[Jag]

The collar is heavier than what I thought it would be. Also, there is only one 'loop' where the leash goes... no second loop or anything for his tags. Where do people put their tags?? The leather puppy collar I got from Leerburg's site has two, but he's nearly outgrown it. Do you have to get a second collar for tags?

The leash is also heavy. It will be GREAT for when he's a big boy! I love that it has so many things you can do with it. It's like having several leashes in one. Now I will only need this one and my long line! Grim was being a turkey tonight while we were trying to put his new kennel together... running into it when I was trying to move it (it's HEAVY!) and he had on the martingale collar. One tug on it, and he was fully focused on ME again! Tomorrow I'll walk him with it on and see if I get his attention for teaching loose lead walking. I'm a little concerned with how heavy it is, though. I suppose he'll get used to it? He is 18 weeks now I think... nearly 19 then I guess? He should be OK with it. I'd like to be able to leave it on him all the time for house control, but maybe I'll just use it as his 'training collar' so he'll know when we're working. This is what I did with the prong collars with my previous shepherds. I did buy a black nylon collar (that's larger than his leather current one) before I decided on the martingale. I guess I can use that one for his tags and 'all the time' use, and use the martingale when we're training.
I really do like it, though! It's not a 'choke chain'... which I despise... but it should give me more control over his lack of focus than a flat collar. I wish I could have his focus with just a flat, but he's such a stubborn, stubborn boy!! Given that our 'real' training should start after Thanksgiving, this came just in time! I wish I'd had access to or known about this Ultimate Leash when I had my previous dogs. There were times when I needed to clip them or loop them in an emergency and couldn't. I can't get over how many variations come in one leash! After watching the video display of it, I was sold. I've always preferred leather leashes, but they just can't do what this one can. Absolutely no comparison. Any future working dogs I have will have to have this leash. I'll let you guys know what I think about the martingale after I walk my sniffing maniac tomorrow!

 

[Carriesue]

I have both, haven't used the collar yet though I'm tempted because Ollie is an awful puller already but he's barely 3 months old so not sure if he's old enough. But might try it just when we're working on loose leash walking.

I love that I can hook the leash to things, comes in handy since I keep him on lead in the house right now. But I wish that it had a better handle instead of a clip at the end, makes it awkward to hold onto when I want a 6 foot lead. So I'll probably get a regular leather lead for walks. But I am kind of picky sooo...
I have the leather ultimate so they do make one, the leather is really nice, it's already nice and soft after only a few weeks use.



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[Carriesue]

Also I got one of these for the tags, nice especially for growing dogs!

http://www.dogids.com/tag-it-holder.html


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[Jag]

My goal on walks it to have my hands free. I was able to do this with my other shepherds when I started using prong collars. I'm hoping the new collar puts an end to his 'marathon walks', lol! Do you find that the martingale is really heavy? This one (that I got with the Ultimate leash) has the metal snap buckle which is what I think makes it so heavy. Nice, though, because it's less likely to come undone than the plastic clips. Grim isn't too much older than your guy I guess...but I doubt it would really weigh his neck down too much. What do you do with yours and tags?? That has me really stumped. I guess I'll have to have another collar on at the same time? Grim is chipped, but I have the tag with his name and my contact info, then there is his chip tag, there will be a license tag, and also a rabies tag eventually. That's a LOT of tags! Way too many to put on the loop that the leash goes on.

 

[Jag]

Also I got one of these for the tags, nice especially for growing dogs!

Tag-It Dog ID Tag Holder - Dog Tag Accessories


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Oh, THANK YOU!! I'm going to order one of these right away! HUGE help, as I haven't found another collar (other than the puppy one he has on now) that has a separate loop for tags!

 

[Carriesue]

Yeah the collar is heavy! I originally got it for my Pom to do some training with him on walks but LOL way to heavy for him so just going to use it for Ollie while it still fits him.



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[Jag]

I did order that tag holder. Well... it's not a prong, LOL! Grim acted the same as he does on a flat. I swear, NOTHING gets through his head that he can't do things his way! :crazy: He honestly doesn't care what kind of correction he gets. The few times he slowed down and gave me some slack on the lead I praised him like crazy. Then he'd forge on ahead! My back is killing me. I hope that this trainer can help me figure out how to get through to him. I've never had a shepherd like this. Especially a pup that blows me off as much as he does. You'd think with all the praise, treats, etc. that he gets when he does the right thing that he'd make the right choice. Breeder was right... he's absolutely stubborn and wants things his way. Period.

 

[Mary Beth]

If I understand this right - Grim is only 4 1/2 months old and now he has a martingale collar (of course it is too heavy for a pup) and that will be used to help him focus. Whatever happened to puppyhood? Isn't this supposed to be the fun time - let the puppy explore. Why not consider putting off the martingale collar until he is older and the weight won't bother him, and instead use a martingale harness (nylon and lightweight) that will help with the pulling issue and should work nicely with his new leash.

