A New Leash On Life

That's a really bad pun, but today has been a landmark day. Sidney's bad leash walking habits earned him a new pinch collar today. The trainer at Sidney's daycare witnessed us walking to the bus, by which I mean she witnessed me walking and Sidney being carried. She took pity on me and strongly encouraged me to get him a pinch collar. She gave us a little free training, demonstrating how the pinch collar works. It looks like a medieval torture device!! It's got these metal tines that stick into his neck ("they rest on his neck without any pressure," she says) and then when he does something bad, I'm supposed to jerk on it and "correct" him. Yikes!!! She said, "You're going to have to yank it a lot harder than you're going to be inclined to and it's going to feel wrong, but just think about how much more you're going to be able to enjoy Sidney by not having him think he's the Alpha. And he does think he's the Alpha."

Well, I took him outside and surprised myself by taking so naturally to using it.

Me: Sidney, let's go. No? [Gentle yank on the leash.]
Sidney: Pitter patter. [As he walks three steps.]
Me: Good boy!!!
Sidney stops and looks at me with disdain.
HARD yank.
Sidney: Pitter patter. Pitter patter. Pitter patter. Pitter patter. Pitter patter. [As he walks all the way to the bus stop.]
Me: This is BRILLIANT!!!

God bless the pinch collar!! I <3 the pinch collar!!

I just took him around the block for his evening potty break and he did not stop once.