Chris
SH
Posts:50
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| 07/15/2009 7:24 AM |
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So we are looking to spend around $200-$250 if we could go less that would be great! Can you guys tell me a good product and model number to go with at this price?
-Chris |
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TessaGA
Georgia
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Posts:2387
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| 07/15/2009 7:51 AM |
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I did a lot of research and decided to go with Tritronics. They still have a sale, you may want to check into some of these:
www.tritronics.com/g2sale.asp
For me, a 1/2 mile range was not enough so the lower end models were out. I decided on the Pro 100 G2 which is not much over your budget with this sale.
I found the reviews by Gun Dog Supply's Steve Snell helpful in deciding what features I may want on my collar.
www.gundogsupply.com/g2-pro-collars-review.html
Keep in mind that the G2 has now been replaced by the G3 which of course does not make the G2 a bad collar. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7864
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| 07/15/2009 10:03 AM |
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| I use TriTronics now as well. I had an Innotek, and it was ok for backyard use, but didn't have the range or dependability for field use with a GSP. My trainer also uses TriTronics. I know some folks that use Dogtra and are just as happy with their ecollars. |
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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 |
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snips
n.ga.
MH
Posts:413
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| 07/15/2009 4:23 PM |
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I use the Sport G3 TT. It runs 239. you can add a collar to this later if you want.. |
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brenda |
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Chris
SH
Posts:50
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| 07/15/2009 9:44 PM |
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No-stimulation signal tone..... So the dog gets no warning they are going to get zapped?
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7864
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| 07/15/2009 10:09 PM |
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| I don't particularly like the tone. Why teach the dog to wait for the tone before they respond? I want them to respond when I call (in the case of a recall). |
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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 |
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snips
n.ga.
MH
Posts:413
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| 07/16/2009 6:19 AM |
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The G3 has a low tone button, I use it only for very sensitive dogs. Mostly low nick for infraction, but having the tone is handy. |
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brenda |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 07/16/2009 8:05 AM |
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No-stimulation signal tone..... So the dog gets no warning they are going to get zapped?
"No-stimulation signal tone" means there is a button that when pressed emits a tone without stimulation, meaning without juice. That IS the warning, or final warning if used after a verbal command, for the dog. But like Bev, I am not planning on using it, at least not on Tessa. When I call her back, I want that to be my one and only cue to her that she must come back now and pronto! I don't want to condition her to thinking she can ignore my call and just wait for the buzzer, because I may not always have the buzzer with me.
So Tessa gets no warning that she will be zapped. She will learn that when she ignores my call, strange things will happen, and when she does as told, many, many good things will happen.
But like Brenda suggests, there may be situations where it's handy to have it. It was not a strong selling point for me but I am glad I have it. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Chris
SH
Posts:50
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| 07/16/2009 8:51 AM |
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Ok thanks for the replies ladies and gents! I think I know what we need to look for now!
-Chris |
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Wishmeluck
Payette, Idaho
Posts:9
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| 07/16/2009 11:38 AM |
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Ok, I just got a collar...have read many books on training pointers.... have run Chesapeakes in hunt tests but I am worried about using the collar on my pup. She is about 5 months old and has basic commands on a check cord and during yard work. When we go to a field she is ok as long as she drags the check cord. Without it she runs, and runs and runs. Can someone give me a quick rundown of how, when and where to introduce the e-collar so she will understand what a nick means in the field. I am afraid she may take off! Also, any recommendations for DVDs that would show e-collar training for pointers? |
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My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 07/16/2009 11:56 AM |
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I'll be watching for the answers to the last post because I am new to this too...so I can't offer any advice, just my opinion that formed after reading a lot and talking with a lot of folks.
5 months may be too young. The consensus seems to be to let the pup be pups for the first year and not introduce the e-collar until they clearly know what is expected of them under various conditions (via other training methods, pinch collar, cc work etc). I know a few dogs that have had the e-collar early, without problem, but it really depends on the dog, I think.
Once you get the collar, let the pup wear it in the house, in the yard and in the field without using it, for about 3-4 weeks. This way it won't be too obvious that this collar means getting zapped. This is the stage we are at now. She wears it, but I have not used it yet.
Next step would be finding the "baseline", the minimum of stimulation needed to get a reaction (even a subtle one) from the dog.
I have a general idea of what lies beyond that but have no plan of action yet. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 07/16/2009 11:57 AM |
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| BTW the main reason I got the e-collar (and Tessa is one year old now), is same as with you, she's good on the check cord, even off leash in the 3-acre dog park, well, 95% of the time, but on the plantation, 1000 acres of training grounds, she's gone. Never out of sight, but she won't come back once she's after birds. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Wishmeluck
Payette, Idaho
Posts:9
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| 07/16/2009 12:16 PM |
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Thanks for the reply. I will have her wear it for a few weeks before I turn on the transmitter.
My little one, Mo, needs to exercise and run but in an open field she won't come back until her tongue is hanging out and she is dog tired.
I choose a field where there are no birds so she won't get in the habit of chasing them. At the coast she did run so far she was out of sight.
