Hi there! My name is Carla and I am here with you today at Country Club Kennels and Training. We are doing a video on dog training techniques and leadership skills.
In this segment, I am going to show you the proper use of some training tools. These days, we have a very popular new type of a Training Collar that many people are enjoying using. It's known for being very gentle. There is no leash correction. There is no fight. There is not so much resistance. But the important thing to remember when using this and this one happens to be called the Halti, in the package you see it is looking like this. I have got one outside of the package right now and for Saffie, I am going to be using a size two. They come in different sizes for different size dogs.
The important thing—this is supposed to be a very gentle training tool. If you use it properly, it is wonderful. The dog feels no tension on their neck, no corrections, no fight, no force but if it is used improperly, the poor dog has a snap up by his eyeball and he is being pulled around by his face. So, that's not pleasant. So, if you want your dog to learn to how to use a Halti properly, you need to learn to how to use it properly.
We have the leash attached to the ring which is underneath the dog s muzzle. Like I said before, whenever I place any training tool on a dog, I am going to praise her, and let her know this is good, this is safe, it is wonderful. I don't want to threaten her by throwing something on her face. Now, keep in mind, if you are doing this for the first time, it is a new sensation for many dogs. While it doesn’t hurt them, it is something different and dogs can become fearful of something that is different. So, be patient, if you are going to use this and your dog tries to resist it, trying to take it off, trying to rub their face on the ground or on your leg, if they are doing that, just kind of bump them off your leg. Don't let them win with that but also it is going to help you if you take time, be patient with it. Put it on, give them a treat, take it off, put it on, give them a treat, let them wear it for a few minutes, take it off, praise them the whole time. It's well worth your effort to take your time and do it properly with patience.
Then, after they are comfortable wearing it without any leash connected, let them wear it, put the leash on, let them walk you a little bit so that you are not pulling them by their face because it's important that you learn how to use it properly and that's with no tension on their face.
Let us get dressed. Alright, we have put that around her muzzle and this contraction is similar to a halter on a horse s head. You are controlling that huge animal by their head, not by their neck. Saffie is a big, strong dog. I am not that big and strong. So, this is a very nice little training tool for me and if I use it properly, it is quite nice for her as well. I am going to demonstrate—because it is very important that you handle the leash properly when using a Halti or a Gentle Leader which is the other brand which is also very popular.
Again, you want the snap of the leash to hang down underneath her muzzle. You don't want to hold it up tight. You see that when I do that, it s right by her eyeball and that could be very uncomfortable and actually, dangerous for her. So, if you are going to use this, make sure you are using it properly. Slacken the leash, it’s comfortable for her, it's comfortable for me. You can hold it in both hands, you can hold it in one hand, it doesn’t matter.
Okay to take it off, you just pop and release, slip it off, praise the dog again. There is a variety of training tools that you can use when working with your dog. Right now, this is something that's very helpful in teaching your dogs to do a good reliable recall. This is a long, 20 foot, Cotton Web Training Lead. We use it for Distance Work. I am going to take it out of its package here. Alright, it's a leash basically but it is 20 feet long and what I will do, attach it to Saffie, good girl, alright, take the other leash off. Right now, I still have control of Saffie but I can give her a more distance, I can work on my different stays. What I like to use this as training tool for is, I will go for a very casual walk. I will let her think that's she is free but I have still got control, I can step on this leash, I can be holding it if I want to. You want to graduate to the point where you are dropping the leash. You can even drop it off your hands. Saffie! Come, good girl, let s go, good girl Saffie, sit down, good girl, stay, good girl.
Treats are a very effective training tool. Some people are opposed to using them, they think that they are bribing the dogs, other people are very keen on it. If they are used at the appropriate time, they are very effective training tools. If your dog is treat motivated, some dogs are more toy motivated, squeaky toys, tennis balls, whatever it is that holds your dog s attention can be a very effective training tool for you. As you are working, make a little squeak, bounce the ball, whatever it takes to get their attention focus back on you. In order to train a dog, you need to have their attention and it needs to be fun for both you and your dog.
Alright, well you got a lot of advice, a lot of tips to work with. I hope you enjoy it and get busy working with your dogs.
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