shock collars - Page 4

Well i didnt meen to stir up an arguement about the collars....I see some people think they are not needed or too strong of a correction .....I have owned several shock collars as my father was big into training bird dogs ...i have never seen one ruined by the use of a shock collar...but again my experience is with bird dogs not GSD (.I would think a GSD would be a lil tougher though)..I do know this i have shocked myself with the collars just to get an idea of the strength of correction it produced and I had much rather be shocked with it than have my head half jerked off with a choke collar or a prong collar.  its seems to me that a leash correction could very easily do some damage to the dogs neck ......just my opinion though...

Clint, sounds like you have a good idea of what the e-collar is and how it works from the bird dogs, Not to much different with the GSD's just different things you are training for.  I do like the new generation of collars though.  I have a dogtra that I use with my young dog, when he picked up and measured the long line I knew it was time to move up. LOL actually he gets a lot more freedom with the e-collar.  I agree with slam on the tactical uses and am looking forward to this with the young dog.

Steve, the best example of why people here use ppd's I can give you is a sheriff's call we had a few years ago.  A gang member had stolen a farm pickup and somehow ended up in a field in a neighboring county playing chicken with the owner of the field who was also the mayor of the small town in the county.  the young individual hid in a creek bottom, in the brush for two hours with other deputies passing within three feet of him.  It took us two hours to reach the location.  I got barbie geared up and she hit the end of the long line when he gave up saying "don't send the dog".    How does this translate over?  It is the deterrence factor of the dog.  People will mess with even armed people but not with a dog a lot of times.  I have seen it numerous times, and can't explain it exactly but it works.  even drunks will modify their behavior in the presence of the dog.  Not a hundred percent but a huge amount.  This being said most predators will choose a target not accompanied by a dog especially if that dog has the tools for the job through training. 

C. Neubert

Clint, Train your dog in the venue of your choice, it's your dog and your right . Don't feel obligated to explain your reasons for doing so to anyone unless your trying to enlist their help or advice. Share current training and progress if you choose to, however that comes under the category of your business and its your decision to make.Slamdunc and Yoshy gave you accurate information about use of the ecollar as a training tool and gave excellent advice on educating yourself about it's use.

Yoshy, on behalf of myself and my family, I would like to thank you for protecting and defending the citizens of this country.

Steve1, from one old coot to another, sometimes you come across in a manner other then you intend and someone not knowing you could take it in the wrong way.

Moons    SSDD

Sitasmom  Aren't you training with a club? Is this what they teach you on proper use of an ecollar, if so find another club

michael49,
You still got a little dripping down your chin.

Moons.

Moons, I ain't sitting on bird eggs.

LMAO......
Ya got me there.....

Clint,
The bottom line is an Ecollar in the hands of a skilled trainer is a fantastic tool.  For someone who wants drive, precision and a happy attentive working dog with the finesse to use it is a great tool.  For someone who simply wants to punish their dog or doesn't understand the nuance and complex nature of training with such a tool it can be  a barbaric instrument.  I think you've heard from both sides of the coin on this one. 

I use one every day and I'll put my dog up against any one on here in who says E collars have no merit.  Used properly it can motivate a dog and maintain drive.  I have an excellent bond with my dog and know his hardness levels with corrections and how to properly apply them.  I can take my dog and teach him a new behavior in drive and you will never see his attitude or temperament diminish, quite the opposite he will want to work more.  For me the best picture is a happy working dog, pushing the handler to work.  I'll sacrifice some precision for attitude, for me a happy working dog is my goal.  I demand precision but not at the expense of the dog.  I am anything but lazy when it comes to training, and smart enough to use the tools that work for me and provide excellent results.

If I can offer any advice don't hesitate to ask or PM me if you like.

Jim 

Just curious...but I have heard that alot that people use e- collars... what I don't understand is why? People keep telling me to use one, that it increases drive but he's already high drive....  I have been to Europe and trained for two years and the one thing that they taught me is that they never use them.....  The only time they would was when they absolutely had to.... which would almost be never....  They taught me to train slow and have as much patience for the animal as possible and I saw amazing results...  The other thing I noticed is that they tell you once you start using one you cant stop using it but in Europe they only use it a couple of times because they think that a dog that has to have a collar all the time isn't properly trained..... 
Anyone have any input on this subject..... I don't know if I should give in and use one or not....

They can be very useful from what I have read....