Muttlover

I train at WODC in Bundoora, Victoria. They do Obedience, Agility and Tracking. Agility dogs have to be in class 3 or above and demonstrate off lead contol before they can start theres about 15 regular dogs training and they hold 2 trials each year. Training is sunday morning and its a lot of fun.

Just answering a couple of questions a bit late. I mainly read training books and a couple of dog magazine articles. I also spoke to some vets and trainers. Most of the books/articles said the injuries from the chains occurred when they were on upside down, when the dog was allowed to pull constantly on a chain, when they were left on unsupervised, or in dog breeds with soft trachias. before you ask I don't know which breeds these are but I found out JRs were fine before I used one. He didn't seem stressed, sore, unhappy or shy with the chain. In fact, he has always really enjoyed Sunday mornings. His breathing sounds free and normal and he hasn't started snoring. He always got a clean bill of health on his regular vet check ups. I haven't seen inside his throat, but he always seemed and seems health and happy. When I first started walking my pup I tried to walk my two dogs together n one of those split leads. This wa a disaster as my older dog was too strong for my pup and would pull her along without even realising she wasn't keeping up or had stopped. I noticed that each time the lead tightened on her flat collar she would panic, so I am pretty sure she would panic on a collar that goes tight when pulled. I haven't used the split lead since. By lead tug I mean the 'pop and release' check chain method.

I did some research, and kept a close eye on my dogs health in the early stages. I wouldn't use a correction chain on any of my future dogs (including the puppy I have now) as I have found other methods that work for her. My obedience club uses them with very few reports of injury (I haven't heard any to date, but that is not to say there hasn't been any), and I trust them. I've also found no problems with my using one on my JR x. I wouldn't use one on my pug x, as she doesn't respond to coller tugging methods etc. It depends on the dog, but I have no real problem with people using them at the club. And I still don't agree with anti-bark collars. That is not to say that I have a problem with people who use them, it is just personal choice.

I use a normal correction collar (chain version) that I bought from the obedience club I go to. They measured him for the correct length and I learned to use it properly. I don't use this collar when we go for walks and definately not for agility, I only use it for obedience training on Sundays and when we practice heeling. Although the past few months I've been able to practice him on his soft (normal) collar.

Denis, I have never used or seen an anti-bark collar, and my only information comes from an internet search on them when I was having trouble with my dog. But I then found that by putting obsticles along the fence it stopped my dog barking because it broke the habit he had gotten into as a puppy. I wouldn't put any type of anti-bark collar on my dogs without first talking to a vet about the effects, but as it didn't come to that, I had no need to look further into the collars. My opinion is just that, an opinion that anti bark collars that deliver an electric shock to the dog when their throat vibrates (barks) would be counter productive and I would think unpleasent. I also based this opinion on a friend of mine that used one on an outgoing dog and ended up with a dog that was nervous around people and shuddered at loud noises. This is why I don't agree with anti-bark collars. I hope this has cleared up my opinion. I don't understand what you are talking about with the RSPCA. I do support them, as the majority of campaigns they have I agree with. What do you mean by photo? What photo are you talking about as I am unaware that there was one. I was responding to the post about anti bark collars with my own opinion, and I felt the criticism VAT gave to the RSPCA was undeserved. My main criticism of the RSPCA is that they should be doing more for battery hens and live sheep exports, which has nothing to do with dogs. I support their work against tail docking. K9 I was given my dog when he was one year old and he had had a stressful first year. The barking has become a habit from his first year. We have managed to overcome all of his behavioural problems with patience and training except the barking at the one fence. I was worried that his barking would annoy my neighbour and that is why I looked into anti-bark collars (breifly). My neighbour hasn't complained to me in the 2 years I've had him, but it would be better for everyone for my dog to stop barking at the fence. he doesn't bark a lot compared to other dogs in the street, but he does bark at this one neighbour whenever he is outside in his driveway. I do not and have never supported the RSPCA stance on live sheep transport. I was merely speaking about the RSPCA stance on tail docking. Again, I hope this has cleared up any misunderstandings.

I wouldn't starrt jumping with him until he is 18 months old. But start with tunnels, weavers, etc. Have you tried food to keep his interest? That has worked with other dogs I've seen, but it hasn't worked with my 2. Have you thought about a correction collar (learn how to use it properly first though). My Jack Russell x would pull until he coughed and nothing seemed to work until the correction collar. Now he is beginning to heal off lead, and when he is on lead I have no need to use the correction collar cause he has learnt what each command means. I have heard walking really really slowly with the dog at your side (and not letting the lead out even if he is pulling at first) can work by claming your dog, although I have never used this method. But everythings worth a think about. This would take a couple of weeks, but I have heard it works. If the dog lunges ahead, bring him/her back to your side. Paitence is a virtue. :rolleyes:

To V.A.H. Don't go knocking the RSPCA, they do a damn good job! Tail docking is barbaric and there is a huge amount of vetenary evidence proving this. It is only some breeders who believe it is okay to mutilate a puppy for some old fashioned breed standard that was created when people still cut off dogs ears and thought it looked good. Docked tails look awful. I don't wish to make enemies, but I abhor tail docking and will speak out about it when the need arises. I also suppport the work of the RSPCA. And now for my response to this actual topic: As for the actual topic of bark collars, I wouldn't use a shock collar cause I can't believe it is humane. Although I have one very noisy dog and have contemplated using one of those sound collars as a last resort, although it hasn't come to that. I also wonder if the council is going to be more lenient on dogs that bark and are complained to by some anti-dog resident?