I used a pinch collar on Tessa this morning. She is only 4.5 months old. I never used it on a dog that young and feel  bad about it. I am an advocate of pinch collars, used them with all my dogs, just not that young, usually started using them during adolescence.

After 6 weeks of working on not pulling on the leash, some days are still sooo bad that I'd rather not walk at all (of course I can't do that). Yesterday was such a day, morning and night. Stop, sit, whoa, redirect, here, resume walking, on some days works about 60% of the time, and yesterday not at all, and I know she knows very well what is expected of her. She outdid herself and walked down the street on two legs...this morning I couldn't bear it any longer. Returned home, took about 20 links off the pinch collar I had used on my late bulldog, so for her it's more like a Martingale collar with very few prong links on the top of the neck, and resumed the walk.

It took two well-placed corrections to reinforce the "no", and we were fine the entire walk. I don't expect the perfect heel yet, she can walk on the left, right, out (unless I say "here" whereupon she returns to either one of my sides) as long as the leash is totally loose and it was, so there was a lot more opportunity for  praise and treats today than usually. So overall, much less frustration for both me and Tessa.

But...is this too young?

I used a pinch collar (small one that I had on hand) on Ringo at 4 months.  I am training him in obedience and he knows heel (as much as any 4 - 5 month old pup does), but I just wanted to walk him and the girls on a trail.  The girls were off leash and I had him on a long lead so he could wander and sniff and have some fun.  That said, I do not like my dogs pulling me down the trail.  I could hold him back, but was afraid he would hurt his neck and I didn't want to keep correcting him on the walk.  So, I put the pinch on and it took one correction and then we all had fun. I don't think a 4 month old is too young for a pinch as long as you know how to use it.  I have friends that have German Shepards and many of they start their pups on pinch collars.

I do not train with a pinch collar when I do training because I have seen way to many dogs in obedience misbehave in the obedience ring because they are not allowed to show with a pinch.  These dogs are smart and will get collar wise.  So, I train in a choke or a flat buckle collar as I want my dogs to get to where they mind and heel nicely in any collar. 

I'm so glad that my baby isn't the only one...she is so so so distractible that walks are a challenge. Add in the mix her younger sister who is a mellow but michevious lab/dalmatian mix and thats a real walk for ya!

I bought a halti today and plan on giving it a try.

p.s. I love this site!!

Cleo - Just remember the Halti does not train the dog to walk nicely.  It may serve to make your walks easier until you get your pups trained, but don't stop the training on heeling.  You eventually want to have your pup walk nicely with you no matter what collar they have on.  Personally I don't like the Halti's, but that is just me.  I prefer to train with a pinch or choke collar and wean them off that into a regular buckle collar.