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Havahart Collar Reinforcement
After you have spent time training your dog on a leash, have your dog wear the Havahart®
collar during training sessions, play time, outside, etc. for 1-3 hours, three times a day. This way
your dog will get used to wearing the collar and not associate the correction from the collar.
At this point during training if your dog responds correctly to a command: praise him/her. If the
dog does not respond correctly to the command, you can now apply a Bad Tone warning
followed by a static stimulus. The static stimulus is always used in this order, Bad Tone warning
first and then the static stimulus. You are teaching the dog that the tone is followed by the
correction and the dog will learn to respond to the Bad Tone. Always use the lowest level needed
to get the desired response.
Examples of situations requiring Havahart collar corrections:
Sit:
Give your dog the “sit” command as you have been practicing during training sessions. If dog
responds correctly, praise your dog! If the dog does not sit, repeat verbal command, press the
Warning button and then the Correction button. If the dog sits, praise your dog. If the dog does
not respond correctly push the Warning button and increase the stimulation level. If your dog
sits, praise your dog. If the dog does not sit, continue at a higher correction level. Always praise
your dog when he/she exhibits the desired behavior.
Down:
Give the “down” command as you have been practicing during training sessions. If your dog
responds correctly, praise your dog. If your dog does not respond correctly, repeat verbal
command, push the Warning button and then the Correction button. If your dog lies down, praise
him/her. If your dog does not respond correctly, follow instructions as outlined in sit.
Stay:
Once the dog is in the desired position, give the hand signal and verbal “stay” command. If the
dog responds correctly, praise your dog. If the dog gets up, repeat command and push the
Warning button followed by the Correction button. If the dog responds correctly, praise him/her.
If your dog does not respond correctly, follow instructions as outlined in sit.
Come (Recall):
Position your dog and give the verbal “come” command. If the dog comes to you, praise the dog.
If the dog does not come, push the Warning button and then the Correction button. If the dog
responds correctly, praise him/her. If your dog does not respond correctly, follow instructions as
outlined in sit.
Wait:
Give the “wait” command, if the dog stops, praise him/her. If the dog does not stop, repeat
command and give the Bad Tone warning, then Correction button. If the dog stops, praise
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few seconds before giving verbal permission allowing the dog to walk through the door. Then
praise the dog. Slowly expand the time required for the dog to wait before being allowed to walk
through door. Do not ask the dog to wait every time they go through a doorway. Introduce wait
to different environments where dog will need to wait, car, street corners, etc.
Sit:
With your dog on your left side, leash in right hand, pull leash straight up to your left shoulder
while applying slight pressure with left hand above base of your dog’s tail. Simultaneously give
the “sit” command. When dog sits, praise the dog.
Down:
With your dog in the sit position, on your left side, have a treat in your right hand and grasp leash
just below the snap with the same hand. Pass right hand, with treat and leash, in front of the dog’s
face all the way down to the ground. At the same time, lightly push down on the dog’s withers
(shoulders) and give the “down” command. When the dog lies down, praise and give treat.
Stay:
Once the dog has learned sit and down, you can introduce the stay command. Start with the dog
in the sit position on your left side, leash in right hand. Place open palm of left hand in front of
the dog’s face, give the stay command, step off on right foot and stand directly in front of the dog
for five seconds. Return to side of the dog. Praise your dog. Gradually add time and distance to
exercise until you can easily walk away from the dog while the dog stays in the desired position.
Heel:
Begin with your dog sitting on your left side, leash in right hand. Gather the leash in your hand
so it provides a shortened, but still loose, lead for your dog. Give the “heel” command and take
two steps. Give the “sit” command. Give the “heel” command and take a couple more steps.
Repeat, and gradually extend the length of the “heel” exercise. Add left and right turns while
always keeping your dog at your side.
Come (Recall):
While at the end of a 6-foot leash, facing your dog, give the “come” command. Pull the dog
toward you. When the dog is about one foot away, make him/her sit directly in front of you,
facing you. Once dog is sitting, praise. When your dog does well on the 6-foot leash, move to a 15-
foot leash and repeat same exercise.
Leave it (Knock it off):
This command can be given to eliminate nuisance behaviors such as picking up trash during
walks, chewing shoes, chasing the cat, or digging. Place a cracker or piece of hot dog on the floor
while your dog is out of the room. Enter the room with your dog on a leash. When he/she goes
for the food, quickly yank the leash and say “leave it.” Repeat until your dog stops pulling
toward the food. Praise and give dog a treat.
