Hi all

I I am looking for something for a friend.  She has been recommended an air blower / puffer to squirt at her dog when he gets excited during agility and comes back at her (sometimes resulting in biting) but we cannot seem to find anything like this anywhere.  Has anyone heard of it or know where to get it?

Thanks

never heard of them ..wouldn't she be better throwing him a ball at the end of the course that way he wouldnt bite.

Not sure what I think of them, but they were advertised in one of the dog papers last week. Unfortunately one is now underneath pups and the other I gave to my mate, so can't look it up.

not sure what i think of them but there are some called PET CORECTORS from the company of animals : http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk
aslong as it is a confident dog and has no problems with noises then try it otherwise i would give it a miss
anna

hi, <a class='url' href='http://www.championpetsonline.co.uk'>http://www.championpetsonline.co.uk</a> have compressed air cannisters available. i believe they also have a delivery service. It comes under the 'new' list on the left hand side of their web site

Thanks all! He is VERY confident so it will not spook him.

If I puffed air at my pooch it would make her more excited (kids have done it in the past).

I suspect she will go ahead and get one - what I'd say though is, do come back and ask for advice if it has a negative effect. Reason being that it may work if he is confident - however, he's probably very wound up and full of adrenalin and excited and if he doesn't "redirect" onto her, he may do it to something or someone else... I'd suggest toys, etc and if he gets OTT take him calmly straight out back to the car so he understands that what he does means the end of his fun...I'd give the opportunity to get the excitement out of him with a toy though...dogs find it hard to containt themselves :).

Lindsay
x

I completely agree Lindsay.  I don't agree with these type of things, especially when the dog is supposed to be working.  He is full of adrenalin and I would wear him out with a toy - not punishment.  What may happen is that the dog will start to dread getting to the end of the course because he then gets pressurised air directed at him.  Err!!!!!!!! 

Annie

My BC bitch gets very excited with agility and when we're finish she runs up all excited and sometimes nips me (which is very painful) I've bought a toy that I only use at agility and she loves it. Once she finishes she gets that thrown. So now she's come to expect it. No more nipping and no more multicoloured, bruised legs. I just think it should be a positive thing. She gets rewarded for doing well. I just see the blowers in this case as a negative. Your dogs just run round a course for you. Yes they love it but they've still done what you've asked and then they get a negative blast. Turn the postive energy into something else. A tuggy or a thrown toy or treat.

Along the same lines, I read in a dog training book once that when you say words beginning with "F" you expell a little puff of air so you should use an "F" word as your command for not doing things.

NO, not THAT word.

We say "feet on the floor" or just "feet" to indicate no jumping up allowed.

Hi,

Just a thought - your friends dog may be ok with it and it may well work for him - but I would be careful using such a thing in an environment where there are other dogs around, if it's an agility class, as it may well spook the other dogs.  I know I wouldn't be happy if someone else was to use something like that in the training class I take my girl to, my dog is generally a very confident girl but in an enclosed space with lots of other dogs around she can get worried and something like that would definitely spook her.

All the best,

Karen

Thanks all for the feedback.  We train outside in a field and this dog is a special case.  Our trainer is VERY experienced and has used this method in the past as a last resort (which this is) so my friend will only be using it under her direction.

Unfortunately toys etc just don't work with this dog and we have tried everything under the sun to stop him doing this.

Yes that's a point, keep other dogs right away - wasnt it Gunner's dog on this forum who was recently really upset by one of these Correctors?
If a noise sensitive dog is around it could make them much worse...and the trainer might even be held responsible.

Lindsay
x

We regularly meet a girl walking a rather unruly Akita. Recently, she has been using one of these sprays to try to distract her dog from pulling towards other dogs but as far as I can tell it is having no effect and the Akita appears to have now learned to ignore the air spray.

The timing would have to be very good, otherwise the dog might think hes being punished for returning to her. Is there any way the dog can be taught just by positive methods, i.e. only reward the good, give a command before he returns etc, or is he really doing damage? What about training discs? THey are more of a non reward marker rather than outright aversive. Like Lindsay i would be worried about redirected behaviour if he is that worked up. Is he food motivated? What about throwing a handful of food in front of the handler when he returns so that hes preoccupied?

Yes, it was Gunner!  And this is a dog that previously wasn't gun shy.....had worked around dummy launchers and been to innumerable Game Fairs!  Be warned....they are VICIOUS!  DO NOT USE.

It is sad that people have forgotten that basic training is the key to a lot of problems. Instant down is good for some problems and the basic leave command for others. :-)

I know of a collie who is incredibly obedient in all other circumstances but at the end of an agility round used to nip.  This dog will "instant down" whilst working sheep no problem (and works sheep very calmly and well!), or 100 yards away across the owner's fields but she gets so worked up at agility - and is doing very good, fast agility rounds.  She would also instant down marvellously well when the nip was over!  So I don't think it is always a question of basic training being neglected or forgotten.

This dog was taught to deflect her ... not sure what you call it ... onto a toy.

If these agility dogs are taught to drop on command on to a table then they should be able to be dropped at the trainers feet when they have finished. My husband had never had dogs before meeting me and went on to do agility with both his dogs and could always get a down when they had finished their rounds. Persevere people and keep training. :-) imo these air blow devices will only cause you more problems. :-( Lets face it, the sport is supposed to be enjoyable for the dog aswell as the owner.

Please be careful what sort of 'air' you buy.
The ones used to clean computers, although marked as air spray, infact contain the same sort of gas as used in lighters.
Read very carefully just what is in the can, inhailing gas can be just as fatal to dogs as it is to humans.
Good luck  :)