Electric Dog Training Collar

The question of "What is an electric dog training collar?" may be a bit obvious, but a little clarity on the definition will help cut through any misconceptions. Read on:

An electric dog training collar is a device designed to control the behavior of dogs through the use of mild electric shock as a punishment for nasty behavior. Barking, jumping, growling, and other intrusive behaviors can all be controlled through the use of an electric dog collar.

An electric collar (or remote trainer) can be used to control any misbehavior that you witness your dog doing. It can also be used to teach your dog proper obedience responses when he is off the leash.
Electric dog collars come in many different designs and styles, but all of them have these common traits:

1. A dog collar, embedded with:
2. Metal contact points (called electrodes)
3. Power source (usually a battery)
4. Triggering method

These are the common traits of most electric dog collars, but the training collar you choose will depend upon your situation and the kind of behavior(s) you want to control. There are three main types of systems available:

Electric Bark-Control Collar

This is an automatic, set-it-and-forget-it training collar that triggers a mild stimulation or buzzing sensation to the dog when it begins barking. Dogs learn to associate the uncomfortable feeling with the bark, and will usually stop barking within a few moments. Bark collars can be activated either by sound level or vibration, or both, which reduces the likelihood of triggering the shock by sounds not coming from the dog. Fido will be grateful, and you will be relieved.

Electric Pet Containment System

This is a dog training system comprised of two parts: wires installed around an area of the yard or home where you want to contain your dog(s), plus an electric dog training collar. If the dog approaches this barrier, the collar emits a single shock or a series of shocks with increasing intensity, dissuading the dog from crossing the line. Here are some different pet containment systems you can get:

Electric Dog Training Collar

This is the most versatile type of electric training collar, as it allows for the control of any sort of undesirable behavior, but the caveat here is that it's not an AUTOMATED way of training your dog. You have to witness the behavior as it happens, and then trigger the electric shock manually. Use an electric dog training collar to control:

• Excessive Barking
• Jumping
• Humping

Every dog owner who actually cares about their dog is concerned with whether or not an electric dog training collar will hurt their dog during training.

Truthfully, most electric dog training collars have the potential to inflict pain, but when the training collar is used correctly, behaviors can easily be controlled with low levels of stimulation. These are levels that a lot of humans may not even be able to feel, and if dogs do feel the stimulation, it's more of a "buzz" than a pain.

That being said, every training tool has the potential to be used incorrectly. As such, electric dog training collars can indeed inflict undue pain on the dogs being trained. Electric training collars do not, in and of themselves, inherently cause pain. Just like that old saying, "Guns don't kill people...PEOPLE kill people."  It is the impatient, uniformed dog trainer that maligns the reputation of this effective dog training tool. When electric dog training collars first came on the scene, there were basically two levels of stimulation:

1. Shock
2. Don't Shock.

Great technology, but the intensity was constant and depended upon the manufacturers' settings. Over time, electric training collars evolved to include the option to adjust the stimulation level on the collar. But now, electric collar technology has improved such that the handler can vary the level of stimulation on the remote transmitter itself, allowing him or her to tailor the stimulation intensity to the behavior being controlled.

If you are reading this, chances are you do NOT fall into the category of cruel dog owner. If you take the time to properly learn how to operate the electric dog training collar system you purchase, chances are great that your dog's behavior will improve dramatically without any unnecessary pain.

Electric dog collar training is not rocket science, but it is easy to do more harm than good if you don't know what you're doing.

There are seven ground rules for using an electric dog training collar that you can use to get good results from your dog training efforts. If you implement all of these ground rules, your success is guaranteed. Let me explain...

Electric Collar Training Rule # 1 - Aggressive Behavior

First and foremost, never use the electric training collar to correct any form of aggressive behavior. Doing so will ultimately be disappointing at best, and at worst quite dangerous. In the event your dog is exhibiting such aggressive behaviors, you may want to enlist the help of a dog trainer that specializes in that sort of training. With that understood, please read on.

Electric Collar Training Rule # 2 - Conditioning

Condition your dog to the electric dog training collar by allowing him to wear it while doing something enjoyable instead of only putting it on directly before correcting any behavior. Also, keep the transmitter with you even when you are not training. Doing these two things will help prevent your dog from associating the stimulation he receives with the collar and the transmitter.

Electric Collar Training Rule # 3 - Use a Leash In the Beginning

Since the stimulation from the electric dog training collar is non-directional, always use it with a long-line or leash and away from people and other animals. Assisting your dog with a leash will also help him learn faster. Do not use the electric collar without a leash or long line until your dog is fully trained.

Electric Collar Training Rule # 4 - Start With What Your Dog Already Knows

Start with behaviors your dog already understands - do not use the electric dog training collar to reinforce commands that you have not covered. If your dog gets confused, help him with the leash and plenty of praise. When reinforcing a command with a correction, it is critical that you do so without emotion, and then back it up with immediate praise and reward your dog for making the right decision.

