Remote or electric training collars - Page 1

I was wondering if I am going to be using an electric or remote training collar anytime,
while teaching my dog to do bite work.

I like the Leerberg site it has lots of info, and I noticed his Xando dog being worked with a 
remote collar, I have used bark collars in the past, and they work pretty good, I actually haven't
needed to use one on anybody for quite some time.

Would you say perhaps, that remote training collars are a must, for getting your dogs attention?

I have been training dogs for a long time...both in the USA and in Europe...and have my own ideas of what is needed...but at least after you get to a Schutzhund I title...I believe that an e-collar is definitely needed...When you begin to do distance work with your dog...you have the need to control them or remind them of what is needed...otherwise you have no way of correcting or reminding your dog what it is that he's supposed to be doing...as the distractions become more intense...then so the need of a way to over ride them...

Any top trainer that does "protection work" needs the control of his dog...and e-collars are not meant as a total control device...it is used and meant as another piece of equipment in his bag of equipment...Like I said when you start to train a dog...you have to use whatever is needed to get the attention of the dog...whether it be a choke collar...a prong collar or whatever...but as you up the distractions...such as in "protection work"...the dog will naturally be more interested in the distraction and not what he's supposed to be doing...so you just need a way of cleaning up the work...

If your interested in more detail...your welcome to e-mail me personally...

~Bob~

Most likely, but it depends on the dog & as well as the level you wish to attain.  it's just a tool, like any other collar.  The e-collars of today are way more sophisticated than what was available only 10 years ago.  It is important that you learn from someone who is experienced in it's use.

I have used e-collars to fine-tune my dogs and to develop drive-containment. I trained with the e-collar guru, Jim Dobbs. Watching videos and attending e-collars seminars only covers the tip of the iceberg.

If you use an e-collar, train with an expert (not a wanna be expert) who can handle the remote and use the lowest stimulus possible. For example, while my Dogtra 1200 NCP has 100 levels of intensity, I usually set the remote on level 18. As a gentle reminder, I often use the vibrate function instead of a nic.

Train with someone who uses place boards in conjunction with e-collar training.

If you use an e-collar, train with an expert (not a wanna be expert) who can handle the remote and use the lowest stimulus possible

excellent advice

Pia

Ok, i 'm going to open a can of worms here. I work my dogs away from me and with a mirid of distractions.Disaster scenes, lost kids in woods with deer etc. runnig through. I and many of the sar people I know have never used an e-collar. My dogs are VERY dirvey. Am I missing something thing here? My dogs are clear in what their job is and that is not a patterened training as Schutzhund is. Not judging just asking

k9sar,

I would think one difference is your dogs are working for real, not for points.  A slight bobble, two steps off a track, not an instant sit or platz will not cost the points need to win or get a title.  I am not saying your dogs aren't well trained, SAR dogs have to be extremely well trained to handle so many different situations.  I just think the different functions have different training needs.

We use a training collar on a couple of our 3-year old dogs for fine tuning.  Very seldom above the very lowest setting and at times just a tone.

I needed an e-collar for my first working gsd but I learned from my mistakes and I have not needed one again, nor do I intend to. They are, however, wonderful training tools if you work with a professional trainer that knows what he/she is doing, don't fool around with one on your own. You may need one, you may not, let your trainer help you decide.

I believe the first to use e-collars were the hunter/retriever trainers, then it spread to other dog sports such as schutzhund, ring, KNPV, etc..  

Animules, thank you for clarifying that for me. It does make cense. As for using a professional trainer. INDEED. I was invited to evaluate and hopefully certify a class of "sit means sit" (fred Hanson)e-collar students. Before I administered the therapy dog test the dogs were worked on their e-collars. At NO time did I hear a single handler say "good dog" .

Bright and Beautiful Thearpy Dogs, Inc. does not allow the use of e-collars. Well when the collars came off, so did the dogs. Two ran out the back door, 2 jumped other dogs and one just kept jumping on the owner. Not a single person knew how to hold the leash. Nedless to say, I was not impressed and no one was passed.

So ,yes, find a real trainer.