peteg
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 29
|
Post by peteg on Jan 15, 2010 9:36:36 GMT -5
Knightley is 8 months now - I think it is time to get more serious. He has shown good drive and energy,and is real big - 77 lbs. He is house broken, good with my kids, and good on a leash. However, I had a series of hanging baskets in the back yard on a drip hose system that were hung from stout shepherd hooks mounted to my 6' fence. Knightley likes how the baskets will swing in the wind, and the fiber pots in the baskets look like fur. In other words, Knightly thought that a bunch of critters were hanging from chains just out of reach all his life. Yesterday while I was at work, he learned to jump up and hold on to said baskets and bend the hooks, pull out the drip system, etc. I think that he is trying to tell me that he needs a real job - so time to start training. A few questions: 1. What training collar do you use? I would like a basic electronic collar to use in the yard , and for the field. Cost is an issue, but I will want a unit that will last. Where do you recommend purchasing the collar? 2. How about a good tug toy to help wear him out a bit more after a walk? Are those fire-hose tugs worth the price? 3. Finally how about a bite sleeve? I don't plan on much man training (I have no experience or knowledge of this stuff) but it looks fun, and it seems the Airedales are good at it. Maybe since I want to train my wild dog, I keep thinking of how well trained those Schutzhund 3 dogs are. Can I mess with a bite sleeve but train a hunting dog? Finally what sleeve would you recommend to a novice, and where to purchase? Any other advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance, Peter and the basket hunter.
|
|
|
Post by charlie on Jan 15, 2010 12:27:26 GMT -5
Like real estate there are three simple yet important rules. For Airedales those rules are exercise, exercise, exercise. IMHO If you don't want your back yard denuded then get that guy out for as long as you can as often as you can. Doesn't matter if it's training for something in particular i.e hunting, schutzhund or just to run his ass ragged. You got to, got to, got to get Airedales out doing something or there will be mischief afoot.
|
|
|
Post by ed on Jan 15, 2010 18:16:15 GMT -5
Don't know how handy you are but a spring pole builds a dog with fun exercise. Youi need to supervise his play but he will get "the Hang " of it, can also buy em ready made. On a more serious note I extinguish behavior I don't want and real pronto. One tool is a Sprenger pinch collar. its a flick of the wrist correction not a tug or a long pull. Gotta balance its use with fun, the good stuff. Don't use ANY correction if you can't tell/show him clearly what you don't want. An electric collar is great but probably you should work with some one before using it. Lot of different kinds I like the kind that a sender will fit in your shirt pocket and one that has nick and continuous controls.Costs a bit more but you can add a beeper. www.ironmanpits.com/ironmanpits.comspringpolesironmanspringpolespitbullsonspringpolesxxlpitbullsonspringpol.htmwww.ehow.com/how_2188251_build-spring-pole.html
|
|
peteg
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 29
|
Post by peteg on Jan 15, 2010 21:50:49 GMT -5
Thanks guys, I just got back from a long walk to follow Charlie's advice, and will consider the springpole - it seems that Knightley was trying to make his own with my baskets. The site you linked recommended it for dogs 1 year and older. I have a sprenger pinch collar and use it walking, and put on a harness in the field. I figure an electric collar would help complete the gear. Ed, do you keep the pinch collar on regularly for training? I was wondering if you could suggest good training books? Thanks. I am adding a few pictures for Don. Attachments:
|
|
peteg
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 29
|
Post by peteg on Jan 15, 2010 21:51:41 GMT -5
One more Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by ed on Jan 15, 2010 22:42:24 GMT -5
Great pic. To your question regarding the Sprenger collar. Everyone has their own ways. For me its real simple...if he was on lead he was on the collar. Off lead he wasn't. Some things need a Sprenger like outing a dog that doesn't want to let go the bad guy. Helpful in heeling, about turns and other obedience stuff. it also made it clear to a somewhat hard headed boy that dog fighting wasn't going to be his form of recreation. I've seen and used electric in similar situations and it can lend itself to very excellent obedience but I have also seen some real DUMB electric mess up a dog or turn a small problem into an enormous problem...Harder to do this with the Sprenger.
