Can anyone advise.

I have spent alot of time on here, reading all of your advise, hints and tips. As a result i have just purchased a canny collar to help with lead walking

However i have just spoken to our local training school which i was thinking of attending with Alfie.

They, under no circumstances will take a pup using a Canny or Halti collar. They say that the position of it causes irritation and pain to behind the ears. They also won't take pups using harnesses as she compared this use to Husky's which i can see the logic behind.

The only lead that will accept for Alfie is a straight forward flat collar. With a choke chain being used as a last resort but as owners discretion

The training school is very local to me, has been going for years and is very highly respected, as far as i know, so i shouldn't doubt what they are saying but i also respect all of your opinions too

What do you all think

Cathy

I have used a halti and canny collar and i haven't had any problem regarding rubbing.

I suppose all trainers are different, mine recommended the use of a half choke collar. When Angel's pulling started making me dread taking her out (i have severe arthritis of the elbow) the trainer recommended a halti.

I think as long as what you use fits correctly there shouldn't be too much of a problem

Sam

I imagine in the long term you want to be able to walk your dog on a normal collar? I wouldn't expect to use the canny collar or any other forever so what they're saying makes sense. If you can get him walking properly on a normal collar sooner then so much the better.

Do they run the kennel club good citizen scheme classes at all?? If they do it may explain the no headcollars/harnesses rule as under -*test*-('") conditions they cannot be used.

I do allow headcollars/haltis and harnesses initially, but we always work on reomoving them in class so eventually the dog is able to walk without the use of these training aids. I would not however tolerate the use of choke chains in my class - just my rules.

People outside of my classes still use headcollars from time to time for safety reasons and if walking more than one dog, or if there is a long lead walk before off lead play and they are time restricted with training loose lead work on a flat collar.

You could persevere with the flat collar in their classes, and use the headcollar outside, you may well find that you may end up not needing the headcollar in the long run.

I wouldn't use any gizmo on a pup - give it a go with a normal collar / lead

I use static harnesses on pups, far less potential of damaging their necks.

Didn't realise we was talking pup . . in that case harness away!

Baby B is being taught to walk on a flat collar, but we harness him up when he can't be let off but needs to have a bot of free reign

So in an OB class, would you advocate a harness?

Me too - start as you mean to go on. And even with an older dog who has already been allowed to learn to pull, aim at using a flat collar eventually.

I'd be more concerned about the permitted use of choke chains.........

Yes sorry i should have said, Alfie is 18 weeks.

Having thought about it and listened to your comments, i think i will go along with a flat collar. Using the canny collar if i need to out of class.

Apparently the reason why they refuse to use the canny/halti collars is that some time ago a member forgot that his dog still had his harness on and pulled him in such a way that the dog broke its back.

Jesus, how the hell did he pull him ?

Just to throw something else into the mix, I use and train with half checks. I have resorted to using a canny collar when I was socialising Bam. And I have to say I like it, the main plus is that it's attached at the back of the neck, ala a normal collar and not from the nose, like the halti. A more natural position.

I trained heel with mine after a good run, when they were more inclined to listen and not gad about

I'm having real problems with meg walking on the lead, she has a normal flat collar. I have been trying the drop lead technique and turning the other way but its almost as tho she is too young. Its a case of I want to chase that leaf or sweet packet and I dont care if it hurts my neck. I know I have to persevere

As already said spaceman - I allow people to use initially and then we work on phasing them out.

With my own pup he is at the age where he is being a git about recall - so is is on a harness and long line to prevent him from ignoring recall - better not to let him have the opportunity to practice bogging off!

Alfiem I think your tariners are justified after wat that owner did, I'm glad you have decided to persevere with the collar

when i took Oliver to pup school the trainer was part of the kennel club good citizen awards and would not allow choke chains in her class. She never had a problem with harness though.
I use a harness for Ollie now as i was worried about the damage he could do to his neck. For some strange reason he hasnt really pulled with the harness. I also dont bother training lead walking until he has had his mad exercise then i start training on the way home from the walk when he is listening and tired.

For everyday walks with Deefa we used a harness and lead, until we went to gundog classes at 6 months and switched to using a slip lead. We then followed advice at those classes, she still pulls sometimes but on the whole isn't too bad.

We following a different line of thought with Sage. We didn't put her on any kind of a lead until she was around 6 months old. We carried her when she was a little puppy and then as she grew older drove her to areas that we could let her straight out of the car with no worries. When she was around 6 months old we introduced the slip lead. Any unwanted pulling could be corrected immediately as physically she was stronger than a 12 week old puppy. As a result she walks with a slack lead.