Electric Collar Training Rule # 5 - Use the Lowest Level of Stimulation

Always use the lowest stimulation level from the electric dog training collar as possible to get your dog's attention. When choosing the right level of stimulation, begin at level one. If your dog shows no reaction (turns head, scratches at collar, flicks ears, etc.), go up one level until you find the proper level. Your dog should not vocalize or panic during the stimulation - if this happens, the stimulation level is too high. You're looking for the least amount of stimulation that causes the dog to blink or twitch slightly.

Electric Collar Training Rule # 6 - Dogs Behave Differently in New Locations

Training in new locations may prove distracting to your dog, so you may have to reinforce your commands with the electric dog training collar more often as a result. You may also vary the level of stimulation, depending on the exercise or your dog's distraction level. Another reason to use a leash or long-line to help your dog perform his commands in new locations.

Electric Collar Training Rule # 7 - Work Within Your Dog's Attention Span

Keep your training sessions with the electric dog training collar positive and short (no more than 10-15 minutes long) so your dog will focus his attention on you. Look for any positive changes in your dog's behavior and immediately reinforce them with plenty of praise.Remember to always end your training session on a high note. Stop training and play with your dog as soon as he accomplishes a new level of proficiency.

These are just the ground rules to ensure success with your electric dog training collar. Patience is the key here, and will ultimately ensure your success.

Using a modern electric dog training collar offers several benefits over other standalone behavior modification methods such as leash or clicker training. The following examples illustrate why using an electric dog training collar is the most quickly effective means of getting control of your dog's insufferable behavior.

Speed and Timing of Correction

With an electric dog training collar, owners can deliver the signal at the exact moment they want to get the dog's attention. There is no time delay like there is associated with a treat, or taking up slack on a leash, or catching the dog if it is far away. This allows the dog being trained to understand the exact cause for the correction and minimizes confusion and delay.

Effective for any size combination of person and dog

Electric dog training collars can be used by small people with large dogs, large people with small dogs, or any combination thereof. Unlike leash training, which can require significant size and strength to use safely and effectively, electronic training devices may even be used by persons with disabilities. In all human/dog training situations, regardless of size, the goal is to remind the dog that it is part of a team, not acting alone.

Consistency - Can be used at all times in all appropriate situations

Use of an electric dog training collar ensures that the owner can consistently correct or reward the dog instantly without having to feed a constant stream of treats, manage an extremely long leash, or chase the dog down to remind it to cooperate.

As many who rely on treats as rewards will probably confirm, motivating a dog to work for anything other than food can be difficult and frustrating. Still other dogs are model students in obedience classes but seem to forget all they have learned once they are in the "real world."

Electric dog training collars, when used with consistency, can generate more manageable results more predictably than any other training method.

Lesson One

You must first introduce your dog to the boundaries of the electric dog fence. At this stage, you have to teach your dog that when it hears the tone it must move away from the boundaries.

Put your dog on a leash and walk to the boundary. When your dog gets to the signal field, turn around and quickly walk back into the yard; the dog will follow you. When the dog follows you, you should praise it. If your dog doesn't hear the tone, repeat the procedure. Repeat this lesson on days two and three. Your dog should be expecting the tone and will step back from the boundary without your asking it to.

If your dog retreats without any prompting from you and won't approach the boundary, this part of training has been successful. After each successful attempt, be sure to praise your dog. If your dog still runs toward the boundary, keep teaching lesson one.

Lesson Two

You will need a helper for lesson two. You, your leashed dog, and your helper should walk toward the boundary. The helper should walk through the boundary without looking back or stopping. If the dog follows the person through the boundary, it will receive an electronic correction from the collar. Take the dog to a safe part of the yard and give it praise. Lesson two should be performed at different areas of the boundaries.

Lesson Three

Once your dog has learned to stay away from the boundary, even when your helper is crossing it, it's time to add bigger distractions. You will have to train your dog with each distraction because dogs won't connect one distraction to another. You will have to train the dog on each distraction; don't cross the boundary for bikes, balls, neighbors, etc. Once your dog is completely trained on one distraction, train it about another one.

Lesson Four

Lesson four is the first time that your dog will be off leash; you must supervise your dog at all times during lesson four. You must be sure that you and the dog stay within the boundaries. Put the electronic collar on your dog and make sure it's turned on.

For the first month, you should spend a lot of time with your dog in the yard. The more time it spends in the yard, the less likely it is to run through the boundaries. Supervise your dog off leash for at least a week.

Lesson Five

Now your dog can be unsupervised while off-leash. Your dog is ready for lesson five when it avoids all distractions both on and off leash. Your dog can now be left in the yard for brief periods of time. As days go by, gradually increase the amount of unsupervised time your dog has in the yard. You will want to keep an eye on the dog, but you can do this from the house.

Positive reinforcement such as play and praise should be continued so your dog thinks of the yard as a fun and safe place. After two weeks, you can start to take down the barrier flags. Take down every other flag every other day until the flags are all gone. Eventually, the electronic collar is the only training aid the dog will need. If the unsupervised dog doesn't immediately retreat from the boundary of the electric dog fence, go through the training steps again.

With an electric dog fence, you will have a well-exercised and happy pet, and you don't have to worry about it running away.