E-collars

[SaranBear]

Originally Posted by GypsysMom

You think a line is kind? everyone says its mean...

I don't think a long line for training a better recall is unkind. That is how we are training Bear's recall. He hardly notices it. When we go to the park or field to play we put him on it and he has a blast, AND we call him and if he tries to blow us off we can reel him in. We do have to be careful about reeling in the line and not tripping him, and make sure he does not get tangled up. Why move up to an e-collar if you have not tried a long line yet?

[GypsysMom]

The main reason I wanted it was for Chopper (hes 2.5) not Gypsy But I was saying they sell 2 dog units and you get a discount, my trainer uses it with her dutch shepherds, It was just an idea I had not sure what Im doing as of yet I know the fence wont be done until spring

[GypsysMom]

Originally Posted by SaranBear

I don't think a long line for training a better recall is unkind. That is how we are training Bear's recall. He hardly notices it. When we go to the park or field to play we put him on it and he has a blast, AND we call him and if he tries to blow us off we can reel him in. We do have to be careful about reeling in the line and not tripping him, and make sure he does not get tangled up. Why move up to an e-collar if you have not tried a long line yet?

How long is your line? I have one i use fo Chopper and GYpsy its 30 ft I think but I connected it to another one so they are 15ft each, so when the kids are out I use it for GYpsy so she can play ball

[SaranBear]

Ours is 30 ft, and it is pretty light. He knows it's there, I can tell because he does not move as fast with it on, but we let him sniff and play and forget(well not forget really, but get distracted). Then we say Bear, come and if he doesn't we just pull him in and praise and feed when he gets to us. It is really helpful, and his recall is getting better and better.

[Anneli]

In Sweden electricity and animals are forbidden. There are laws agains it.
And do you know what....we can still have our dogs loose on the yard whitout fences...we use our brain instead of violence.
Train your dog properly by learning there way of being. It's the best way to go and takes less time.

[fbkeays]

I wanted to add that I worked at a snake avoidance clinic this summer. They use e-collars on a low setting to teach the dogs to avoid the rattle snakes. These are live rattle snakes with their mouths taped shut. My job was to take the dogs around to the different stations. It was someone else's job to zap them. More then one dog associated the zap with ME and not the snake. I came very close to getting bit several times and actually did get bit once. It was painfull, but fortunately I was wearing thick jeans and was a moving target so that it didn't break skin.
Some dogs got that the stimulation was connected to the snake the first time. Some took five or six times. I truely think one dog never got it. He just shut down.

[miccmill]

Originally Posted by SaranBear

I don't think a long line for training a better recall is unkind. That is how we are training Bear's recall. He hardly notices it. When we go to the park or field to play we put him on it and he has a blast, AND we call him and if he tries to blow us off we can reel him in. We do have to be careful about reeling in the line and not tripping him, and make sure he does not get tangled up. Why move up to an e-collar if you have not tried a long line yet?

I agree with this 100%. I've trained Hannah's recall on long lines AND played fetch and other games. She doesn't notice the ling line at all.

I found too that she never really had to be hauled in, resisting all the way. After a tug to regain her attention, she could see us standing there bent over, clapping and using happy voices so she ran to us.

[GypsysMom]

Sounds like a plan my lines are a little thicker so I will buy one today at homedepot and attach my clips to it something that is thinner, I do not think e-collars are cruel at all, but I do know correct training has to be done over time, training my dogs is a non-stop thing. Thanks everyone lol even though Chopper and his lazy butt doesnt play fecth but he can be in the yard walking slowly when we are

[Mick Trainer]

Originally Posted by fbkeays

I wanted to add that I worked at a snake avoidance clinic this summer. They use e-collars on a low setting to teach the dogs to avoid the rattle snakes. These are live rattle snakes with their mouths taped shut. My job was to take the dogs around to the different stations. It was someone else's job to zap them. More then one dog associated the zap with ME and not the snake. I came very close to getting bit several times and actually did get bit once. It was painfull, but fortunately I was wearing thick jeans and was a moving target so that it didn't break skin.
Some dogs got that the stimulation was connected to the snake the first time. Some took five or six times. I truely think one dog never got it. He just shut down.

This shows that the collars are not being used corretly and that the side effects you got were due tothis and not e-collars in general. I have been hereand used collars in this way but now know this to be the wrong way. If you are getting an aggressive reaction from the dog the stim is way too high. I'm not saying that it is not worth it or that it won't teach just that it is not the correct way to use the collar to get the best results. You should use lower stim and take a bit more time. I know the price for taken this time may be high but it will get beter results in the end. For this type of work you will need a very adjustable collar like the Dogtra ones or the top innotek that can go up and down as you use it on the dog.

Mick

P.S. Who's job is it to tape the rattle snake's mouth up. Jeez there a job to avoid.