a harness?

Thanks!

In our obediance training classes, we were told collar, not harness, and actually in the classes we used chain collars. Harnesses actually encourage the dog to pull, where a chain collar can be used to give a correction to the dog when it tries to pull. The key is baby steps, and treats when the dog does what you want (even if it's just 2 or 3 steps at first), also some surprise treats, so that your dog figures out that walking next to you is the best place to be!

Whether you use a collar or harness, leash training is the same! I don't use corrections for leash training, so it doesn't really matter what the lead is attached to.

Personally I use harnesses as it less taxing on their body (throat) and allows them to express body language more freely and accurately.

Some dogs walk better on a harness, some pull a bit more, but with most it makes no difference... so training needs to be done either way!

If you harness train, I highly encourage you to take a trip to the store at the SD Humane Society and get the Sensi (sensation) Harness for them. Measure them if they aren't ready to be taken out, as they'll want to know which size to sell you. I like the Sensi harness as it doesn't encourage the dog to pull, since the clip is in the front, and it works on the dogs' accupressure points to discourage that behavior as well.

On a side note - a harness actually encourages the dog to PUSH against the harness - our tension on the back clip gives pressure on the dog's chest, so they push against that (we see it as pulling). The Sensi, clipped up front, doesn't give that cue

PS - if they haven't had two negative scrapings, you will probably want to think about daily cleanings of their collars/harnesses, as well, to prevent reinfestations ...

Trust me, all I have been thinking about is cleaning--everything! Just talking about mites makes me itchy!

Thanks for the tips!

How would you clean them???? just out of curiosity.....

LOTS of hot water, disinfectant and bleach. Our washer and dryer have "sanitize" settings and the collars are cloth and plastic so I throw them in with the other stuff I have been washing (towels, dog bedding) . I have also been careful to wash our personal stuff separately and then wipe out the washer after. The pups have been limited to the kitchen which has a hard floor and the yard. They had their second dose of revolution yesterday so they are safer to contact but we are still washing hands thoroughly after touching them. Today I took them out to my classroom and set up while the house was sprayed inside and out by our pest control service. I kept them crated and on the tile floor portion. I have to say, they were absolute angels for the three hours we were there--curled up and slept the whole time!

Leigh - I'm using an Easy Walk harness on Rugby, but I think it's a bit hard to fasten it underneath him. The Walk in Sync harness looks much easier and I think the design is better overall. Thanks for sharing.

Vera's comment made me realize something--I was expecting to have problems! I was expecting pulling and tugging and wildness. My initial thought was "You don't use corrections? Don't you need to? Aren't they going to fight the leash?" Well, maybe with adult dogs who have had poor training experiences but pups whose first experience will be with me...it got me thinking.

I noticed that the pups follow me naturally. I can't walk down the hallway without pups chasing after me. I think they truly look at me as "momma dog" and as such, they want to walk with me. So, I took the pups out one at a time so they wouldn't distract each other and kept the leash loose. I decided I needed to give the pups all the time they needed to complete the walk. I gave myself a "no tugging, no pulling on the leash" rule. I figured they would just follow me the way they do in the house.

It was awesome!! Peggy trotted with me the whole time! I walked at a slightly brisk pace so even though she stopped to sniff at a couple things, she came with me right away when she realized I wasn't stopping and moving away from her. Joe was a little more unsure and more easily distracted but he eventually walked with me. I made the mistake of using a treat to try to get him to move and since I have taught them to sit for treats that totally backfired because he kept sitting for treats during the last part of the walk .

Thanks, Vera! You gave me some new insight in working with my fosters!