Going to try a Halti and feeling sad

I don't use that system, no - I made my own at first, which worked fine for me, even through Charlie's worse phase, but if someone is at all 'fragile' I should think they would be better off with something properly designed. I wouldn't let go of my dog come hell or high water, so I never worried about being able to undo it etc.

I read a comment on that blog from someone who said to protect the human's back it's best to have something as low as possible so any pull is at hip height, so it's definitely worth looking carefully.

I'd make your own, and try it somewhere safe, to see whether you might use something professionally made before shelling out cash. I don't think the best ones are cheap, and you wouldn't want it sitting on the shelf.

These days, I still use a hands free lead - a hunting lead. Which is definitely not ok for dogs that pull though.

 

Sorry, @Newbie Lab Owner - I didn't read all your previous posts before answering. I see you've tried a few things already and have thought about the back/hip thing.

 

@Newbie Lab Owner all is sounding really promising for you. I'm really happy for you. I use baby food pouches for mashed up smelly fish treats, if you wanted to try instead of a piping bag, bought from Amazon.

 

That's reassuring as I was thinking I could play around and make my own set up to work with.
To be perfectly honest I wouldn't let go of my dog either.
I'll hold fire on purchasing and try adaptions to what I have already.
A new project and I love making things.

 

Which ones do you use as I looked at them and got bogged down by all the different ones.

 

@Newbie Lab Owner
I bought this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fill-Squeez...TF8&qid=1456234965&sr=1-2&keywords=baby+pouch

And these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/KOKO-Baby-P..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=09N0A3NWC68X6NBANF9J

Only to find the latter are filled in a completely different way so don't fall into that trap. You don't need the filling "thing" for the second lot of pouches. I probably prefer the first type as they have a smaller nozzle and fit in my pockets easier but that's just personal preference.

I've got fish4dogs mousse but I also use boneless sardines in tomato sauce liquidised with water. I reckon the more disgusting and stomach churning I find it the more Mabel will love it. I also make a job lot and freeze them in advance.

 

I received a good tip from my trainer at yesterday's Good Companion class about a dog pulling which was demonstrated on each one of use individually. When your dog pulls and the lead is going taut, instead of hanging onto the taut lead, take a small step forward to the strain away while calling your dog to distract and return back to you, and treat for the return to you. The theory is that when the lead is taut it makes the dog want to pull more, once the tension is released the urge decreases. Not sure if it will help but I found that walking Juno from the car to the gate at the entrance of the woods was so much easier taking this approach this morning, and we even wandered around 10m into the woods before I released her lead because she was walking so well

 

Thank you, I'll take a look at both. I really need something stronger today, the prawns didn't help that much. I don't know what smell was on the path but oh my days, Dexter was like a sniffer dog

 

I've heard that before but and done it but thought I was I then encouraging Dexter to pull. I'll definitely give it another go. Exasperating walk today, mainly awful with a few good bits. I turned round to come home but it took forever to get back and I hadn't gone that far

 

The best walk today, was on a collar and shorter bungee lead. Only a very quick walk but saw to cats in a nemesis Rd that we don't often go down as loads of cats and a house that Dexter just doesn't seem to like the smell of. His neck didn't get yanked and it was so much easier to get his attention back on me. I wasn't intending to really walk further than up and down outside our house but he was walking so beautifully, I did a 7 min circuit.
I remember now giving the collar and lead a try a few months ago, even along the beach and the park. He walked really well then but I was worried that if he did pull he would hurt his neck also I worry in case he slips his collar.
I did film our main walk today but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to share it
Hurry up salmon mousse, we need you

Edited to correct my poor grammar and missed words

 

No you're not encouraging a pull but helping to reduce the urge by reducing the tension with the small step forward followed with a cue to turn to you

We all have days like that so don't feel you're alone, just start afresh tomorrow.

 

That's one of the many things I love about this forum, it's being able to have a conversation with others that are all trying their hardest to use the positive reward method. I haven't met anyone who does training with high value rewards, then reducing them, starting without distractions and gradually build them up, reducing the difficulty when you go to a new place or knows about the proofing etc etc. It doesn't seem to have filtered down to where I live yet but I know it works, I've seen too many improvements in Dexter to doubt it.
I can not get the Halti right, whatever I do, it's too close to Dexter's eyes for my liking. I might just hang it off my bag as an expensive reminder that if a situation is too over powering for Dexter, to stop and get out of it ASAP. I'm going to take him for a short walk to the field tomorrow for some off lead fun and games aka training.
I think growing testicles has moved some of his brain cells and he just needs time, patients and consistency to get them to move back up to his brain
Having a puppy sure is teaching me a lot about myself
Dexter's not as bad as a lot of dogs I see, pulling their owners about, I often think he looks worse because I'm actually trying to train him not to do it. It sort of draws attention to the fact that your dog is doing something you don't want him to do.
I need to reset my mind state on my goal of 'I want Dexter to walk calmly to heel', rather than 'I don't want Dexter to pull on the lead' .
It may be better if I do a short lead walk to heel, come back into the garden for some games, go back out for a short walk to heel. Take a break, rinse and repeat. Build up again from scratch.

 

re salmon mousses/pureed sardine dispensing - having tried the pouches which seal at the bottom, been covered in sardine and then added a Klipit which worked, I have just bought these, they are the bees knees. They fit really nicely in the hand. They are bottles, so some patient stuffing with a knife is required, but they are brilliant. Coco agrees.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00Y1JOIT0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

I know EXACTLY what you mean.

 

The first ever video I posted was my attempt at a clicker retrieve. I was a beginner, without a trainer, figuring it out from books.

Everyone was so kind - and also clear in what I needed to do differently.

Ok, I was kind of disappointed that it wasn't fabulous ( ) but I changed all those things that were wrong. Sure, there was a cost to doing it, I found out I was a beginner clicker trainer (I knew that, but still....you still hope for ridiculous miracles of talent ) but I won - I got better. My dog got better.

 

Agree. It's intimidating to post that first video, but it really is super helpful having people give advice. And they're always super nice about it

 

I will put some on, I made loads of mistakes, too much lead, too many leads, difficulty dispensing my rewards. At least I'll be able to look back on this stage and say "OMG I made it through", because I know I will . I wish I'd been able to film how good he used to be. Mind you, I have a clip of yesterday's badly filmed but good walk
One of the main problems that stands out a mile to me is I need shorter leads. I need a handle to hold closer to Dexter. I'm googling short leads, I can no longer cope with so much slack, it's hindering me terribly. I tried with my shortest lead attached to the harness and my Halti lead also attached as a double ended, after changing it from my round my waist. The handle was much better for me but still too long. I'm wondering wether to cut one of my double ended leads down and make my own desired length or to just but a short lead. Or wear stilts
Thank you, you are all so kind and very helpful, I hope to be able to pay it all forward one day and help new members in the future.

 

Why do you think you need a short lead?

 

Thank you I will. Excuse the coughing in them, I'm getting over bronchitis.

 

I've ordered the first ones as I'd prefer the smaller nozzle. Thank you

 

I feel I struggle with so much lead to cope with. I have two double ended that are 2m, one is better than the other. The Halti double ended is better still but I'd like a handle to hold as my hands slip. My bungee lead quite good but not double ended.
I feel a shorter lead for road walking would be safer.
I'll put my videos on so that you can see what I'm up to