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Benning1
Posts:5
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| 11/04/2009 6:54 PM |
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Im new to the site, but im excited I found it. Ok so my question about shock collars is... When should I introduce my pup to the collar? He's been taught stay, sit, come, obeying them at all times outside is a different story. Benning is 5months today. What ages do you all think I should get one on him? Im not trying to be anxious or go too fast, just dont know when is the appropriate age for this application. Thanks for the help! |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6941
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| 11/04/2009 10:19 PM |
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| Do some searches as there are quite a few threads that discuss this topic in detail. In general, I would say 5 months is too young. My guess is you have been training in a controlled environment and you pup is fine and then you go outside and not so fine. So, you haven't progressed you training enough with distractions. Inside start adding distractions and work to get solid performance, then move outside to an area with no or limited distractions and train with your dog on a check cord where you can correct. Again, add in distractions. Once you dog is solid inside and out with distractions then you are about where you need to be to add in the ecollar. However, you may not need it. You don't say what you want to do with your dog or what you want to use the ecollar. Those are important bits of info to determining when or even if you need an ecollar. I would suggest you pick up some dog training books as they will also help you with your training and when and how to progress the training. |
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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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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4123
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| 11/05/2009 6:36 AM |
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If you are going to use the collar as a correction it would be best to make sure the dog knows why he is being corrected. That would include assuring the dog knows the commands and has obeyed consistently in a variety of situations and environments with increased levels of distractions. It is so esy to say -'well,he knows sit b/c he does it all the time when I tell him in the house or yard but when I take him outside he forgets,I'm going to use the collar as a reminder.' While the scenario does fit the e-collar useage it does not apply b/c the dog was not proofed enough,regardless of dog's age. I know someone who has trined his dogs with the collar exclusively. And the dogs are pretty obedient,thing is, they have no idea what the commands mean. He says 'sit' and zaps. if he says sit and does not zap the dogs have no idea what to do. If he says 'fetch' and zaps the dogs go and fetch if no zap they don't fetch,they are cluless.
My point being, train your dog first,you may be surprised how much they really want to learn,obey and please.
Francine |
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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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Benning1
Posts:5
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| 11/05/2009 6:32 PM |
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| ok so how do you create distraction? |
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Benning1
Posts:5
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| 11/05/2009 6:40 PM |
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| what training videos/books do you think I should get? |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6941
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| 11/05/2009 10:05 PM |
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Distractions can be anything you think of from a loud noise, to a toy, to food, other animals, the door bell. Get creative. Not too hard at first, but get progressively harder. For sits I get them sitting on leash next to me, then step in front of them toe to toe, then a little further away. Remember success at first is a few seconds and then you increase time, then got to next level. Once they are sitting for a minute and I am at the end of the leash, I add in things like jumping up and down, stepping side to side, bending over to tie show, turning my back, walking around the dog, standing behind the dog, etc.
For books, I like Dogwise, com (www.dogwise.com/). Depending on what you want to do with your dog there are some great obedience and proofing books. I compete with my dogs in obedience and my favorite book is Beyond Basic Dog Training by Diane L. Bauman. I also got some good proofing ideas from The Art of Proofing by Adele Yunck, but these books are really for folks that are doing competition obedience. Just checkout Dogwise and find books that sound good to you. |
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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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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4123
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| 11/06/2009 6:21 AM |
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It is good to understand at this time that whatever you accomplish at this age will most likely appear to be all forgotten by the time benning is around 7 months old and again around 12 months old and then yet again at 18 months old,even you you do the lessons daily.
This is b/c as a dog matures they get bold and smart as all heck.
The best distractions for me are people/dogs walking up to us. If Bregon even thinks someone or dog is going to pet/sniff him he still gets all jumpy and tail waggy.
And he is 18 months old. |
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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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Benning1
Posts:5
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| 11/12/2009 10:58 PM |
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| i wont be competing with benning or anything like that. He's just going to be my bird hunting dog. Mostly pheasants. But I want him to have good manors in the home as well. I dont want him jumping on people and begging and climbing at the dinner table. I know all things come in time, I guess I need to learn a little patience as well with him and realize he is only 5mo. old. And its not going to be a 1 and done thing. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6941
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| 11/13/2009 2:38 PM |
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| I teach all my dogs no jumping on people (no jump) from day one on. At first dogs cannot distinguish between when it is ok to jump and when it is not, so don't allow any jumping period. Later you can teach a jump up on me on command. I use "hugs & kisses," but I don't teach that until they are older and more settled (aroun 2 YO). Same goes for begging, stop it now and never ever feed from the table. Also, keep in mind that training never ends. I work my crew every day even if it is only for a few minutes a day. Good luck and keep us posted. |
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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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| 11/19/2009 5:45 PM |
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Slow down and let him be a pup. I would not use any collar at all until 7-8 months. Only for recall. |
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brenda |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2385
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| 11/20/2009 10:14 AM |
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1 year old was my cut-off, with regular conventional training to build as solid a base as I could. I use the e-collar to fine-tune, not to expedite. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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