Dog training (shock) collar

[Sigarms]

This is a good discussion, thanks. Now I need my wife to read through it. This is our little big dog.
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Great looking dog!

This is the closest thing we have to a "jack"



She's the oldest we have now, guessing around 15 years old. Sad to say, she'll probably the next to vets for a dreaded visit. Eyes are going on her as well as hearing. She doesn't like to go off the driveway now unless we're right next to her. In her prime, she was probably the most strongest and "vicious" dog we've had (vicious being with animals she was going after). It was nothing to catch her pulling a ground hog up the hill 3 times her size.

Just caught her this morning peeing on my sandles on the front porch. She's been though enough I let her slide. Survived a dog attack, being accidently run over and the other year, found out after I rushed her to the vets (shaking like a leaf and not very responsive after she just came in) that she must of been bitten by a venomous snake as they found a snake bite on her gums (finding it by accident). Shes also the last dog to "connect" to our original 3 that my wife and I had. We took her in years ago from a family that couldn't care for her as an outside dog, absolutely no regrets.

Enjoy the time with your dog! (great camera shot by the way).

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

It seems that many that are opposed to collars do not understand the correct way to use them. A collar is not for punishment and isn't used to hurt the dog. My dog is my buddy and wears a collar every time we train.........and that's every day.

This. This exactly. Well said. You should never use a collar to hurt a dog. That's not what they're meant for.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

This is a good discussion, thanks. Now I need my wife to read through it. This is our little big dog.
View attachment 515851

He's a real cutie there. Great picture. I had a friend with a Jack Russell, their energy level is just amazing.

 

[95XL883]

If it works for you, then good! And btw, our collar had a variable "zap" setting on the remote. In our case I don't think we ever used more than level 2 (no where near bringing the dog to his knees). And we always preceded the zap with the beep so after 2 days that's all he needed to hear. Every dog is different though.

Teejk, I suspect we are misreading each other. I certainly don't mean to be offensive or imply in anyway that anyone is cruel to their pets. Like you, our collar has a variable setting and it is usually set fairly low. Even with the low setting, our accidental nicking caused our dog to cry out and I do feel badly I did it, even accidentally.

You are right, every dog is different. Our GSD wants to please us and it takes little input from us to get her to correct a behavior. Other dogs are more independent and it takes more to adjust their behavior.

Please accept my apology for any offense I may have given. It was unintended on my part.

 

[teejk]

Teejk, I suspect we are misreading each other. I certainly don't mean to be offensive or imply in anyway that anyone is cruel to their pets. Like you, our collar has a variable setting and it is usually set fairly low. Even with the low setting, our accidental nicking caused our dog to cry out and I do feel badly I did it, even accidentally.

You are right, every dog is different. Our GSD wants to please us and it takes little input from us to get her to correct a behavior. Other dogs are more independent and it takes more to adjust their behavior.

Please accept my apology for any offense I may have given. It was unintended on my part.

No offense was taken (in fact surprised you thought there was). As for the accidental "nicking", have to watch for that. I could see how that could actually ruin a dog.

 

[TimberHole]

Maybe I'm lucky, maybe I am persistent with training and voice control. I have called both my current Heeler and Border Collie dogs off of a rabbit at 5'. I have called them off of deer, squirrels, etc.

Neither was obedient when I got them as rescues, each had 2 or 3 years of bad habits. The Heeler was particularly head strong but lots of work and bonding resulted in a great dog.

One prevalent philosophy is to teach, force and reinforce. The collars is used for forcing and reinforcing. By forcing and reinforcing the handler/owner now has a tool in their toolbox they can use when the dog decides to become self employed. I'm not suggesting all dogs should be collar conditioned just passing on what I have learned the last couple of years retriever training. I have sat my dog in the front yard and watched rabbits pass 4' in front of her. She understands that sit means sit but if she does decide to become self employed I do have a tool in the toolbox to correct her behavior. Same for the here command. Her recall is excellent but if she decides not to obey I can use pressure to correct the behavior. She knows how to turn off the pressure. Has worked well for me but I know there are lots of ways to train a dog.

 

[Rustyiron]

Maybe I'm lucky, maybe I am persistent with training and voice control. I have called both my current Heeler and Border Collie dogs off of a rabbit at 5'. I have called them off of deer, squirrels, etc.

Neither was obedient when I got them as rescues, each had 2 or 3 years of bad habits. The Heeler was particularly head strong but lots of work and bonding resulted in a great dog.

Tom look's like he's the resident TBN "dog whisperer". Very impressive, and with older dogs!

Welcome to the group TimberHole!

 

[teejk]

One prevalent philosophy is to teach, force and reinforce. The collars is used for forcing and reinforcing. By forcing and reinforcing the handler/owner now has a tool in their toolbox they can use when the dog decides to become self employed. I'm not suggesting all dogs should be collar conditioned just passing on what I have learned the last couple of years retriever training. I have sat my dog in the front yard and watched rabbits pass 4' in front of her. She understands that sit means sit but if she does decide to become self employed I do have a tool in the toolbox to correct her behavior. Same for the here command. Her recall is excellent but if she decides not to obey I can use pressure to correct the behavior. She knows how to turn off the pressure. Has worked well for me but I know there are lots of ways to train a dog.

Love that "self-employed" term. That explains the situation perfectly I think. They are dogs after all and have strong instincts to do what dogs do. Our once "self-employed" cocker was put down at about 13 years old (about normal for that breed). Had it not been for the shock collar employed at age 1 he would not have lasted in my house that long! Now we have a pair of "dachies"...somehow I don't think the shock collar would work on them (great pets but on the intelligence scale they don't rate too high).

 

[TomSeller]

Tom look's like he's the resident TBN "dog whisperer". Very impressive, and with older dogs!

Welcome to the group TimberHole!

I don't know about dog whisperer but my wife does tell me I am part dog.

True story is that I was taught how to walk by a male German Shepherd. I grew up in a big family (towards the end) and by that time Mom didn't have much time for us kids. The dog was extremely patient and, as I have been told, I would climb up on its back and hold onto it's fur. The dog would slowly get up and take a few steps until I fell down. Then it would lay down and start the process over.

It was years before I could walk past a fire hydrant without getting the urge.

 

[TimberHole]

Welcome to the group TimberHole!

Thanks Rusty. Just to clarify I'm just an amateur trainer. I have a 1 1/2 year old chocolate lab. We train every day. I never dreamed that I would enjoy training this much. She cannot wait to get on her collar every day because she knows we're going to work. Her mission in life is to retrieve and I have ended up with a great little duck dog. I don't think it's possible to be closer to your dog than I am to mine and yet we do use a collar. Lots of misunderstanding about collars by those that haven't used them or don't really understand how to use them and be fair to the dog.