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Subject: Age to start using training collar

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tsl34

Posts:6

06/11/2009 7:36 PM
I have a three month old male GSP and I know several people that have them as well. What I was wondering was at what age is it appropriate to start using a shock collar? Some have told me to start now, others say wait til he's at least a year. I was wondering if there are any trainers out there with advice. I just would like to use it for huntin as need based (such as taking off on deer or turkey as he has already tried to do on his check cord). If anyone with experience could give me help I'd really appreciate.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7856

06/11/2009 11:12 PM
You do not want to use an ecollar until they are solid on commands which means in my book a minimum of 6 months, but maybe even a bit a older than that. You also need to condition a dog to the collar as well. It also depends allot on the dog. If your dog is soft I would wait even longer before thinking about the ecollar. Also, if you have never used one before you probably should find someone who has used one to help you. Remember an ecollar used improperly can ruin a hunting dog. The only thing I use the ecollar for is reinforcing the recall and I don't use until after the dog is solid on the recall on leash with distrations and off leash in a fenced area with distractions. If they are not 100% on recall in those conditions they are not ready for an ecollar.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

WildRose

Seymour Texas

MH
Posts:471

06/12/2009 12:26 AM
I never use one until the dog is between 18-28 months when they are ready to be completely "broke" unless I have some serious problems I cannot correct any other way. Remember the collar is only a tool, like a leash or a check cord. It won't make you a trainer, or train the dog for you, and it's not a remote control. The purpose of the collar should be to reinforce a known command, not to punish, and not to teach.

There's a reason I like dogs better'n people... .

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4452

06/12/2009 6:05 AM
The e-collar can also be used as a way to teach a dog how to turn off pressure. Using it as a correction tool only is selling the dog short.I did this for many years. Adding in the pressure conditioning is a much more reliable tool. The dog must have an understanding and be able to perform the commands you would be pressure teaching. If the puppy has a solid temperment,maybe you are not experienced enough to judge, so going to a someone who can determine the level of maturity and the temperment might be a good idea, then the collar can be used as early as 4 months old. There are some schools that use the collar as remote trainer. The dog is taught the command the first time with e-collar stimulation. I do not agree with this type of training. If someone can't train a dog with hands on techniques then that person should not be training dogs. IMO. Please keep in mind that not all trainers are equal and seeking out the good ones takes time. Good luck, Francine

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

TessaGA

Georgia

MH
Posts:2387

06/18/2009 12:02 PM
I would say it depends on the dog first and foremost. I would start with the usual training methods, with the pinch collar added at around 6 months, and for the first year, teach, train, and have a lot of fun doing it. Trick the dog into thinking it is having fun when in reality, it is being trained. At one year, the dog should have a pretty good vocabulary and good cooperation. For my previous dogs it was a base to build on and continue with the traditional training methods. With my birdy bird dog, I will need to use the e-collar for the more important commands in the field, when there is no other way to enforce it. Like the recall, which is non-extistent when she's on a bird.

To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]

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