Can an occasional jerk or two really hurt?

Yes, it can. It can hurt more than you ever thought.

Let’s set aside the harm and injury that comes from a dog’s constant pulling and the human being pulling back and focus on jerks and pulls.

Traditional trainers will have you jerk your dog’s neck by the collar using a leash. It’s called a “correction”. Please don’t do that. Ouch! Every time you jerk your dog’s neck you not only make him stronger so he can pull you further and harder, you are injuring muscle, tissues, the windpipe, voice box, blood vessels, and those little bones in his spine and neck. Not to mention your wrist, elbow, shoulders, back, and all of your soft tissue and muscles. And your good nature.

A dog who hurts is a dog who behaves badly or doesn’t want to go anywhere with you ever again. If the “correction” method worked, you’d only have to do it one time, two tops, to get your point across to the dog. How many times have you or someone else you’re watching jerk the dog? It doesn’t work as it’s taught.

Barbara Woodhouse, a traditional trainer from years and years ago, said that a collar correction with a chain collar wasn’t jerking or pulling the dog’s neck at all, it was the clicking sound that leash snap against the collar made, and so not harming the dog. She had it down to a science. Most people and many trainers never can get that quite right. They wind up jerking the collar and the neck comes with it.

Did you ever have a back ache or your neck hurt? How did you feel? Not super and happy, energetic and ready to go, I’ll bet. If someone was jerking you around by the neck every time you disagreed with them, you would not be a happy camper or well camper either.

There is a better way. Please don’t jerk your dog. Ever.

So what is the better way? Start your dog training off leash. Find a positive dog trainer who will help you or get a great book or DVD from SitStay.com. If you choose a trainer, watch a class or two first so you know that no harm will come to your dog. If the trainer won’t let you watch a class, keep looking for a new trainer. Private classes or training with others doesn’t matter. If your trainer can watch and help many dogs and their humans all at once, that’s okay. I’ve only met a few who can handle a large class without stress which will put them through the roof. Smaller classes or private training are better, in my opinion.

I prefer soft collars for our dogs, like the Premier and Lupine Martingale styles and soft leather collars, too. Get yours at SitStay.com, we have lots of color choices and beautiful matching leashes. I think we have every color they make. The harnesses are nice, too. If you train your dog properly, a soft collar or a harness doesn’t matter, they will walk nicely on either.

I’d be hard pressed to let anybody put a metal collar on me or my dogs. Metal is hard and can do a great deal of damage and if there ever is a pull or a jerk on either end someone is going to get hurt. Soft collars can cause damage, too, if you have a heavy hand. It’s best to learn how to keep that leash loose without pulling than to jerk or pull at all.

If you have or someone else has been jerking your dog around, please take him to an animal chiropractor for an adjustment. Pulling or jerking on a dog’s neck, no matter how slight or hard, can do a great deal of damage. Improve your communication with your dog. Agree not to hurt each other and you’ll have a whole new relationship.

Get the book, My Dog Pulls from SitStay.com. It’s how I train dogs not to pull, it works fast and it’s fun.

[If you're rescuing a dog, please take him immediately to your chiropractor vet. Have them check him over including his bone alignment. You get to start with a dog who is his best self and your dog will get to be healthy and pain free. Thanks for rescuing. http://rescue.sitstay.com ]

Written by Darcie

October 7, 2009 at 1:22 pm

Posted in Ask Darcie, Darcie's Opinions, Darcie's Training Tip