Remote trainers for dogs, just wondering how everyone feels about using them now that they are so high tech?
I have a 9 month old lab/border collie and have ordered a remote collar. She is in Life Skills 3 training by professional trainers. We live on a farm and she loves to run off leash. However, when she gets a scent...she forgets I'm there and takes off! I've tried everything. So, the remote training collar I've ordered has 'vibrate' and buzz sound as well as various levels of shock. Yesterday, she bolted and I had to chase her across a large field and down the middle of our road where some cars/trucks go very fast. What do you all think of the newer remote collars and what are my chances of success? She loves to run, it gives her such joy but I don't want to lose her to the road or coyotes....
I love em and will never train a dog without using one. However, be sure you don't use the escape training method - the training booklet that comes with almost all collars details this method.
In short, if it tells you to hold down the continuous button before giving the command, it's escape training. The correct way to use remote collars is for corrections, and you should mostly be using the nick button. Don't use the continuous button until you've already given the dog a chance to correct his behavior.
Another poster mentioned using treats to teach recall, and this is a great idea. But you should also use corrections when the dog doesn't recall upon command. The dog will learn pretty quick that compliance = reward while disobedience = stimulation. But he should still get a reward after coming to you! It's always rewarding to come on command. Never call the dog to you if he won't like the consequence!
Another thing I suggest is having the dog wear the collar for 1.5-2 weeks before you start pushing buttons. You should put it on and take it off 5-10 times per day so the collar isn't associated with anything negative. And don't leave it on for more than 8 hours at a time.
Another poster mentioned a dog developing epilepsy after its owner used an electric collar - this is 100% wrong. Unless the dog had a head injury or has been abusing alcohol, epilepsy is a genetic disease. There is no way that stimulation on the dog's neck will cause it to develop electrical 'storms' in its brain. It's 100% impossible.
And the dog that turned handler aggressive after being stimulated already had the predisposition. Handler aggression is an issue of temperament, which is genetic, and previous learning experiences. This type of dog will eventually turn on you if you so much as tell them no too harshly or give a minor leash correction. And if you worry about this, just get a muzzle when you do training. That takes away 95% of their power and dogs know it - just be sure your fingers don't get in the muzzle!
edit:
Ah the "shock collars are cruel!" animal rights bunch is already showing up =] Had they ever felt a remote collar, they would know they are nothing more than a static electricity shock. Touching my door handle on a dry day is more painful than any setting I've ever used on a dog. Have you ever cringed at touching door handles because of the annoying shocks? Well thats exactly how remote collars work. It's annoying, but is not an excruciating pain.
What is a remote dog training collar?
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