advises needed for collar/ harness and behavior

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Lam

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Happy New Year to All!

A new year started, make something new to change from bad habits.

It might be a repeat and repeated topic, however I need you all generous advises like always.

I am looking for a training aids for my boy, he has been using Hunter Retriever Slip Lead, chocker collar and an anti-pull harness. However the result is not pleasant. Gradually he learnt not to pull so hard, but still pull somehow and the first two training aids isn't gentle at all. So, I have to look up other for him, I can't decide what to go at the moment, Gentle leader/ Canny collar (which suggested by a member in earlier post), or Easy Walk Harness/ Walk your dog with love, would you please kindly share some suggestions?

Another issue I found that my 4 years boy- Charcoal(same boy as above) showing some sign of aggression? (I am not too sure what he is trying to tell actually.) Charcoal and I are the most closest in the house, he would follow me wherever I go in the house, sit or sleep next to me on the floor. However, when my the other half or even my bother(he don't live with us) want to pat him when he is under the table or at his bed, he often would make Grrr, Grrr, Grr, it sounds like a pig really. However, Charcoal never shows its teeth and he will just keep Grr going a bit louder and louder.
Poor my partner, he feel isn't be accept or love from Charcoal and also we have lost the other one- Grizzly just over a month ago which has closer relationship with him.
I feel somehow, I am or maybe Charcoal is the pack leader in the house and my partner is the fellow for sure in Charcoal's concept.
What to do to correct his Grrr?
 
You need to teach him not to pull, and that the best place to be is beside you. You can do this through food, ball, or just teaching the dog that if it pulls, it goes nowhere. On top of that training aids are just there to help you get focus/power steering back.
In your shoes with a big strong lab I would use a head collar, the Gentle Leader worked for my old GSD when my mum had a shoulder op but you MUST introduce them properly, in the house, make it a positive thing, not just slap them on and go as that will create much drama.

Re the growling, why do your partner or brother WANT to pat him when he is under the table and in his bed? These are places of rest and quiet time and these 'strange' men are, as he sees it, enroaching into his space.
There is one school of thought that growling is a warning and a sign that the dog is uncomfortable and should be respected, and that the dog is vocalising rather than attacking without warning, which of course is worse.
There is another that growling is intolerable and should be punished or else the dog will learn that every time it doesn't want to do something, all it has to do is growl and the human will back off.
How you proceed is up to you and you might be better getting a behaviourist or trainer in to see if he is insecure or is getting ideas above his station.

The following you around the house thing and the pulling your arms out on walks and the growling at the men in your life may or may not be linked (You're mine, I will lead you, I will tell these men to get out of my face), but different people will have their own views on that!!
 
Thank you for your precious advises CaveCanem. I want to seek out some advises before calling a behaviorist. From my gut feeling, Charcoal is kind of telling off my partner majorly of the way they interact. (He has been playing quite rough with Charcoal and Charcoal doesn't like it, so he growl) I have asked my partner not to play to hard with charcoal but, I think the negative feedback has left, and that resist Charcoal to play with my partner. Charcoal is not resist to play with other men visitors in house, he just does not like my partner very much. How should I re-introduce Charcoal to my partner again? We have tried the treat, but once the food is ran out, Charcoal doesn't see the point to engage with my partner, and he refuse to listen commend from my partner.
Thank you for your patient.
 
I'd just ask your partner to cool it and ignore him for a while and not force the issue. It may be that he accidentally hurt Charcoal in the rough or tumble or Charcoal perceived the play as a real threat.
Tell him to pretend there is no dog. The more he frets and tries to 'make friends' the more that could stress the dog as he seems to be displaying that he does not want to be around him at all.
There needs to be a positive association, in a few weeks he could start to feed the dog, let the dog see your OH putting food in his bowl or putting down his dish, take it very slow and steady. Then maybe walks.
The relationship may never be as good again (my old bitch remembered my dad shouting at her for jumping up at him once when she was a puppy, til the day she died at 14 she always slunk away when she saw him, no matter if he tried to be nice to her or ignored her) but at least he can try.

To be honest I would not let anyone rough and tumble with my dog, it doesn't always end well.
 
Hi CaveCanem, Thank you for your suggestions and I will give it a go, hopefully it will improve in a few weeks time. =) Thank you!
 
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