Electronic training collar

[pavman]

Now I have "trained", well perhaps trained is a slight egsaduration, quite a few gun dogs and sheepdogs over my 60 odd years. Sometimes a particular dog that shows promise will have one particular trait that requires correction. This may be unsteadiness to sheep, chasing tractors turning a deaf ear to the stop whistle or whatever.

The cleaver clogs will say "ah go back to basics and all will be well". Well I can tell you that sometimes it won't and this is where the electric collar comes in. Used with common sense these collars do work and in a very, very short time the dog will be back on the whistle.

I have one of these collars which I have used on one springer and one collie and have lent it to several people who have used it on theirs and believe me these dogs would have been passed on or shot of it was not for the collar but are now leading happy working lives.

Electric collars have a place in the dog training kit box along with the lead, whistle and dummy.

 

a very well put summary sir

[lurcherboy]

After previous abuse regarding leccy collors, I have decided to give all threads a wide berth because of the many 'experts' that can train any dog, no matter what the problem is, and by deduction, anyone else using a collor is obviously a ****.

 

I bought a lab a few years ago with very good lines from Steve Wanstall. This is the man that came second to Ian Openshaw this year. The lab won his first rosette on a novice retriever class and he misses very little on retrieves and is more dog than I deserve but, he has a fault, and that is that he is a randy little ******.

 

I will give you the worst example I can remember. On a shoot 2 years ago he was caught up to the hilt with a bitch and the **** hit really hit the fan for me. On this particular occasion we were both lucky as it didn't take and that saved me the bitches vet fees and having to unload all the pups.

 

I sought and got good advice from NTTF then purchased a collor that the lab wore for 2 months before I put any batteries in it. In the meantime, I was on his case every single minute of the day when we were in situations where a meet with a bitch may happen, and I don't mind telling you that it was stressful to say the least.

 

Anyway the batteries were put in and off we went for some picking up. First sign of rape and he got a bleep, which was ignored, then a zap which stopped him in his tracks.

 

He doesn't wear a collar anymore and I don't need to watch him every second of the day.#

 

No doubt there are many PW experts that could have sorted my particular problem out.

 

But I would hazard a guess that they don't actually own a dog, sit at the computer all night, and have read all about dog training.

 

Now the cocker is a real challenge and I really don't know where to start with him

 

 

 

 

 

 

LB

[ziplex]

I had a problem somewhile ago with my GSP 'Bree'.....I kept her on a long lead for months as she had a huge appetite for runnning, as they do and for which they were bred, but I kept at it until eventually she got the message that should I whistle her she would come back as opposed to carrying on regardless. I have to say, with hindsight, that i'm suprised I didn't damage her neck with the constant 'checking' that was dealt out. Anyhow, all was well until I had her off lead on a common where she was allowed to run and wander at will, she dissappeared around the blind side of a hedge approx 200 yards out and reappeared at full pelt running away from me and towards a main road, I whistled her but she either didn't hear or choose to ignore and continued until she ran across the road, missing the rear bumper of a car by a foot or so that was travelling at 40-50mph....still at full chat, only to decide she was in the wrong place and ran back across, luckily the road was then clear. It was a sickening feeling and as I was in no great rush to experience it again I decided, after a long chat with an experienced trainer who uses E collars, to try one. I duly followed the instructions to the letter and after the initial wearing of the turned off collar, Bree was given a 'static' on a few occasions and the result was incredible. 'Peep, Peep'on the whistle.....I then had a Pointer who instantly looked at me for further directions, almost as if I had a 150 ft lead. Bree was only given a few 'shocks' but had I known how humane and invaluable they can be if used properly I no doubt would of tryed it earlier as I had many, many frustrating hours getting her to a level that the collar managed to do in milliseconds. I am quite pleased in some respects I didn't try the E collar until it was almost too late, as I can look back and think I trained her without it, (it hasn't been used in any other situation), but it I think this gadget may well of saved her from getting hit, or having to be on a lead anywhere within 500 yards of a road. When I look back at the times I checked her back it makes me wince and I would have to say that the 'static', certainly on a low setting is considerably less cruel/painful. Bree also was just as excited to have her collar on as a slip lead when going out to the car, on the few occasions it was used, she had no fear of it whatsoever. I'd say they have a place as long as the people who decide to put one around their dogs neck knows what they are doing and seeks advice beforehand. To be able to walk with her without that feeling of uncertainty and worry was a huge relief and her lifestyle changed for the better almost overnight, as did mine.

Edited November 14, 2008 by ziplex

[coupe312]

I've seen them used properly to re-inforce the stop command, no matter how good your dog it takes a lot to stop them chasing hares etc when out, the two I've seen were springers and they would be spot on until a hare got up and then dissapear out of sight. Ok you could let them or beat them but personally the e-collar is non confrontational and works. Where we are its either that on a dog that won't stop or run the risk of it ending up on a road with the resulting danger to itself and the motorist.

 

I had this problem with my dog and had to used a e collar to stop this. only needed the vibrate function.

this was the biggest downfall of my dog. now solved. now steady on hares and rabbits.

 

without the e collar or removing a good working dog from the shooting line , i think, i stop some injury occuring.

 

the vibrate stop the chase instinct. job done.

 

i can imaging there people out there which will use them incorrcetly but i just like having a car license..... some use cars incorrectly.