Dog Training Collars

[jeepinxj01]

Just wondering if anyone has ever used the training collars on their pup that's had some "obedience problems." If so, pros and cons.

Background. I have a 5 month old Chesapeake Bay Retriever who is currently in training class now, but it's all positive reenforcement and does not touch on any of the behavior my dog seems to be displaying.....example. When she's chewing or biting, they say just to give her one of her toys and then reward her when she takes the toy. That still doesn't rectify the problem. That's just diverting her attention to something else for a few minutes.

I want to actually prevent her from doing wrong. I hope this makes sense.

Anyway....any advice on the collars would be greatly appreciated.

Hope this is Non-Tech/Off Topic enough for ya. :jester:

[99xjache]

Training collars are great if used properly. I used one on mine dog. I only had to actually USE it half a dozen times.

You have to have the remote with YOU at all times and ONLY administer the correction while the dog is in the act of the undesired behavior. If you use the way it was intended, you will only have to use it a few times untill the animal gets the idea.

You have to leave the collar on at all times. If you take it on and off it will soon realize that it only has to behave when the collar is on. Trust me on that one.

As long as your not a control freak, and dont enjoy inflicting pain on a family member, I think it is an appropriate means of training an animal. Remember, dogs use association as reasoning, if it hurts or is uncomfortable they wont do it. Sometimes it takes longer for some dogs to learn, however with the proper attention and discipline they will.

I'm no expert on dog training, but I have done a pretty good job with mine, and am very happy with the results I got with the training collar.

Aaron

[jeepinxj01]

Training collars are great if used properly. I used one on mine dog. I only had to actually USE it half a dozen times.

You have to have the remote with YOU at all times and ONLY administer the correction while the dog is in the act of the undesired behavior. If you use the way it was intended, you will only have to use it a few times untill the animal gets the idea.

You have to leave the collar on at all times. If you take it on and off it will soon realize that it only has to behave when the collar is on. Trust me on that one.

As long as your not a control freak, and dont enjoy inflicting pain on a family member, I think it is an appropriate means of training an animal. Remember, dogs use association as reasoning, if it hurts or is uncomfortable they wont do it. Sometimes it takes longer for some dogs to learn, however with the proper attention and discipline they will.

I'm no expert on dog training, but I have done a pretty good job with mine, and am very happy with the results I got with the training collar.

Aaron

Thanks so much for the info. That's what I was hopin' for, because I'm really at my whits end w/ her some days. She's really a great dog when she wants to be, but she doesn't know her limits yet, and complete positive reenforcement isn't working. Thanks again.

[karstic]

OK she is a 5 MONTH old puppy!!! What do expect from her? To be an adult.

Let her be a puppy. What kind of behavior are you trying to correct? Are you training her as a hunter or just obedience?

When using an ecollar you don't just slap it on and zap her. She needs to be conditioned first. Do some extensive research before delving into an ecollar. If used incorrectly you may very well spoil your dog.

[FELIX]

I tried on of those electric fence shock deals w/ my male Siberian Husky pup, didn't even phase him sat there like nothing was going as the collar was beeping like crazy :attom: . Put it on my wife's Doby/shepard mix & she jumped 3 feet off the ground. :scared:

Rob

[jeepinxj01]

OK she is a 5 MONTH old puppy!!! What do expect from her? To be an adult.

Let her be a puppy. What kind of behavior are you trying to correct? Are you training her as a hunter or just obedience?

When using an ecollar you don't just slap it on and zap her. She needs to be conditioned first. Do some extensive research before delving into an ecollar. If used incorrectly you may very well spoil your dog.


I know what you're saying, and her behavior w/ the biting and chewing and even showing signs of aggression may be puppy, but it also needs to be nipped in the bud now before she get to be 70lbs. I've had several different breeds of dogs but never a Chesapeake and the research I've done, says they have a tendency to show aggression and if it's not corrected that can be a huge problem especially when she's matured and there's kids around

Like I said, she is in training now, but it's all positive reenforcement. Like was said before, she doesn't have that association of "if I do this, it's not going to feel good." I love my dog dearly and I don't want to have to have her put down one day because she bit some neighborhood kid for whatever reason. That's really not fair to her.

And no, I'm not training her for hunting. She's just a family dog that needs to not bite and chew so damn much. Chewing I deal w/, biting I can't. For her sake and mine.

Thanks for the input. Keep 'em coming if you got 'em.

KyS

[Fullsizexj]

They should make them legal for kids that don't listen, and have long range remotes

[Phager]

I've always viewed training collars as a methid of last resort. I've personally never needed to use one and I've raised a few dogs. For the most part I've had great luck with a combination of positive reinforcement for behaviour problems that just require redirection (Such as the chewing) and a stern reprimand when my pups do something that is completely unacceptable like the biting.

