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Here
The last basic obedience command is “Here”. With the dog in a sitting position
simply move away to the end of the leash and command the dog to come “here”
while giving a gentle tug to the leash. Do not be surprised if you meet some
resistance at first. After all, up until this point you have been teaching the dog to
sit and stay in one place.
Using the Collar as a Training Tool
Collar Introduction
Once the dog demonstrates that he has a grasp of the concepts of these three
basic commands the e-collar can be introduced.
During the initial stage of collar introduction the dog learns that collar
stimulation means the same thing as a leash tug. All work during this step
of the training process should be done on lead to maintain control and a safe
working environment.
Begin by walking the dog on leash with the e-collar on and in place. With the
leash held short, command “Sit” while pulling up on the leash just as you did earlier.
At the same time press a stimulation button briefly at the level you have selected
for this dog. At first the dog may be alarmed by the electronic stimulation. Once
again, the key here is to be patient and consistent and to not start off at too high
of an intensity. With repetition and a lot of praise, the dog will soon begin to
demonstrate consistent, stable response to the command “Sit.” Also, as you repeat
this training the dog should begin to respond more quickly. As the dog becomes
more responsive, you should begin to stimulate intermittently – at times giving
the dog a “freebie.” This will help keep the dog’s attitude upbeat, and let you
know that the dog is responding to the command rather than just the collar.
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BASIC TRAINING
Training should begin by teaching the dog a few basic commands (sit/stay, heel, here)
using a leash. Once the dog responds consistently to the command on lead you can
start to condition the dog to the e-collar.
Heel
The first command that you will teach the dog is the “Heel” command. The
training should begin on leash and in an area with minimal distractions. With the
dog at your side command “Heel” and begin walking forward while at the same
time pulling gently on the leash. If the dog gets in front of you, before the leash
becomes tight, make a turn away from the dog and repeat the command “Heel.”
Should the dog start to lag behind you, give light tugs on the leash to bring him
back to your side. With plenty of repetition, consistency, patience and a lot of
praise, the dog should begin to walk beside you with some amount of stability in
just a few short training sessions.
Sit/Stay
After the dog has begun to grasp the concept of walking at heel on lead it is time
to introduce the Sit/Stay command. The actual command is “Sit,” and the “Stay”
is implied. In other words, when you tell the dog to sit he should stay until you
indicate otherwise.
You should begin training this command with the dog walking on lead in the heel
position. Then simply stop, pull up on the leash and tell the dog to “sit” while
maintaining steady pressure on the lead until the dog complies. Initially, the dog
will almost certainly be confused, and you may need to gently push down on the
dog’s back just above his flank to make him sit. Be sure to reward compliance
with plenty of praise. As with all training, repetition, consistency and patience are
the keys to achieving success.
Summary of Contents for Field G3 series
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