By hanging a piece of wood from your dog’s collar, to hang horizontally in front of the forelegs, you will limit comfortable running, jumping or wandering off when outside. If your dog tends to put his nose down and wander off without listening to you calling him back, you can either put him on a lead, or use the stick of shame. The “piece of wood” doesn’t have to be a 2×4 although that works well for the bigger dogs like Labradors. It could be a stick or even a paint stirrer in the case of a really small dog.
And no. The dog’s not supposed to wear the stick of shame all the time.
It’s possible for a dog to attempt to run or jump and if you think your dog might actually try it, they could be injured to some degree by a fall. Avoid this method if your dog is more enthusiastic that he is smart.
By attaching a piece of wood horizontally in front of your dog’s front legs, hanging from their collar, you can discourage comfortable running, jumping, or wandering when outside. If your dog tends to lower their nose and wander off without responding to your calls, you can either use a leash or try this “stick of shame” method. The wood doesn’t need to be a large 2×4—while that works well for bigger dogs like Labradors, a simple stick or even a paint stirrer can be suitable for smaller breeds. Keep in mind, your dog isn’t meant to wear the stick of shame all the time. Since a dog might still try to run or jump, there’s a risk of injury from falling, so avoid this technique if your dog is more enthusiastic than cautious.