 

[Sunflowers]

I got the metal snap engraved. No need for tags.

 

[msvette2u]

Collar Mania Custom Dog Collars - Home Her collars are sturdy and have a little metal loop to hang the tags on

 

[Sunflowers]

Collar Mania Custom Dog Collars - Home Her collars are sturdy and have a little metal loop to hang the tags on

Oh, great. Now I am going to have to buy another collar...:crazy:

 

[onyx'girl]

I bring along a quick release nylon collar that has Karlo's tags on it(but seldom put it on him). I've had it since he was 5 mos old and it has never been attached to a leash, just his 'off property tags collar'.
Same with Kacie and Onyx, I use fursavers, martingales or prongs for the line, and the clip ons for tags.
My dogs are naked unless we are off property.

 

[PatchonGSD]

I'm gonna need pictures of Grim with his new clothes on.

 

[Jag]

If I understand this right - Grim is only 4 1/2 months old and now he has a martingale collar (of course it is too heavy for a pup) and that will be used to help him focus. Whatever happened to puppyhood? Isn't this supposed to be the fun time - let the puppy explore. Why not consider putting off the martingale collar until he is older and the weight won't bother him, and instead use a martingale harness (nylon and lightweight) that will help with the pulling issue and should work nicely with his new leash.

This is very hard to describe accurately. One- because I've never had a shepherd with this mindset and Two- when I try to explain things it somehow gets muddled and what I intend to say never seems to come out correctly.

I've had shepherds who were a little on the pushy side, but I've never in my life had one who seemed to have the teen 'butthead' phase coming out of the box. When on walks, this guy is at the end of the leash, head down the entire way sniffing. He's not on a walk, he's on a mission. The mission is to walk as fast as possible, all the while nearly choking himself on the lead. I don't want him to do damage to himself. What I'm left with is two choices. Either get it through his thick skull that he has GOT to listen to me (even though the way he wants things isn't the way I want things), or I stop walking him. I have at least 4 unsecured disks in my back. The entire lower part of my back is screws and rods. That part is OK, except for the muscles. I now feel like I have a turtle shell back after this last walk. I've never had a pup that NEVER put its ears back or looked like "Uh oh, I did something wrong". He is so full of himself that trying to bring him back to reality seems nearly impossible.

Now his breeder told me before I got him that he was 'stubborn' 'wanted things his own way' and that he was 'full of himself'. However, I thought surely a PUPPY couldn't be that bad, right? All of those really hard headed behaviors don't come up until they're older, right? WRONG. Now I can just not walk him until we get to the trainer's. Or, I can try to get through to this boy. I've had shepherds for over 20 years. I've never met one like him, though. I'm not new to them, I'm not new to the variations in temperaments. However, I can't for the life of me figure him out. If he WANTS to do something, he can be very biddable. If he doesn't feel that what I want him to do is worth more than what HE wants to do, though... you can forget it. I've seen and had confident pups. However, I've never had one before that thought he ruled the world. He will no doubt be an EXCELLENT working dog. However, the methods that will have to be implemented to get him there may rub some the wrong way. That's OK. No one else has to work with him, live with him, or get him there except me. I will be very interested to see what the trainer thinks of him. He's changing very quickly away from the 'puppy' he came to me as and into the 'adult mindset' that I thought I wouldn't see for at least another year.

 

[Mary Beth]

I did order that tag holder. Well... it's not a prong, LOL! Grim acted the same as he does on a flat. I swear, NOTHING gets through his head that he can't do things his way! :crazy: He honestly doesn't care what kind of correction he gets. The few times he slowed down and gave me some slack on the lead I praised him like crazy. Then he'd forge on ahead! My back is killing me. I hope that this trainer can help me figure out how to get through to him. I've never had a shepherd like this. Especially a pup that blows me off as much as he does. You'd think with all the praise, treats, etc. that he gets when he does the right thing that he'd make the right choice. Breeder was right... he's absolutely stubborn and wants things his way. Period.

Oh dear - how miserable for you. Since corrections aren't working, Grim needs to be outsmarted. He does seem to be the perfect candidate for the Walk in Sync method. This is the one with the harness and you would need to put both hands on the leash. It can be used with puppies, and there are videos on the website that show how to do it. Also have you tried turning him when he forges ahead each and every time? Turn in a circle then when he forges again, turn again - so he gets the idea that pulling won't get him anywhere.

 

[onyx'girl]

Are you tracking yet with Grim? I would think tracking would be a great outlet for him....he isn't too young for imprinting.

 

[Jag]

Please send any further questions or comments or requests for updates to me as a PM. Thank you!