Hi i have recently got myself a show quality boxer puppy and am having a bit of a dilemma. What type of collar would you use to get her to walk nicely on lead.(we are intending to show her) She pulls very much at the moment, i have basically "been a tree" with her and am not moving until she comes back to my side (walks take ages as you can imagine.LOL)

If she wears a normal collar she pulls into it and sounds like she is really choking, a half check she will wear, but  breakage of her neck fur seem to occur, or then there is a harness maybe? The thing is she has to learn to walk on a collar i just dont no which to plump for. Any advise as usually very greatfully recieved. She is 13 weeks old by the way. What did other show peeps do? and any suggestions on the loose lead walking.

I use a rolled leather collar on pups of that age and move onto a half check.  You can buy half checks without chain used as the insert, either leather or nylon.

As to the walking on a loose lead have you tried using a tube of cheese spread?  If not, hold your lead in your right hand and have puppy on your left with cheesey tube in your left hand held down randomly to pup's level to lick now and again and of course use lots of vocal encouragement :)  

Between you and me (STRICTLY) I've never persevered with the stopping routine (i get bored waaaaay before the dog does :rolleyes: :D )

Tube of cheese spread?? GENIUS!!!

The dliema of trying to get treats out of annoying bags = solved.

Thanks!

i have a long coated breed and I find the rolled half checks for normal walks ok, she doesn't wear it around the house so I don't have much of  a problem with fur breakage. As for shows she wears one of those rounded chains, snake chains I think they are called?

I have always used a leather collar with my Boxer pups.  Introducing the show chain at 9wks at ringcraft once a week.  Then moving on to a half check round about 4-5 months.  With regards to your pups coat breaking, do you keep the collar on at all times?  If so, this will cause a dipping effect.  I never keep collars on any of mine in the house. 

Mine use leather collars for everyday use, and a show chain/lead when showing.
Its best to use a totally different show lead from everday use as the dog gets used to distinguish between the two.

Ours are great about it once the show lead goes on its happytime as mummies gonna touch them all over ooohhh what a quiver :D

Hi Missie

Could you tell me where you got your rolled half check chain from please?  Have got Warros pulling collar and lead, but he's just got a plain rolled collar for home, but I wanted a rolled half check for obediance. 

Thanks

Paula

Hi Paula, erm I know this won't be much help now but I got it from a stall at Crufts :)
I had looked in lots of different pet shops, could find rolled collars without chain, could find half check but not rolled :rolleyes: so when I saw them at crufts I grabbed one (I did pay for it :P )
Sorry not much help. You could try searching on line as I know lots of show stalls advertise on line :)

Dee

Don't know if it's the same as Paula's, but these people will sell a rolled leather half check - they'll make it to your requirements and ship it out very promptly, highly recommended.

http://www.accoladeleathercraft.com

M.

Yep I just searched as well and found them at accolade, also found them here

http://www.canis-equus.co.uk/product/view/28

hth

Thanks Lily Mc & Missie,  have just ordered one from Accolade - they were the cheapest

Hopefully the little monkey (who, at 7 months old, has developed selective hearing ) will now realise that each collar means something different!! :D

Paula

Hope im allowed to say this as Canis Equus is my company... the reason for the rather HUGE price difference is that Canis Equus rolled collars and Accolades rolled collars are rather different products, Accolades collars are 'rounded' ie all the edges shaved off a strap of leather until it is round.... Canis Equus ones are leather rolled over and stitched..... the difference is a lot of work and strength of the finished item.

Hide and Collar also do proper rolled stitched collars too.

(Have just bought an accolade one for Abby to hang her tags off though as its so light and just the job for tags :)  )

Em (mods, if this is not appropriate please feel free to delete)

Interesting Em - although in my case with fairly sensible but very long-coated dogs, the Accolade type is preferable - but I can see where the other type might be good for some.

M.

Whatever type of collar you decide on only ever do show training with a show lead on. The dog neds to learn that one type of collar/lead is for certain things and the show lead is for show things - and make show training as much fun as possible. The way you want or will tolerate yr dog walking whilst out for a walk is v different to what you want in the hsow ring, this way will help the dog distinguish - and do no show training at all whilst teething.

Miight be a daft question But why no showing when they are teething? (told ya im a novice a this:rolleyes:)

because they tend to have sore gums and being strung up or whatever you do runs the risk of equating show lead with uncomfortable rather than fun.

Nothing to do with show leads ;) - while their mouths are sore they're not keen on having their mouths checked, so would associate being handled and judged with pain. Not good.

whilst teething I would check mouths quite often, but never stood up or on a table or with a show lead on, totally seperate type of excercise to check all is well. OT I dont understand why handlers insist on yelling teeth at a dog when the judge is walking up to it, so irritating!

i see now Thanks. I have a 14week old boxer pup and she is not a all keen on having her mouth looked at, at the moment. She is teething badly! Would you still do the ringcraft classes but not let anyone examine her mouth or should i avoid all show training altogether at the moment?

This is exactly why I wanted different collars for ringcraft and obediance/walking.  I don't want him pulling out when we're walking - he's getting very strong and could pull me over now, even though he's still a baby. He is just so cute, he's just like a big bumbling boy.  All legs, ears, tail and backside everywere :D

Paula

I would avoid ring training totally.

Why would You avoid ringcraft totally?

As I said before, do not do show training whilst a pup is teething. They can feel a bit sore, and show training should ALWAYS be associated with fun things.  A few weeks off will do no harm, there is no rush to get a pup into the ring at  months, behaving perfectly.

Sorry i miss read i though you meant avoid ringcraft totally with any pup:rolleyes:

Right things are going great with the pup in some areas others i need a little advise on again:rolleyes: With regard to the ringcraft she is a star, totally knows whats is expected of her, both during handling and movement. I got a seperate show chain and lead for this as advised and use it for ringcraft only( you were right she deffo know what is required of her when this goes on) She is a boxer by the way, and now about 17.5 weeks, the problem im still having is loose lead walking. On the street, she pulls like a steam strain dispite me from day one having refused to move if the lead isnt loose, i dont need obedience style heelwork i just want a relaxed walk. Collar types we used; well i have used a fine half check firstly, and recentley i have returned to a normal flat collar. Dont know where to go next, cause she really is pulling. Maybe it is her age?  I dont want to use a harness either but i could really do with some more tips on how to achieve a half decent walk, we do use treats , and toys also... they both only work for so long, she gets bored very easily and in the case of treats will spit them out even fresh chicken or sausage. helllllllllllllllp.. i know i need to have more patience with this as she is only 17 + weeks but im getting ever so frustrated and doubting my own ability... I have had boxers for 20 years, all have been older rescues, so this pup is the first in 20 + years and i feel somewhat desperate... Daft eh!

Hi, glad things are going ok re ringcraft. But I would still enrol in an obedience training class, you don't have to have them walking to heel but it does help getting expert advise on loose lead walking :) Also if you tell the trainer you intend showing, you don't have to do the 'sit' when still, use the 'stand' instead :)
I would also go back to half check collars, making sure the 'D' ring isn't touching when pulled.

Dee

Thats the thing we do go to obedience class to, the trainer says it is the boxer exuberance. And to either give a sharp checkor to turn sharply and walk the other way... if you do that you would back flip her:an i wont do that. So thats why i feel im in a stale mate of sorts at the moment.