Follow a class

Week six classes include teaching tricks - shake hands, ring the bell. We practice the loose leash walking/sit for greeting out on the floor. We work on leave it, take it, and one thing people always find very interesting is I show off equipment.
Now my methods of loose leash walking will work. Really. On almost any dog. I teach several different ways, several different methods of reminding your dog you aren't the sled to their sled dog envy. Pull Pull Pull!

So, while the people I work for really like ONLY buckle collars, harnesses and products by Premier - I show the other stuff too. I figure, we sell it, its a tool, if they are going to be used, I'd rather they be used properly.
We get out all the fun toys - the Gentle Leaders, the Easy Walk Harnesses, the Halti's, the comfort wrap harness, the choke chain
(by any other name...) and the pinch collar. We try on all of these on as many different dogs as the owners will allow.
Sometimes I get entire classes who see the pinch collar and stand up, wave their arms wildly and say "ME ME ME! Try it on MINE!!" Other classes will look at it and give a collective shudder.
Even the people with the teeny tiny dogs whose feet I know never hit ground unless its in class, all watch with great fascination.

I remind them that none of them 'teach' the dog anything, they are only tools to use until the dog understands. A hammer does not teach, its a tool. A tire iron blender doesn't teach, it too is a tool. Useful. Helpful. But not teachers.