I agree to let a pup be a pup and develop confidence but I am worried about keeping her safe.
People say Chesapeakes are hard to train but they are easy compared to trying to figure out this little GSP. Any ideas are appreciated. |
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My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 07/16/2009 12:44 PM |
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| At the NAVHDA training events we let pups chase birds all they want, the more they chase them the faster they learn that they will never catch them and then you can steady them. I don't think Tessa is getting it though ... |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7864
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| 07/16/2009 12:55 PM |
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There is allot written on this forum about ecollar usage, so I suggest you first search the forum and read those posts. The second thing to keep in mind is these dogs do not reach maturity until at least 2 years sometimes longer. I use the ecollar to train a reliable recall, and am learning to use the collar in field work with my boy. I introduced the collar to my boy at 8 months, but he is special in that nothing bothers him. I did not use an ecollar on my girl until she was almost 2 and I was absolutely convinced she knew the command (here) in all situations on leash. The nick is used more for training in field kind of as a reminder. Solid stimulation is used to get the required response. I always start at the lowest setting and on my TriTronics I have never gone above a level 2 with either my boy or my girl. If you have never used an ecollar before I would suggest you find someone who has who can help you. Also, Perfect Start and Perfect Finish are a DVD set that uses ecollars for training bird dogs. Once you have checked out the forum and done some research then post your questions and I am sure there will be allot of folks with answers and advice.
At 5 months my guess is your pup is not solid on her commands yet so stick with the obedience for now and work her in all kinds of environments and with lots of distractions. |
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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 |
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jagermeister
Seattle, WA
MH
Posts:106
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| 07/16/2009 3:02 PM |
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| I buy most of my stuff from Gun Dog Supply online, they have reviews and tests done by the owner to help you choose the right product for you. The owner Steve uses the Sport dog model SD-1825 himself and that is one he recommends. It sells for 290.00. I am planning on buying that one myself in the near future. The model I use now is a short range model (500 yards) that has vibration, nick and continuous stimiulation and it has worked wonders for training my dog Ruger Vom Nordland. I have also heard and read a lot of good things about the tritronics models as well but they are pricier. Anyway you go I would still check out the gun dog supply online site to get an idea by reading the reviews and recommendations as to what will work for your needs. I love the e-collar as a training tool and people always compliment me on how well my dog is trained and how well he listens, usually for non-hunting off leash situations the vibration mode works well because I think he knows what comes next! Even with something like the "here" command if he is not listening and or he is distracted the vibrate mood usuallly snaps him out of it and he comes right away. So I like an e-collar with the vibration mode for a lot of off leash non hunting situations. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4452
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| 07/16/2009 3:19 PM |
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Tessa,
some dogs learn to love the chase.
If she has not caught on after about a dozen birds I would use a different method. Sometimes the presence of other dogs creates competition and they won't hold point. |
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"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
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FrancisMcGee
Ann Arbor, MI
MH
Posts:114
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| 07/17/2009 7:03 AM |
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There are a lot of replies to this, but I'm going to add one more.
I recently purchased a Tritronics Sport Basic G3. Bestseller on GunDogSupply. It has a 1/2 mile range...you may need something longer if you have really thick underbrush in your area, but in most cases this will do. Like Tessa, we're still in the "wear around without using" stage.
As previously mentioned, I think it really depends on the temprament of the dog as to when an ecollar should be used. Our pup is 8 months and we have done extensive work with the check cord. She knows the command, but the trainer we are working with called her very "bold". He recommended an ecollar right away (and he only introduces the ecollar before 1 year on certain dogs).
As a first time user, there is no way I would try to do this training without help from a "professional". We haven't started formal training using the collar, but have run through some of the basics of when to use it during our normal training sessions. This is invaluable to me as timing for stimulation/release are critical for this type of training. |
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Wishmeluck
Payette, Idaho
Posts:9
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| 07/17/2009 8:58 AM |
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Thanks for your response. I really appreciate all the help. I will start having her wear ithe collar around when we are doing yard work or out in the field.
I used the collar training my Chesapeakes but I had the good old Tritronics videos. But that was about 10 years ago. The Chesapeakes also seemed so much bigger and tougher. I know it sounds weird but her smaller bone structure has worried me. I have spent many hours reading forums on this site and I will continue to do so. There are many questions from others who have dogs about the same age. Lots to learn.
Just a new breed of dog to me but obedience is obedience I guess. |
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My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. |
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snips
n.ga.
MH
Posts:413
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| 07/17/2009 10:28 PM |
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I would not use the E on your pup til 7-8 months. Chessies are a different deal.....When you intro your pup you need to do it holding the CC, give a command while you know she is ignoring you, give a tug and low nick at same time. Do not over do it, just 2 or 3 a session. Read your dog to see reaction on whether you go up or down. When you feel confident she is responding each time cut her loose dragging CC. You do not want to make her a clinger, so be wise about it. Lots of praise when she comes. If you do one a day thats fine too... |
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brenda |
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