Electronic Collars
Saturday, June 30th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Categories: Dog Training Articles
By Fred Hassen and Brian Mowry
Is this your first encounter with electronic dog training collars? We know that people struggle to find the best way to train their dogs and want to find a method that is best for their families and their pets. Many folks hesitate to try an electronic dog training collar because they worry that it might be a harsh method for training. We are happy to report that just the opposite is true! The electronic dog training collar is a gentle method, in many cases more gentle than tugging on a leash to get your dog’s attention. This training collar is a versatile tool that can be used with a number of training methods for dog obedience, hunting, agility or police dogs.
During my training sessions I have dog owners feel the ‘zap’ from the collar so that they can be comfortable with the level of stimulation that is conveyed to their dog. Modern technology has evolved these collars to the point that you can match any dog’s temperament. There are collars geared for tiny Teacup Yorkies and Great Danes and every breed size in between. Most people view electronic collars as a last resort for a very problem dog and while the collar does work very effectively in that instance, it is also very effective on the shy, timid dog and everything in between.
Some of the advantages of an electric collar are:
- Your dog is always under control whether they are on the leash or not.
- The dog comprehends his mistakes the instant it occurs and can correct his behavior.
- Eliminates frustration with your dog
- Off-leash distance work becomes much easier.
- Off-leash training becomes feasible from the first day.
I have yet to see a behavioral problem that can’t be solved by good training with the remote dog training collar. However, I have seen people that do not know how to use them. In terms of mistakes that can be made in dog training, a remote dog training collar is no different than a leash. Just as buying a leash, choke chain & cookies does not give you a trained dog, neither will just buying an electronic collar. Many people have choke chains, quite a few owners have cookies also – few people have a well-trained dog. A professional dog trainer is a must no matter what method you choose. A good dog obedience trainer can show you how to effectively communicate with your dog bringing about the results that you want.
Years ago the original electronic collars only had extremely high levels as they were used to stop hunting dogs from chasing undesirable game. However, the dog training collars have come a long way since then. Modern technology has evolved in this field, just like it has with computers, cellular phones, and other electronic conveniences. I find electronic collars to be the safest, most effective, and most humane way to both stop unwanted behavior, and to motivate wanted behavior from dogs. Dogs have been, and always will be, trained in a variety of ways. If you have an older dog an electronic collar is still a great method bringing about the changes you want to see from your dog.
The collar is used to enforce a command that the dog already knows, enhancing your ability to communicate clearly and effectively with your dog. The collar is no different than a leash, just more versatile. The joys and freedoms that an electronic dog training collar bring to your dog make life much easier. It is a huge relief to be able to let Fido run around in the park and know that you can call him back at any time. Seeing your dog mingle with company without being a nuisance or jumping on people is a reward for all of the work that goes into training. You can enjoy taking bike rides with him, not waking the neighbors up with his incessant barking – let your dog enjoy the freedoms that an electronic collar can bring him.
In closing, I’d like to say that I allow no yelling, no raising your voice, and no fighting or yanking on the dog. I know that my method will eliminate such levels of frustration from your relationship with your dog. You only have two jobs: praising him & helping the dog to learn. When you see the amazing results you will have finally found out where the remote electronic collar is different than the leash!
