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UnDerStanDInG CorreCtIon
We have spoken very little about correcting your dog for making a mistake up until this time. No dog is perfect and many
mistakes are going to occur while training. In reality you want your dog to make mistakes so you can clearly show the
difference between right and wrong. It is important that you have a correction method that your dog understands and
comfortably accepts. Here is the correction system you should use from Day One. The same correction system will be
used for the rest of your dog’s life whether you are using a leash or e-collar to correct improper responses.
1.
Give your dog a command. If it obeys, use a positive reward. If it fails to obey, proceed to Step 2.
2.
Stop your dog’s incorrect action with the command “no.” Repeat the command after you get the incorrect actions
stopped. If your dog obeys, use a positive reward. If it fails to obey, proceed to Step 3.
3.
Stop your dog’s incorrect action with the command “no” and use the physical pressure of your leash until the
correct response occurs. Immediately release the pressure when your dog obeys, repeat the command, and praise
with a positive reward.
If you are consistent in this correction process, the verbal correction of “No” will become much more powerful. Your
dog will learn through daily usage that if it does not follow your lead after the command “No,” there will be some form
of physical pressure (leash or electronic). Your dog does not like being corrected any more than you do. Correction will
be a part of its life and it will accept this correction as long as you give it in a comfortable and systematic fashion. This
means you must be consistent and you cannot hurt your dog by hitting, kicking, or overstimulating when you become
frustrated.
appLICatIon of tHe eLeCtronIC CoLLar
E-collar use has come a long way. The equipment is better and the many available programs for training with
e-collars are better. Some people don’t believe e-collars are reliable enough and therefore they shouldn’t be used,
but successful results are dependent on the skills of the operator, not the product. It is very rare for a dog to not
accept and happily work while on a leash, but you can hurt your dog’s attitude if it is used improperly. It is the same
with e-collars. You can do an unbelievable amount of damage to your dog’s attitude by over correcting with an
e-collar if you do not know what you are doing or if you don’t control your actions.
this program will show you how
to use an e-collar, but you must never lose control of your emotions. So, make a promise to yourself and your dog
that you will always remain focused and in control when training.
In the beginning, e-collars were simple metal boxes with an on/off switch and no way to adjust the static stimulation
levels. And they were often unreliable. SportDOG Brand
®
remote training systems are an example of how advanced
e-training products have become. SportDOG Brand offers several excellent models that work at great distances
over land or in water.
tHe rIGHt Way to BeGIn
Your dog needs to start wearing an e-collar as soon as it can comfortably support the collar’s weight. The collar should
be worn from that point forward during all training sessions. Initially, you should attach the collar and do something fun
such as retrieving exercises with a bumper or ball. Continue this until your pup’s tail is wagging uncontrollably. Soon,
your dog will be doing airplane spins each time it sees the collar and think, “Oh boy, we are getting ready to have some
fun!” That is a pretty nice first impression.
this is an important first step in collar conditioning: your dog’s acceptance
of the e-collar in a fun fashion.
You shouldn’t be pressing any of the Remote Transmitter’s buttons until your dog is 100 percent reliable on obedience
drills. When you have to deliver a correction you do not want your dog trying to guess what you expect. Your dog should
be performing these skills masterfully in the face of distractions. If you did your homework, your dog will have an
excellent understanding of what you are asking while being able to process pressure at the same time.
Before, pressure
was in the form of a leash. now, it will be an electronic, brief correction from the collar. Your dog already knows what
to do in the face of pressure; you are simply changing the type of pressure. Previously the pressure of the leash was on
your dog’s neck and that is where the e-collar also applies pressure, but in a different form. The e-collar will now become
an infinitely long leash to your dog. A brief correction with the collar will take the place of a tug on the lead. This sounds
pretty simple doesn’t it? Keep it that simple and you and your dog will be happy.
always remember: you are not going to teach your dog anything with an e-collar. you are only adding electronic
pressure to a skill your dog already knows and can routinely perform. Also, do not use the e-collar to correct responses
in an area where your dog may have not performed these skills until the training process is finished.
fInDInG tHe CorreCt StatIC StImULatIon LeVeL
The hardest thing about using an e-collar is finding the proper level of static stimulation and sticking with it. Some folks
are of the opinion that you should use continuous high-level static stimulation until the dog complies. Others think you
should use low-level continuous static stimulation. Both programs can work and create a dog that performs great, but
either of these methods could lead to trouble for a novice trainer.
Your long-term goal is to have your dog remain under total control while receiving correction from the e-collar and
understand why the correction occurred.
remain under total control is the key phrase in that sentence. If your dog is
jumping around or cannot focus on you because it is vocalizing, it is not under control. If your dog reacts in either of these
ways, back off. Either you are progressing too fast or the static stimulation intensity is too high.
You should shop for the correct level of static stimulation by starting with the lowest intensity and continuing up until
you see the acceptance mechanisms appear. This is first introduced during obedience drills. With your dog on-leash, call
it to you. After a few successful “Here” routines, apply leash pressure and stimulate with the e-collar at the same time.
Look for the swallow response, head drop, or neck twitch. Sometimes you can see a change in the breathing pattern.
Progress up in intensity until you see your dog say, “I accept” with one of these responses. When you see your dog drop its
head or swallow, you are there and this will be your most-often used correction level.
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