Awesome site for E-collar training techniques… - Page 1

This site details the method I was taught by a professional dog trainer (sport, working & pet) to introduce a dog to the E-collar. Some of the other techniques documented we also used for exercises such as heeling. While I think it important to get professional training before using an e-collar on one’s own (heck, the same could be said about a prong…) this site spells it out in its entirety and is a good review under any circumstances; as even with a professional, you might not absorb everything during a lesson and this resource backs up the practical with great explanation of the theory.

The first link is what I consider the most important chapter for this list – is the intro to the collar. This chapter differentiates between “shock” collars and “remote trainers.” The author provides an excellent explanation of both and describes why shock collars are no longer used or very effective and also CLEARLY spells out the philosophy for using an e-collar as a “remote” trainer.   The point that most e-collar opponents don’t get is that the collar is only used to irritate the dog at the lowest level required to register (be consciously noticed) to that specific dog. At the level I use it on my dog (level 5 of 18 on a Tritronic g500) it is more of a tickle or a buzz then anything else – I know as I’ve tried ALL 18 levels on myself. The sensation is nothing more then what you feel when you touch the tip of your tongue onto a 9v battery. This level has been sufficient  for all 4 dogs I’ve used the collar on for 95% of all situations – to address higher drive situations have never required more the an increase past level 9 – which is only 50% of the range of the collar. The important concept here is that the e-collar is NOT used here as a “correction” – it is used to provide a mildly unpleasant sensation for the purpose of illustrating to the dog that it is the one in control of the situation by “turning off” the stimulation. The VERY important point here to the “anti-e’s” is that there is NO WAY that this sensation is any less comfortable then any type of collar correction. Add to this the upside that, as with clicker training, the exact split-second of success is marked, unlike with many collar corrections (especially for exercise requiring distance work), the dogs learns much quicker what the lesson is, leading to less compulsion being used on whole.
http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/obedience/rffintro.html
Here is the Schutzhund specific link for all chapters (exercises):
http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/schutzhund/index.html
Here is what appears to be an older version of the same info organized for AKC obedience:
http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/obedience/index.html
Hope this helps.
-Calvin

Please be aware that these methods have been considerably revised since these articles were. On the same site, check out these somewhat less dated videos:

http://www.dobbsdogs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=513&zenid=d182fd3d325ced0f1fa41eb4043991de   http://www.dobbsdogs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_88&products_id=514&zenid=d182fd3d325ced0f1fa41eb4043991de   http://www.dobbsdogs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=512&zenid=d182fd3d325ced0f1fa41eb4043991de   http://www.dobbsdogs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=516&zenid=d182fd3d325ced0f1fa41eb4043991de   http://www.dobbsdogs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=515&zenid=d182fd3d325ced0f1fa41eb4043991de   Even though thesse videos may not pertain specifically to schutzhund, the training principles are much the same.

 

Do you have a good compare / contrast with Lou Castle, www.loucastle.com

I know they are both similar in approach.