|
|
mactuna
Wannabe
Kitti Boating
Posts: 17
|
Post by mactuna on Jan 17, 2010 11:12:24 GMT -5
Our female is 9 months and we use a Tritronics collar too take away her bad habits and they work great. They have a buzzer noise, a one time shock and a continuous shock. She has responded well.
|
|
peteg
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 29
|
Post by peteg on Jan 17, 2010 20:52:19 GMT -5
Mactuna, which tritronics collar did you purchase, and where? Thanks. BTW, anyone able to tell me whether or not if I mess with a bite sleeve I can push Knightley away from hunting? Finally, anyone purchase a fire hose tug toy? I have seen fire hose used for cut collars, so I figure it has got to be tough. Here is a site that carries it that TD linked to a while back. www.fordogtrainers.com/firehosebitetugsclicktoseemoreproducts.aspx Thanks again, Peter
|
|
|
Post by ed on Jan 17, 2010 23:15:42 GMT -5
"anyone able to tell me whether or not if I mess with a bite sleeve I can push Knightley away from hunting?" Don't think so....good luck
|
|
peteg
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 29
|
Post by peteg on Jan 18, 2010 10:07:04 GMT -5
Thanks Ed, though I have never tried working with a sleeve, it sure looks fun.
|
|
|
Post by hicntry on Jan 18, 2010 10:21:39 GMT -5
Pete, here is a simple philosophy. Try it. If the dog doesn't take to it, it's probably not worth wasting the time to try and get them to do it. Lots of people have dogs doingm things they are not cut out for and they never get good at it. If you concentrate on the areas that the dog really enjoys, he will be good at it and make you look good at the same time. All you can do is try things and find out how he reacts to them.
|
|
jax
Hunter/worker
Posts: 133
|
Post by jax on Jan 18, 2010 13:05:37 GMT -5
peteg wrote:
Finally, anyone purchase a fire hose tug toy?
I have tried these kinds of tugs and they are very durable and very difficult for a dog to "sink his teeth into"...literally. The weave is very tight. They are great for building bite. I like burlap for bite too. It is cheap, disposable and easy for anyone to work into any design. If you get a used burlap bag from a feed store, be sure to wash it a couple times (w/o detergent) before you let your dog "mouth" it. Sometimes there is residue from fertilizers and/or insecticides on them....depending on what they contained of course. I've wrapped burlap over garden hose, auto engine hose(w/o metal in it), foam board and the like. It is utilitarian but best of all it is cheap. Most of the fire hose stuff I have seen is made in China and I don't trust the Chinese to use safe dyes. Fire hose can also break puppy teeth which can penetrate it whereas adult teeth aren't near as sharp. Give it a try. The only limit to using burlap is your imagination. You can stitch a handle to just about any burlap homemade toy with one of those handy stitchers, which look like an awl and have the thread inside, for leather repair. I get burlap bags from my feed store for $1.50 each and the stitcher is under $10 at the hardware store. You'll spend that on one toy.
|
|
|
Post by thistlesdale on Jan 21, 2010 23:24:33 GMT -5
I decided to double train the muttdale sisters as a tag team, so for xmas I ordered them # B14J-L (Jute for Left arm) & # B14J-R (Jute for Right arm) from here: www.elitek9.com/Sleeves/index.htm & I tell ya what, I have seen the light! I used to swear by a hardarm/ bite barrel, until the first time little duke felt a real human arm wiggling around between his chops & spit it out!! of course he immediately redeployed; but had that been a real life crisis situation, he may not have had the chance?!? hardarm is a helper's luxury softarm is -a must-
|
|
peteg
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 29
|
Post by peteg on Jan 23, 2010 0:19:02 GMT -5
Makes me nervous Thistledale - didn't you write me this, "no other breed that I've ever seen will wrap it's jaws around a bad guy's arm like an airedale terrier. I'm not kidding or exaggerating when I say that I'm pretty sure my airedale could take a man's arm off." You are telling me a softarm is a must? Do you have an old hardarm you want to sell? Thanks
|
|
reed
Junior Hunter/worker
Posts: 25
|
Post by reed on Jan 23, 2010 1:34:25 GMT -5
Hi,
I have a hardsleeve for sale with a jute cover in good shape. I believe I purchased it from Leerburg several years ago. PM or email if interested.
Reed markreed1@yahoo.com
|
|