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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use a chokechain?

299 replies

AsahiGo · 02/10/2019 07:24

Looking for some advice and brutal honesty, hence posting in this section haha. Also sorry for the long post.

We've had our gorgeous labsky for two months, he's a second-hand dog, and aside from being an obnoxious teenager at times, he's generally good. However, on walks he is a nightmare.

He drags, and it's BAD. To add context, my husband and I are both powerlifters, and we both struggle with him! We've tried a harness (swiftly found it gives him more power to drag through his shoulders - I swear he thanked us for it!), We've tried a halti. With the halti, it did hinder his pulling BUT, he learnt that if he walks slightly side-ways, he can still do whatever he wants. And then he started walking on his hind legs whilst trying to get the halti off with his front paws.

The other issue we have is that he is fixated on cars. He lunges at anything that moves, and yesterday he knocked my daughter into the road in front of a 4x4 (SHE IS FINE! luckily). He was on a halti and another lead attached to his collar as a backup. He still managed to get off the curb.

At the moment, I'm walking him at 4am (less traffic!) and I'm wrapping the lead around my waist and using my body weight against him. It's the only thing I can think of doing at the moment. Treats don't work - he flat out refuses them on walks, in fact, he completely ignores me.

I loathe choke chains. But I feel like I'm running out of options, and due to his fixation on chasing vehicles, it's only a matter of time before an accident happens. We have seen a couple of trainers, and they didn't know what to do with him. The last guy screamed 'FUCKING HELL!' as he was yanked across his paddock.

Obviously I need to walk this dog, but I don't know how to do it safely anymore. AIBU to try a choke chain?

OP posts:
Pippioddstocking · 04/10/2019 09:40

Have you thought about cannicross ?

OnlyTheTitOfTheIceberg · 04/10/2019 09:45

We've not entirely ruled out choke chain.

Please rule it out entirely, it could physically injure your dog.

If a good trainer comes to my attention, I will have another go

Are you in the wrong part of the Midlands to try the trainer I recommended?

Original poster
AsahiGo · 04/10/2019 10:02

@Pippioddstocking he's not quite old enough to join the group I want to. We've started training, but not anything 'proper' - a month or so and we'll be off!
@Only when I say 'i haven't ruked it out' I mean I'm doing 'training' for the forseeabke future. A choke chain isn't in my amazon basket - I'm sticking this out. I don't totally disagree with chokes being used in the right circumstances - not saying mine fits into that! I think that's more accurate. We're in the wrong part to th at trainer. Until we get a car we cant travel out too much

OP posts:
OnlyTheTitOfTheIceberg · 04/10/2019 10:13

www.apdt.co.uk/dog-owners/local-dog-trainers it's always worth looking at neighbouring counties as most trainers cover more than one and will travel to you - a good trainer will want to see the dog in his home environment to start with anyway.

Frazzledbutcalm · 04/10/2019 10:36

Pointless people posting anymore .... you’ve made your mind up, disregarded most advice then left choke chain still on your list. The more you post OP, the worse you’re making it for yourself.

Original poster
AsahiGo · 04/10/2019 10:37

Many thanks, we are keeping a look out. Thanks again for the link Smile

OP posts:
SusanneLinder · 04/10/2019 11:27

Plenty of people have given you good advice as you have acknowledged, however I cannot believe you are still considering a choke chain. This is 1970s/1980s dog training, just hurts the dog and you should use patience to train him, not use quick fixes and possibly injure him.

adaline · 04/10/2019 12:47

We've not entirely ruled out choke chain. But we are going to give this a real good go first.

Why? Why would you consider a technique that could physically harm your dog, and cause him severe trauma over walks?

Pisses me off. You asked for advice and still think using a choke chain is okay 😡

BertieBotts · 04/10/2019 17:46

£500 for 2 hours of training? Fucking hell guy sounds like a pisstaker with an excellent PR machine.