Now my dalmation lab mix had a big problem with playful nipping. My way of taking care of it was as soon as he went to nip me or my wife we would shove a fist all the way to the back of his jaw. This is a very uncomfortable position for the dog and the dog won't be able to put a huge amount of pressure on you fist. It took about a week of this until he learned not to bite with the exception of the occasional accidental nip when roughhousing. One amusing side effect of this is that now my cats have a tendency of sticking their heads in his mouth and he's never bitten them, although the first time I saw it happen it scared the crap ot of me :D

Hope this helps,

Pat

[jeepinxj01]

I've always viewed training collars as a methid of last resort. I've personally never needed to use one and I've raised a few dogs. For the most part I've had great luck with a combination of positive reinforcement for behaviour problems that just require redirection (Such as the chewing) and a stern reprimand when my pups do something that is completely unacceptable like the biting.

Now my dalmation lab mix had a big problem with playful nipping. My way of taking care of it was as soon as he went to nip me or my wife we would shove a fist all the way to the back of his jaw. This is a very uncomfortable position for the dog and the dog won't be able to put a huge amount of pressure on you fist. It took about a week of this until he learned not to bite with the exception of the occasional accidental nip when roughhousing. One amusing side effect of this is that now my cats have a tendency of sticking their heads in his mouth and he's never bitten them, although the first time I saw it happen it scared the crap ot of me :D

Hope this helps,

Pat

Haven't done the fist technic, but did take some advice from the vet, which was take my thumb and put it in her mouth and basicall grab the lower part of her mouth. Vet also said to hold her mouth shut and make eye contact. Neither worked. Just pisses her off. She bites w/ more "enthusiasm" after that.

She's very pig headed. I don't mind the occasional playful nip when playing, the true biting is what can't be tolerated.

Thanks again guys. Need all the help you can throw at me.

[RichP]

First off, chessie retreivers are the most agressive, they also doubled as guard dogs so that streak is bred into them, they were bred for and by professional commercial hunters. You need to determine if it's just agression or fear agression. If it's fear agression I would not have it around, had a fear agressive gordon setter that turned into a rather nasty piece of work..

[jeepinxj01]

First off, chessie retreivers are the most agressive, they also doubled as guard dogs so that streak is bred into them, they were bred for and by professional commercial hunters. You need to determine if it's just agression or fear agression. If it's fear agression I would not have it around, had a fear agressive gordon setter that turned into a rather nasty piece of work..

There, I'm not crazy. I don't think it's fear based in anyway. It's just agression. She'll just get hyper and have a burst of energy, and run around the house. Then she starts biting, and it doesn't seem like she's trying to hurt, she's nipping like she's wanting to play. There's no signs of fear. Ears stay normal. Hair on the nape of her neck is normal and the classic tail between the legs, just isn't there. Just a burst of energy and then the biting.

[CRASH]

Have you tried biting back? :D

I had two fo the most ill-behaved dogs on the planet, basically, they were feral dogs someone had dropped off in the desert. They were about 8 months old when I got them. It's taken almost two years to get them to listen, pay attention, and know who the boss is. I think the last is really the key. The one particularly hard-headed one got a very good beating after doing something inapproproate, and I swear, that one beating put the fear of god into him, and he has minded me very well ever since. My wife, a behavioural ecologist who did a lot of wolf work in college, swears by the alpha male training method. Dogs are always trying to challenge the alpha, you have to be the alpha, and make them understand that you always will be. Once I adopted this theory (rather than my previous try-and-reason-with-them theory), my life, and theirs, got a lot better. Now they know who is in charge, which is exactly what pack animals desire most in life.

Make sense?

[jeepinxj01]

Have you tried biting back? :D

I had two fo the most ill-behaved dogs on the planet, basically, they were feral dogs someone had dropped off in the desert. They were about 8 months old when I got them. It's taken almost two years to get them to listen, pay attention, and know who the boss is. I think the last is really the key. The one particularly hard-headed one got a very good beating after doing something inapproproate, and I swear, that one beating put the fear of god into him, and he has minded me very well ever since. My wife, a behavioural ecologist who did a lot of wolf work in college, swears by the alpha male training method. Dogs are always trying to challenge the alpha, you have to be the alpha, and make them understand that you always will be. Once I adopted this theory (rather than my previous try-and-reason-with-them theory), my life, and theirs, got a lot better. Now they know who is in charge, which is exactly what pack animals desire most in life.

Make sense?

Makes perfect sense, but I will say at the risk of sounding like a pussy. It's awfully hard to not reason w/ them. She too damn cute. :) I'm just going to have to be a hell of a lot tougher on her. Thanks.

[karstic]

If you are leery of having an aggressive dog around why did you get a dog that has a known aggressive streak? Now that that is out of the way...

When she wants to bite, curl her upper lip under one of her teeth and pinch until she yelps. Then tell her in a commanding voice, "NO BITE!" Occasionally you may have to put her on her back and show her who the alpha dog is.

As far as chewing goes, toys, toys, toys. Also plenty of exercise. Retriever games in the yard, walks around the block, daily

[99xjache]

If you are leery of having an aggressive dog around why did you get a dog that has a known aggressive streak? Now that that is out of the way...

