The Barbara Woodhouse Way

[Sunny**]

We're getting a puppy in a couple of months, a Golden Retriever.

In preparation we've bought enough chew toys, bedding accessories and food to start our own shop.

We've also been borrowing heaps from the library, most recently a Barbara Woodhoue training video.

Is a jerk on the choker chain still advised in obediance training?

We have a local obediance school in our area, must go and have a look before we take our puppy.

I was just wondering if anyone does this or if it's an antiquated method.

Thanks in advance

[PAX]

I was just wondering if anyone does this or if it's an antiquated method.

Thanks in advance

Some people still use and prefer this method.

IMO there are other ways that are fun for the dog and handler. :D

[Sam&Saki]

Seems this can be a bit of a contentious issue...

While some of the pure breed clubs and other well regarded training clubs train on check/choker trains, other training clubs can be extremely anti-check chain.

Views on this are fairly polarised and in my experience people on both sides aren't shy in trying to force their own opinions on you.

However I think perhaps you should be less concerned about others' opinions and more about what works for your individual dog - which depends on the breed, age, size, temperement and individual personality.

My previous (mastiff type) dog was best on a check chain, my current (spitz type) dog is best on a Sporn Pack Control Leader.

Other options are simple collar and lead, various types of harnesses, and Haltis, which seem to be the flavour of the month with many vets and trainers but which I personally don't think very highly of.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll soon figure out which is best for your dog x

[Gayle.]

The club I go to are very much for the check chain (correction collar) but have nothing against other type of neck and head gear except for harnesses (aside from tracking) and prong collars, which are illegal in this state. If a halti works for the dog and handler, they will work with the dog, handler and halti to achieve a positive outcome for all concerned.

If a correction coallr works, they will help you learn to use it for correcting gently. Not for choking the dog.

I use a chain some of the time, other times I use a martingale, other times I use a flat collar. I don't want my dog to think obedient behaviour is expected when he's only wearing a certain collar.....I want him to be obedient all the time. And in that respect, my voice is the best tool.

[Cosmolo]

Very well put Sam and Saki. What works for one dog may not work for another. Given that you are getting a puppy, i would advise a normal collar and lead and find an obedience/ puppy school who can guide you appropriately. Generally training groups i recommend (aside from us!) advocate a 'what works for the dog' approach and do not have hard and fast, inflexible rules about what equipment is okay and whats not.

Corrections however, should not be given during the teaching phase of training exercises like sit and drop!

[Tonymc]

I agree entirely with Cosmolo.A flat collar is quite adequate for a pup. Tony

[SkySoaringMagpie]

We're getting a puppy in a couple of months, a Golden Retriever.

In preparation we've bought enough chew toys, bedding accessories and food to start our own shop.

We've also been borrowing heaps from the library, most recently a Barbara Woodhoue training video.

Is a jerk on the choker chain still advised in obediance training?

We have a local obediance school in our area, must go and have a look before we take our puppy.

I was just wondering if anyone does this or if it's an antiquated method.

Thanks in advance

Nearly every trainer has ideas that are useful. I think Woodhouse was a great contributer in that she insisted people accept responsibility for their dog's behaviour rather than blaming it on the dog.

However, I personally don't think anyone should need to use a choker on a GR they have obtained as a puppy. If you are borrowing heaps from the library there are some other more up to date authors worth reading including:

- Karen Pryor

- Patricia McDonnell

- Jean Donaldson

Ian Dunbar's puppy book is useful too, and I think it might be available as a freebie online.

[Nekhbet]

I dont advocate check chains on puppies, heck even on some adult dogs. Depends on what you are trying to achieve and how confident you are in the knowledge of the equiptment. I do use them occasionally but there are better pieces of equiptment to get the same result.

Puppies do much better on a flat collar with encouragement to follow you then letting them run riot and give it a cracking correction. Had someone ask about a check chain for a 10 weeks old jack russell once, could not believe they thought it was a good idea!