Colorado B.S. Thread

i figured you would chime in here. i'm still on the fence with them though. i talked to one of my dads customers who trains labs and was adamant about using a pinch collar for basics then once those commands are learned going to a collar.

 

No need for a pinch. I can train a puppy with an e collar and I can train an 8 year old dog with an e collar and only an e collar. I keep a leash attached during the first week or so just to aid a command of needed but after that it's all e collar.

 

alright. e collar it is. thanks buddy

 

Now you have to do it the right way. If you want a demo of my mutts let me know. I'll show you the basics on how to.

 

i might take you up on that. general consensus i've found is first figuring out what is just enough to get their attention (ears perk or what have you) and use that as a base. then use the beep with the command. if that doesn't work, use the "shock" and if it still doesn't work, bump up the "shock" a couple notches.


right? wrong? other?

 

I use a low level shock for every command and high if they don't respond. My dogs hate the vibrate and beep and do just fine with the shock. You will see if you come watch my dogs. The level tue respond on you won't be able to feel with the collars I use

 

I say it's worthless simply on the grounds that the guy cannot post the pics right side up.

 

ok, makes sense

 

We were one step away from an e collar but with a bit more maturity the pinch collars are fine now with the shepherds. The E collar or the pinch are designed in essence to "shock" them out of their current focus or current behavior. But that does not mean they will just come to you. That part you need to train still.

With both of the shepherds as they went through training it was treat based "come" response. The idea is "reward" for coming to you quickly and only to you. Lots of practice with a short lease first. Face the dog at the end of the lease and say "come" or we use" here". Tug on the lease and with a visible treat in hand and reward when they come to your feet and sit down. Once mastered use the shot lease still and run backwards a few steps.

After that use the long lease. Start by having your dog at your side, have them sit, and then give them a call like "wait". "Wait" typically means stay here until I call you to me in the training world. Where as "Stay" typically means "stay put in this spot until I come back to you". Anyways, "wait" the dog an walk the long leash out to the end, turn around and use your "come" command. The idea is to get the dog to focus only on you and run to your feet. Having them sit facing you at your feet is somewhat formal but it keeps them from running past you. Then reward. The "wait" command can be started while you work with the short leash training.

Our classes later moved on to off lease "comes" with other dogs in the class. Over time we got tested by having the dog "come" to us while passing treats on the floor or toys and near the end they had to pass through other dogs to "come" to us.

That was nerve racking but even with Tango not liking other dogs much he ran to me every time.

Good Luck!

 

The e collar should only be used for reinforcement of what they should already know. I know that's tough when you trying to get them to listen and learn. Try using a wonder lead.

http://www.gundogsupply.com/wonleadbydel.html

Also make sure the message is consistent. Here, heel, sit, and leave it etc. According to my guy there is no stay. Also make sure you break the stress of training. Play before and after and only train about 15-20 min.

I can swim my 10 month old lab 2000 yards and run him a 1000 and not wear him out. 20 min of training and he is exhausted.

 

Very good point about playing and training. That wonder lead is interesting. Just like a chain collar only it's the entire lead. Has anyone had rope burns on their dog from it? Or is it coated?

It amazes me how many different schools of thought there are on training dogs. We even later took Tango to a top security dog trainer in Colorado and his take was different from where their base training was done.

And then you Petsmart that wants to turn the entire world into one be dog park with all kinds of backward training.

 

thanks. the problem i am having is distraction. the visible treat almost scares him and he wants nothing to do with it. i'm fairly certain it has a lot to do with him being a rescue because he has a couple irrational fears like that.

consistency is the name of the game

 

I'll bet you $100 I can get both my dogs to come to me from 1/4 mile away with out a treat.

 

A lot must have changed since I last saw them. You could not keep them away from Riley's birthday cake no matter what you threatened. :-D

 

Yeah I got tired of hunting with two spaz dogs. Took about a month and now they are where they need to be. Had to bring out the old dog trainer in my self. I wasn't going to do it with these two but my last hut prior to training pushed me over the edge. I can sit them and your dogs could pretty much do what ever around them and mine would not move till I released them. And it's all on a 4 command system, sit down come place. I would take about a month and you could have tango off leash and not have to worry about him.

Mine have always been good off leash now I just don't have to repeat my commands.

 

The "treat" is anything that your dog cannot resist. It can be a toy, a ball, or a favorite stick. The idea is to create the drive to come to you because you have the "treat".

 

My dogs treat is me not breaking my foot off in their asses. so they just listen.

No for mine it's the freedom
Of being off a leash. When they are released "free" usually in a big field they go nuts! When we are walking on or off a leash they are to be within arms reach of me. And when I say free they can run wild until I call them back then they sit within arms reach of me again.

 

Here is what's going down now at my house. Dogs sleeping on bed and my daughter dancing while watching despicable me 2 hahah.

 

LOL! Try that with Tango and you would have all 240ft lbs of jaw around your leg. ;-)

 

If your dogs were on a leash you wouldn't have to worry about calling them from a quarter mile.