Martingale Collar

Chuffy

The most difficult dogs brings the strongest bonds.  All I can say is, there must be one heckuva relationship in store or you as Gibby matures...!

Boy..you got THAT right!!!  

When I had many of the same issues with River I enrolled into a training class and it helped me a lot!  It also helped River.  The weirdest thing happened to him and that was "mental" stimulation.  River started in a puppy class when he was 10 months old and we worked our way up and then started all over again at puppy class.  He was older and larger than the puppies but it was a wonderful experience for him.  He would leave classes totally exhausted and we leaned how to train and work together.  Sometimes I think it is just the size of our dogs that really gives us the problems.  They are acting just like others there age but harder to handle.  Now at 4 years old we do sledding, carting and weight pulling its a hoot and gives River the job he needs. This year we are going to start with Skijoring I am excited about that it looks like so much fun. No doubt I am going to get pulled and fall on my butt.  Come on snow!

Seriously, Have you considered a training class?  Something regimented that will help you work on issues with some structure and outside support - it really does help to keep everyone focused.

luvmyswissy

Seriously, Have you considered a training class?  Something regimented that will help you work on issues with some structure and outside support - it really does help to keep everyone focused.

Ha!  Gibby IS in training class!  He has been for several weeks.  In fact the class is either 8 or 10 weeks....and when we got to the 4th week.... more dogs joined so it started all over...so we get the extra weeks.   Now..............is it helping?????  I think NOT!   First....like River,,,he is a big dog in a puppy class ( and I agree 1000%....most of the trouble comes from the fact that they are large dogs doing exactly what other dogs their age are doing ) but the first few weeks there were no other dogs.... then when they joined...they are a little older.... and the one puppy that is in the class is a couple months older and much more reserved... . BUT to begin with.... in the first few weeks Gibson was so used to being by himself...that now that there are other dogs there...it makes him crazy that he is NOT center of attention...and other dogs get treats that only he got.  Now...he actually cries when she pays a lot of attention to them....and he is a big boy...so he cries loud...I can hardly hear what she is saying. I am usually sitting on the floor with him on my lap ( while the other dogs are laying at their owners feet ) trying to tell him to be quiet. The trainer often uses him as example because he knows and does what she tells him to......its just all the other minutes that he makes a lot of noise. 

Gibson also leave class totally exhausted...and so wound up that he is totally crazy until he just passes out on the way home. In fact...( get this ) a couple of weeks ago...he got into the car and expressed his anal glands on the way home.  Then he fell fast asleep!!!

I personally only take dogs to class after they have mastered the basics at home- class is for "proofing" things the dog already knows well. You always want to "set your dog up for success" and if you can't get your dog to do A in a quiet calm place well he's not going to do A in a distracting class full of crazed puppies.

 It sounds like Gibby CAN do many things well at home - and can even do it well in training class too.  But when the trainer pays another dog attention, he acts up.  When he goes for a walk and sees another person or dg or some leaves, he acts up.

I am wondering if Control Unleashed would be a good read... I don't have it and haven't read it but isn't that the one with the Magic Mat exercise in?  Maybe Gibby could do with a Magic Mat for classes?

Chuffy

Maybe Gibby could do with a Magic Mat for classes?

HUH?   Haven't  heard of that one!

Today at class we tried putting the EZ Walk harness on backwards....especially because he so often starts biting the leash and it is easy to do when its right by his mouth.  It actually was good for a while..but then we realized it really doesn't stop him from pulling and rearing up. So we put it back.  But today was a much better day in class. He layed or sat down several times when told and even a few times when he wasn't told, while walking him around people and dogs.     His favorite is the Guinea pigs...he loves to stop and watch them for a while.  But I was happy that he showed them that is is not always bad.......  many people there noticed that and told him what a good boy he was.  Of course he jumped up to kiss one of the girls....and almost knocked her over!

Then we went to Pet Supply Plus for food.....and he grabbed more than a couple treats as we were walking down the treat isle.  My DH was really mad,,,, said "we're not going to take him in there anymore,,,he keeps stealing things."    The girl that works there was laughing her head off and feeding him more treats because " he is so darn cute!"   HHHHmmmm.

dyan

My DH was really mad,,,, said "we're not going to take him in there anymore,,,he keeps stealing things."   

Sorry but I'm laughing right now reading that!  That's too funnY!

Oh man, I don't have any other suggestions.  River wasn't a crazy dog so he was pretty good in classes, almost quiet for some reason.  He never gets overly excited.  The anal gland thing makes me thing he was stressed, one of my dog did that once in the Vets office and he told me it was due them being stressed.  Anyway, good luck with that little terror, I know he will calm down eventually - I think class is something you should keep up.  What if you found a collage kid to take him for a couple of "runs" a day, MAYBE that would tired him out a bit.

Good luck with that beautiful nut.

I haven't read all these posts, but I have to say that a martingale is wonderful! I just got one for Sam about 2 weeks ago, he's a different dog on leash! He act's more resectful, and act's like he's got some sense! I don't have to 'pop' his collar any more(jerkk the leash lightly)! I just give it a little tug and BINGO, good dog! Woo!

They're was a site that had the 2" wide martingales that would probably work for a Dane very well.....

Here's a few that sell various types....I haven't bought from any of them - I got my martingale at Petsmart

http://handcraftcollars.com/index.php?osCsid=71ae3e69099bcf9ef95aa8e28633c5cb

http://2houndsdesign.com/

http://3dirtydawgz.com/index2.html

http://www.mydogcollars.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=166

http://www.bigdogboutique.com/ProductCart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=7&pageStyle=H

http://www.fordogtrainers.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=205 <-- they also have TONS of Schutzund training things....cool stuff