I can recommend you someone covering Wolverhampton if any use.

percheron67 · 04/10/2019 17:52

Aahgo. I am sure your dog is not intimidating and laugh at the thought of you or he wearing such a vest. I was only trying to point out the difference between something that pull a Landrover and something very fine. Thank you for your post.

percheron67 · 04/10/2019 18:00

BenWillbonds: I have never had to jerk, drag or pull any of my dogs - they always walk to heel. I could use a light show lead and it would be the same. Because the dog knows my voice and wants to please. Check chains can be useful if the dog is older and very strong.

I do not need to go to classes having run many of my own!! However, I think you may benefit from a visit to a charm school. I hope your dogs have better manners!!

PeterJOgilvie · 04/10/2019 18:04

He needs to be trained properly if you can't handle him.

Try again with the Halter one for now, your dog needs to learn how to behave even if it's a little uncomfortable.

nilcarborundum · 04/10/2019 18:16

I used on of these with my Red Setter, it really works!

Sporn Non-Pull Harness, Black Medium https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0062ME8WG/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_i53LDbMD80ZND

BilboBercow · 04/10/2019 18:19

I don't know op. How much do you think you'd enjoy what is effectively a metal noose wrapped around your neck and tugged tight every time you tried to walk?

Sourtart · 04/10/2019 18:56

YABU
Find IMDT or APDT trainer local to you. It will be hard work. But you’re obviously very committed so shouldn’t be proud of that x

WiddlinDiddlin · 04/10/2019 21:20

@nilcarborundum

That harness just causes pain under the armpits instead of pain around the throat, it is still an aversive and it still doesn't actually teach the dog what you do want, just causes him pain when he does what you don't want.

Greenleaveslaughing · 04/10/2019 21:33

I don’t think the choke chain will work, unfortunately. We had a lab who pulled for England, it was horrific, and a half choke.
He choked himself, twice, while we were standing still chatting to neighbours.
I cut it up and put it in the bin.

Try a loopy. It loops around both front legs. Dog can run/ walk normally, but can feel a little pull, and it kind of works.
Combine the loopy with a halti, and use TWO leads. One attached to the halti, one to the loopy.

See how that goes.
Chocolate lab, could have pulled a truck, I’m pretty sure. Our puppy trainer, said some dogs will always pull, no matter what, but the two leads, Loopy and Halti ( he hated the halti, didn’t mind the loopy) made us able to walk our lovely dog, more safely.

Greenleaveslaughing · 04/10/2019 21:34

Also, avoid harness, it just lets a pulling dog, pull more efficiently 😂😂

Greenleaveslaughing · 04/10/2019 21:35

Oh and buy your self a lead with a shock absorber in, its heavenly, with a dog that pulls all the time.

Hally2020 · 04/10/2019 22:06

You can get anti pull harnesses or haltis. As others have said find a good training class. Please don't resort to using a choke chain x

Surreynewbie · 04/10/2019 22:17

Apologies, I’ve not read the full thread..
We also have a rescue husky x GSD - she was actually on a choke chain before she came to us.
She is happy having had a couple of hours walking a day and isn’t ever on her own as we live and work on a (diversified) farm. I’m sure someone’s already mentioned this, but just in case, have you tried draining the prey drive before the walk?

Peacocking · 05/10/2019 06:24

I've had the uber strong lab x that pulled me in front of a car. Its bloody hard going.

Bear with me while I try to explain what helped a bit...

I used a choke chain and chain lead AS WELL as other equipment. As this was just extra, the collar hung loose the whole time but had the other equipment snapped or come off the all-metal choker and lead would have come into play as an unbreakable safety mechanism.

I used a long soft lead which I clipped to a normal collar then ran it down his back, then under and right round his tummy right by the back leg and then at the top tucked under itself and then back up as a normal lead into my hand. Hard to explain, but basically it meant that if he pulled it pulled on his lower tummy first. I'm sure there'll be howls of protest about this idea in here, but he would immediately stop dead as soon as he felt the lead start to pull on his tummy, look confused and then walk again. I don't think it ever became tight once. Certainly caused him no pain or damage as he didnt put any effort into pulling at all with this as it really confused him. Might help the OP, might not. Every dog is different!

Weedsnseeds1 · 06/10/2019 18:04

www.arcticquest.co.uk/
Maybe give these guys a ring? They might be able to suggest a club or trainer near you?
Let him learn to pull in a controlled way?

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