When she wants to bite, curl her upper lip under one of her teeth and pinch until she yelps. Then tell her in a commanding voice, "NO BITE!" Occasionally you may have to put her on her back and show her who the alpha dog is.

As far as chewing goes, toys, toys, toys. Also plenty of exercise. Retriever games in the yard, walks around the block, daily


This is one method I've used since the collar. It follows the same principle of Pain =Bad, but the pain is administered by alpha dog, not some invisible force. Sounds like a good first approach, and its free.

[non-stick]

Have you tried biting back? :D

I had two fo the most ill-behaved dogs on the planet, basically, they were feral dogs someone had dropped off in the desert. They were about 8 months old when I got them. It's taken almost two years to get them to listen, pay attention, and know who the boss is. I think the last is really the key. The one particularly hard-headed one got a very good beating after doing something inapproproate, and I swear, that one beating put the fear of god into him, and he has minded me very well ever since. My wife, a behavioural ecologist who did a lot of wolf work in college, swears by the alpha male training method. Dogs are always trying to challenge the alpha, you have to be the alpha, and make them understand that you always will be. Once I adopted this theory (rather than my previous try-and-reason-with-them theory), my life, and theirs, got a lot better. Now they know who is in charge, which is exactly what pack animals desire most in life.

Make sense?

X2 on showing the dog who's in charge from the get go. I've had two dogs since they were pups and obedience trained them myself. Biting them right on the the nose IMMEDIATELY after they bite really gets their attention. Growling (yeah, sounds stupid but it reinforces the pack hierarchy (sp)) helps to drive home the point.

I've tried scruff of the neck and all sorts of other methods. This one has been fool proof. Once they understand where they stand in the "pack" it really takes vaery little to keep them in line, regardless of size.

HTH

[Bradlybob]

X3 on the alpha male theory. It works. Watch "The Dog Wisperer" on Natl Geo Channel. He has all sorts of good advice. If a dog in the family knows his place he is much less stressed and more easy going. My wifes dog, black lab/dobie mix, would bolt as soon as the door was opened and he would run until you caught him. After falling while chasing him and tearing up my work clothes, I grabbed his collar, lifted him by it and dragged him all the way home with him gagging and choking. Sounds cruel but he now knows his limits. He walks to the edge of the property and stops, looks back for permission to leave the yard. Then when I want him I whistle once and he comes running. I used the same technique on my boxer and he pops tall when I tell him to now. At least I'm "top dog" with someone! Sometimes I think the total positive reenforcement folks are the same people with the screaming brats running around disturbing everyone. Dogs like kids need to know their boundaries and limits, and they need to know what will happen to them if they exceed those limits. Then just love 'em to death.

[jeepinxj01]

Well, an update, but first; thanks for all the responses. They will definately help. I did get a training collar last night. It's on the lowest setting and it took one time w/ the "beep" prior to the shock. Now it's on a delay to where the shock isn't delivered until like 3 to 5 seconds after the beep starts. She responds to the beep and it got to the point where she was actually listening w/out the beep at all. She got a lot of positive reenforcement and treats last night too. When I get home tonight, I'm going to put the collar on her and maybe not even turn it on and see how she does w/ just the idea of the collar on. Thanks again for all of the help and advice.

KyS

[Roxtar]

Have you tried biting back? :D

I had two fo the most ill-behaved dogs on the planet, basically, they were feral dogs someone had dropped off in the desert. They were about 8 months old when I got them. It's taken almost two years to get them to listen, pay attention, and know who the boss is. I think the last is really the key. The one particularly hard-headed one got a very good beating after doing something inapproproate, and I swear, that one beating put the fear of god into him, and he has minded me very well ever since. My wife, a behavioural ecologist who did a lot of wolf work in college, swears by the alpha male training method. Dogs are always trying to challenge the alpha, you have to be the alpha, and make them understand that you always will be. Once I adopted this theory (rather than my previous try-and-reason-with-them theory), my life, and theirs, got a lot better. Now they know who is in charge, which is exactly what pack animals desire most in life.

Make sense?Thank you.

Positive reinforcement? Give her toys when she does wrong?
Some people reading a little too much Dr Spock here.
Jebus, why not put her in time out?
I have a 1 year old male Pit Bull who knows my 5', 100 lb wife will beat him to a pulp if he gets out of line.
He also knows he is completely loved.
He's never chewed up one thing he wasn't allowed to and is as friendly a dog as I've met.
He understands, without a doubt, what the line of authority is in our house.

[CRASH]

Thank you.



If you make it to BOTW next year, I can show you my alpha male tactics in person......

[Roxtar]

If you make it to BOTW next year,location picked yet?

[karstic]

If you make it to BOTW next year, I can show you my alpha male tactics in person......

We want video...

[CRASH]

location picked yet?


Looking like a Utah affair. Delta and then Moab. Delta is excellent, from what I hear.

My Jeep may even be running by then!