Your Questions About Dog Training Collars

admin answers:

It is a device people use so they don’t have to actually train the dog.

Throw the harness out and TRAIN the dog to walk nicely on a leash. A basic obedience class can help you with that.

admin answers:

In 43 years of owning, training, breeding and showing dogs, I have used an electric collar once.

We live on 180 acres, but do have a country road on 2 sides of the property. Our dogs are kept in our fenced yard unless we are working, playing or walking them.

My one dog was about 3 years old. Trained for agility and competing..basic “companion obedience”. He would come when called, would “heel” or “side” when told, when released, would trot ahead of me 50 feet or so, stopping and checking periodically to make sure I was still coming. If I turned and walked the other direction, he would turn too, run to me. He would “wait up” when told, and “down” at a distance when told.

In other words: he was HIGHLY trained. I had put a LOT of time into him. And he KNEW what was allowed, and to “obey”

Well, one day, at around 3 years old, as I said, he and my daughter’s dog kicked up a jack rabbit…and off they went. To the end of our property into the neighboring orchard…they would not call off. To me, this is absolutely NOT ALLOWED! Because it is dangerous. The rabbit could have run a different direction across the road….

So, I borrowed a friend’s E-collar.

Only because I KNEW my dog KNEW what “Micah, come” meant.

Took a week of walking daily until we kicked up another rabbit. Off he went. I called, in my normal happy voice “Micah, come!”…no response. Gave him another chance, “Micah! COME” louder. No response. Hit the button, he stopped and jumped. Again, I said “Micah! Come” still in a happy voice. He came, I told him him “Good Boy”.

End of story. Never used it again.

But…..remember, I only used it because I KNEW he KNEW what “come” meant. He was simply too caught up in the chase and chose to ignore me. And by ignoring me, he could have gotten killed.

Micah is gone now. I lost him to cancer in old age. Dear, sweet, fun buddy boy.

I have a 3 year old BC now…..who I have also invested a lot of training in and continues the tradition of our walks. So far, she has called off groound squirrels immediately.

I would never use an e-collar for “training”. I do not feel it is right, nor fair to shock a dog if the trainer hasn’t already taught the dog “what to do”….If I didn’t think I could control my dog off leash, I would not allow my dog off leash, as I had not done my job.

admin answers:

A-er,,,,, I forgot ,,,,, ROFL

What you didn’t say is how old your pup is now.

We use a set program with our dogs starting with ENS at three days of age. Http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/achiever.html
Then at 5 weeks we start introductions (water, birds, gunfire,etc) before fear memory develops (11-12 weeks)
From 12 weeks through 6 months all training is kept on a fun only basis. It is important during this time not to get heavy handed in any way because the puppy lacks the cognitive skills to understand a correction. The pup is completely food oriented so take advantage of it and cookie train during this time frame. Do easy single marks in the field, and work on the three foundation actions in the yard (sit, kennel, recall)
Between 6-7 months of age the pup will develop a newfound independence and self awareness. This is your signal that the pup is no longer food oriented and has developed other motivations (should not need an explanation). The pup also will have developed the cognitive skills to understand corrections and formal training can now begin with a good “basics” program.
Get either “10 minute retriever” by Amy Dahl, or “Smartworks for retrievers” by Evan Grahm to use for a basics program guide. Both of these books will discuss “collar conditioning” and “proofing” the pups foundation. I proof in reverse order of what the foundation actions were taught, recall first, kennel, and sit last. I also start FF at the same time teaching the delivery (drop) first, then “hold” then “fetch”. Consider 3HC as a conclusion of fetch and you will be on your way to teaching your dog to handle.

A good source for training books and information is www.dobbsdogs.com