Couple of Dog Questions

[Smart Red]

I have my dog sleeping on a dog bed in our bedroom. If she does get whine-y, I can softly tell her to quiet. Since she needs to be close to me, the bedroom works well for us at night. During the day she has a bed in the most used room or sleeps where she can have a view of the most entrys.

 

[so lucky]

I'd ignore the whining....taking her out rewards that behavior and reinforces it. You might give her a stuffed animal or something in the crate that brings her comfort.

I wouldn't use a prong collar as it soon desensitizes the neck and causes the exact opposite of what you are wanting. My sister had a literal WALL of such things designed to keep a dog from pulling and it never worked...she and her husband both sustained some pretty serious injuries from this dog on walks, resulting in surgery. The dog had been to several different trainers, lots of money spent there...nothing helped.

I visited one day, took a simple leash and put it through the loop of the handle and placed it high up on her neck and gave a little, quick jerk on that to the side each time she started to pull me and wouldn't let her walk in front of me....always to the side...nice loose leash but not giving her any length on it(typical Cesar Milan style). Corrected the pulling in a matter of seconds and she walked calmly by my side. My sister couldn't believe it. Ever since then they don't have problems with her pulling and dragging them all over the world, though I still feel like she needs consistent, dominance training to be all the dog she can be....they give her way too much leash for my liking. I did notice the wall of implements had disappeared the last time I was at their house and just a few leashes remained.

I'd surf YT for Cesar Milan vids and see how he accomplishes the walk...amazing stuff and works very well when applied correctly. He also has great vids on crate training and helping them get used

I will check out the Cesar videos, I used to watch him quite a bit. I didn't opt for the looped leash when I bought the supplies, because that is what there was to use at the shelter when I took her for a walk, and she pulled pretty bad; she didn't seem to mind if it choked her. But I can try again. Maybe knowing her better now I can be more effective.

 

[Beekissed]

I think it's all in how one uses the looped leash as opposed to just the looped leash being an effective tool. Any dog will pull against any type of leash, especially a harness...they are designed for pulling....but the looped leash gives more control to the human when used in the correct manner. A quick correction to the side, not to the rear, each time the dog starts to pull, then an immediate release...just enough to get their attention from trying to get out front and lead the both of you.

A nice walking stick can also be a reminder and a block when they start to try to lead the walk instead of follow in the walk.

 

[so lucky]

Oh Mercy, I can just see the results of me, a long rope, a stick, and a hyper dog smelling a squirrel! Get your camera ready.

 

[Beekissed]

Nix the long rope! The stick might just come in handy for other things in that situation....

 

[journey11]

Wearing the leash high on the neck, looped and narrow in diameter, keeping the dog at my side worked great for my pit bull, but I can see where it might not be as effective with a beagle who loves to sniff and track things with her nose to the ground. They are bred to do that. You can try giving her some time to sniff, but it may never be enough for her liking. I used Cesar Milan's techniques too. People either love him or hate him, but he does certainly know how to handle stronger breeds like pits. The other thing I would recommend would be to buy her a little doggie backpack and put some small bottles of water in it for weight. That will tire her out quicker and perhaps she'll be less determined to pull. I would ignore the whining at night too, but set a schedule for when she goes out last at night and first thing in the morning so she knows when to expect you. A stuffed animal or very comfy blankie may help comfort her. She probably is just begging to be where you are. My dogs have always slept by the bedside. (Or in the bed with me, when I was single. DH quickly put the nix on that. LOL)

 

[thistlebloom]

I've never used one, but see a lot of people walking their dogs with those halter type collars that go over the dogs muzzle. That seems like it might be less of a conflict when walking a dog that pulls or keeps it's nose to the ground habitually.
To tell the truth I've always cringed at those because I want my dogs to walk on a slack leash in a heel position and those always seemed to be a concession to a spoiled dog. But I can see how they might be useful for a dog like yours So Lucky.

Picture from Dr's Foster and Smith site.

 

[so lucky]

She didn't whine last night, but I was prepared to tough it out, if she did.
I think I will get the thin leash and try that. I may have to glue it to her ears, to keep it high enough.

 

[Nyboy]

Don't laugh some breeds need their ears glued, last dog i had to do that was a kerry blue.

 

[so lucky]

What do you glue the ears to?