I just wondered where everyone stood on this subject? I know many Gundog trainers recommend using a slip lead right from the start and I also know that the APDT completely condemns them, expect in emergency situations. I personally only use them once I have the dog walking nicely to heel, as so far I've had no problem just using a normal flat collar and clip on lead. But what does everyone else use and have you found one lead/collar more useful than another when training a young pup?
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies This was the one area where I admit to struggling with Sam when he was younger , tried all the usual stopping, turning round etc . nothing seemed to work and so I tried a gentle leader head collar , it worked immediately but he hated it . Persisted with it and after a very short time, he began to walk nicely so on the advice of the gundog trainer , I got a slip lead , Sam was about 10 months old , now 21 months and used a slip ever since. I find these days that a slip lead is all I need, he has got a lovely leather lead but I rarely use it ,his gentle leader head collar is somewhere in the tip that is my utility room :
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies We use the type of slip lead that has an extra ring so you can do an extra loop round the nose for more control. It means we avoid choking her if she is really pulling. Seems to put her in instant good behaviour mode use it as a normal slip 95% of the time if not more. I find normal collars stretch and need frequent adjustments which can be a nuisance. Jac
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies Do you/would you use these from 10-12 weeks old though? If so, why and if not, why not?
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies I wouldnt use on a pup so young, would worry about the pulling and possible damage to the throat, collapsed trachea etc. . I guess if you had a pup who didnt pull at all , then I would do .
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies We just used a soft collar and light lead while Riley was very little, I'm trying to remember when he went into his slip lead.....probably between 6 and 9 months. He was certainly only on a slip lead when we started classes at nine months. We were lucky and he's never really pulled though....lots of heel work in the garden
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies Until I started clicker training some years ago, I never used anything else on a gundog puppy but a slip lead. Right from the very start. Nowadays I teach all heelwork off lead. No collar or lead of any sort. I then add a sliplead once the dog is walking nicely to heel without it. Most gundogs are trained with a sliplead and nothing else, and I have never come across a gundog that has been injured as a result. I suspect the risks have been overstated. On the other hand, I much prefer the method I use now.
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies [quote author=editor link=topic=1352.msg8915#msg8915 date=1364558959] I suspect the risks have been overstated. [/quote] I do suspect so too, although I do personally know of one adult dog who had to have months of treatment on his neck and shoulders after a Gundog trainer corrected him (and not violently, just "popped" it) with a Slip lead. Whether this dog had an unknown underlying problem though, I obviously don't know. I have never seen the difference between a check chain and a slip lead myself, as they have exactly the same action and I personally would be wary of using anything which tightens around a tiny pup's neck, after all they only need to panic and the thing just gets tighter and tighter. It's interesting that others have and do use them from young though and have no problem in recommending them, even though they would often condemn the use of a check chain. I have no problem using either on an already well trained dog though and like yourself, tend to do the majority of my heel training off lead anyway.
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies We used our slip lead from around 6 months I think - once she grew out of her first baby collar. Jac
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies [quote author=Tj link=topic=1352.msg9204#msg9204 date=1365331151] I use them sensibly from 9 weeks [/quote] Just out of interest, can I ask what you do if you get a young pup who does that panic/pull back/buck and roll thing? Do you drop the lead, so it doesn't strangle itself, or perhaps pick the pup up? And if so, how do you move forward from that point? I ask as I had one Lab pup who would panic as soon as any pressure was felt on her neck, and that was just on an ordinary flat collar. In the end, rather than frighten her further and possibly damage her neck, I ended up putting her in a plain body harness for a few weeks and then gradually introduced the collar with the lead (she was fine wearing the collar without the lead attached). I have since used a Slip lead on her, but then she walks nicely by my side now, so it never tightens. I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I had used a slip on her as a tiny pup though.
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies I've used a slip lead on Lady since she was around 9 months old. The lead I use has an adjustable check ring on it so it doesn't close down on her neck.
Re: Using slip leads on young puppies Jules, I tend to do it in the garden or in the house. During playtime so that they enjoy the time with me and don't worry about the distraction. I'm not teaching the heel or anything just getting them used to it and then over several days get them used to walking on it. Has worked for me with my dogs.
