Olie

For dogs that have a distraction issue (from time to time) - example, see's another dog, bird, or people walking toward while on leash and the dog wants to take off.

Do you use a Halti
Chain slip collar
Prong collar
Harness
Martingale or
Other

Why has the collar been effective?

Trillium

I use a halti. It seems to really work well on my 2. We call it power stearing. I'm working on just going to a choke chain on them though as I find that some people mistake the halti for a muzzle. The chokes are great but you have to keep them up by the ears and it slides down a lot. Since I usually walk them together I really find that the haltis are a great tool. Especially considering that my son enjoys walking them I like that the halti gives him good control.

*tina*

My non-poodle does best walking/training in a halti. She is very strong, and very stubborn. At 7, she is at best, mediocre when it comes to walking on leash. We have done obedience, etc, but she is easily distracted by EVERYTHING, so maybe she is a bit "special"?

Our poodle knows when the leash is on, it's time to work. I thank his breeder for that, because he is an AWESOME leash walker/trainer. He doesn't pull, he heels, and is very polite while walking. So, honestly, for a regular everyday walk, he just wears his regular collar. Now, if I'm working on training skills, he wears a martingale/choke chain combo, I forget what it was called. I want to go to a full martingale, but just haven't made it to the store that carries them, because his curls/ear fringe gets caught in the chain part.

Lincoln Love

I use a pinch collar made by Sprenger from Germany and recommended by my trainer. She said it doesn't "choke" which could damage the esophagus for dogs that don't respect choke collars. I do notice that it does get stuck in his hair sometimes, especially when he had his winter coat. She said it is used only temporarliy...approx. 8 months or so while he is still training. It does work great and keep him in a wonderful heal.

Oodlejpoodle's mom

I use a choke on my spoo and leather collars on the toys.

Birdie

I use a gentle leader on Desmond from time to time during training, but try to limit my use of it. I only use it to gain control of him during a particularly distracting task or on walks, and then use it less and less as we progress in training. I LOVE it. It's very gentle (lol) and he understands exactly what I want from him without me having to be harsh. No jerking of the leash like I found myself doing with his collar, no sudden tugs from him or hanging himself on his collar, his head just gets redirected when he tries to wander off. It's very clear, easy, and comfortable for both of us to use. He behaves wonderfully when it's on, and once we have the behavior down, he behaves wonderfully with it off! It's probably the only training collar I feel comfortable using, personally.

KPoos

Harry does well on a choke. It's also what the obedience group here requires to take the class.

Fluffyspoos

I normally train Vegas on a harness so he's not pulling on his neck, but he's so good on the leash now I have him wearing a Martingale style collar now.

bigpoodleperson

I have used everything! I Rarely ever use anything on Ry anymore. If i do i reach for the pinch collar as he does so great with it (and this is only at very distracting large shows/get togethers). I really like the gentle leader, and used it on him in the past. If we are going to be around alot of people i dont use it with him. He wants to rub it hard on whoever is petting him (which annoys them and me).

I will most likely use the GL, GL harness, or the pinch on a future dog.
I love taking my friends young boxer with on walks. He used to be dog/people reactive, and is a bull on a leash. They have a GL for him which works great for not pulling. He would not pant with it on though and almost had heat exhaustion because of it on a walk. I now use Rys pinch collar instead. He does great with it. With alot of work he now walks very nicely on my left beside me with Ry on the outside. Great with ignoring people and most dogs.

Raena

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my spranger prong collars!!!! but i rotate around, Mighite wears a prong if we need "power steering" or a gentle leader if we are doing therapy stuffs, or just his flat (well now rolled ) but he is mostly off leash. Zu is still on her flat, she has worn both prong and GL, to get used to them and i think im going to take the prong to rally class tomorrow night (her first night, im a little worried ) i think ill need the power steering!