Just got a new e collar today, and watched your video on starting with a heel command. My Springer Spaniel is 18 months old, and I could never take him on a walk without using a gentle leader. But if he ever got it off his nose or I didn't have it, he would wrench my shoulder every time! Using your video, he was walking almost perfectly within 30 minutes, and I never increased from a Lvl 1 vibration! By the end of the walk, he was heeling to a slight 1 finger leash pressure, and no correction! It was a beautiful walk! New subscriber! Thank you!
I've watched four other trainers before I watch your video, and I can honestly say that I find your method of teaching the come command makes the most sense to me. I also appreciate very much that you didn't start with a dog that you already had practice with and made edits if things didn't go as expected. I don't believe in the tap,tap,tap,tap, method. And I don't want to use the ecollar forever. Just for a month or two should do it. I've always trained my dogs without an ecollar in the past. But I can see where this could be a very handy tool in training if used correctly. Thank you very much, I want to do this right, and your video makes the most sense to me.
Absolutely! We have used this method for years and it works well and is fun for the dog and owner when done right. Will you be using the vibration function as well? If so, I prefer to start with that. I'll link a video below. What's kinda crazy is that many dogs get scared by the vibration because they don't know its supposed to be a good thing. We use a lot of treats during the first session with vibration to ensure they know vibration=come not vibration=you are in trouble. ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for not just showing the “perfect” pup on an e collar and how to correct and adjust when the dog doesn’t respond. Your video has been super helpful!
I'm glad it was helpful! Acclimation usually goes very well when you have a method, but unfortunately a lot of people aren't taught a method and just use trial and error. In our opinion that is what causes a lot of anti e collar sentiment.
I'm glad it was helpful! We tried our best to cut out the boring repetitive parts of the process while still showing all the important parts. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
I really appreciate this video!! I have trained and retrained bullies and boxers and terriers. My last dog i trained flawlessly to do over 30 tricks and could learn within 20 min!! I have walked and watched big german shepherds and dog sat great danes; however!!! I finally got my dream Whippet a year ago and he is more horse than dog!!😂 i finally got an ecollar because nothing works!! 😂😢 The way you are training makes perfect sense!! ❤ it!!😊 we are starting today. My little speed demon needs to RUN but also to hear me for safety's sake. 😊 crossing my fingers!! Thank you so much!
Thank you for the simple, clear instructions from start to finish, going thru each step, each command, each number - also that you're getting her used to the collar and not expecting perfection right away- loved the imperfect clarity of this, as I'm just starting e-collar training and it's important for me to start right so it's not a bad experience.
Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment Paula! I am thrilled to hear that you are learning before diving right in. That will make things much easier and more fun for your pup!
I have two chihuahua's who used to bark at everything from the tree branches swaying in the wind to a lizard on the window. I bought e-collars meant for large breeds to help mitigate their bad behavior. They looked ridiculous on my dogs almost looked like it weighs them down, but boy let me tell you. I attached these collars around their little necks cranked up the shocker to 99 and pressed the glorious bolt button down on my controller for around 5 seconds after the first time they started their annoying barking ritual and wow!!! To my shock (pun intended) they immediately stopped barking and jumped up in the air about three feet they ran whimpering back to their beds. No more barking, no more crying, no more anything. They are such good babies now they lay in their beds all day I haven't had to say no not once in the past week. I do occasionally press they bolt button randomly just to let they know who's boss, I think they are beginning to like it because now when I press it they start play fighting with each other viciously it's adorable. I love my shock collars and will now buy one for my cat and parrot. I think it's the best tool you can have as a pet owner to show dominance. Don't be afraid of shock collars they don't hurt your pets they just shock them kind of like when you hide behind a door and pop out on your wife...
Thank you! You are so clear in your instructions to us and Bambi. Demonstrating patience and care for the dog. Great video I’m grateful as I attempt to train two very strong and very affectionate pits that I inherited from a friend that passed away
Thanks I do have a question. When I take these two together to the dog park they sometimes gang up on another dog and it can get ugly When I take them separate especially the male he can get too aggressive about getting another dogs collar. And she will do this too When they play together they never hurt each other but they play full out and make sounds like someone is going to get killed These dogs are super sweet all other times they are great with cats and even baby chicks. They sit, stay, go away on command I think the young man that had them never took them to play with other dogs Should I not allow them to play so aggressively with each other ? Should I work with the collar to modify this behavior? I’m still learning about them as is obvious
Rough play isn't bad, but I would make sure you can stop them whenever you feel like it. You can practice calling them to you when they start playing really rough. Have them come to you and then hold a down stay for a minute or so. Then let them go and play again. When you can do this easily at home you will be able to start doing this at the park and getting them calm whenever they get too excited.
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thanks ! I will do that! and come back here and let you know how that goes. After they do maybe 6 days of that and they do good you think I should try at the park? Always give them a treat when they come and start the long stay right?
Thank you so much for posting this video! I’m currently on day one with the e-collar and your video taught me how to properly start training my 1 year old husky/akita mix. I wanted to ask, my girl looks wildly similar to Bambi, what breed is she?
Bambi is a German Shepherd. Here hair is just really short which makes her look different than most. I'm glad you are getting started with your pup! Sounds like she is a mix of a couple cool breeds that love to run off leash. Please feel free to reach out with any questions as you get into it!
Hi great video thank you. If you are out in a busy park, you shout “come Theo” to your dog, he ignores and carries on doing his thing. Do you then press the button and shout come again ? Or after the command?!. Would i press it the same time as I shout come Theo the second time or after?! Thanks
Great question! We generally pair the stim/correction with the word "no". So what we do is press vibrate as we call the dog. Make sure to spend a lot of time making sure the dog knows the vibration is a good thing (we have a video on that if you are interested). Then if the dog chooses not to listen we say "no" as we push the stim. Then we call the dog again "Theo Come!" and give a lot of praise when they listen. Let us know what questions this brings up!
@ thank you for your answer! So for example, if I say “Theo come” and he doesn’t, I then say “no” whilst pressing the sim. And then try “Theo come” again without pressing it?! Obviously I’d have spent a lot of time working out the correct level he needs to listen etc before using in the wild lol! Thanks!
A trainer told me to hide the control and make the dog think the bad behavior is what made the buzz go off as in example your dog is digging in the back yard buzz collar without dog seeing or realizing it is coming from you.
Many trainers use the method you describe and it will certainly work, but it isn't our favorite method. The reason is that we like to proof the word "no". Through time your dog will really start to learn the word "no" and will care when you say it. Then you can simply tell them "no" in other situations without the collar on and they will actually stop. That being said, if you are only trying to fix one issue it doesn't matter all that much. Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment!
Great question! We believe in fully training a dog first and then "layering" the e collar on top of known commands. This makes the e collar process very smooth and easy for both the trainer and the dog. I would suggest starting with one of the videos below and then circling back to this one. Once your dog is in a calm state of mind the e collar process will be a breeze! Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We love to help! Leash Pulling: ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html Come (Using Treats) ua-cam.com/video/P-xi6hYhtug/v-deo.html Come (No Treats) ua-cam.com/video/TH6ZO0LV7Gc/v-deo.html
Hi there, Our trainer told us to have obedient/rules behavior at a level 10 for our Berner and we push it constantly until dog complies (i.e. dog is playing, I call "come" and push button until he responds by coming). For unwanted behaviors, we were told to click it multiple times at a 30 to stop the behavior (i.e. dog is chewing a shoe, I click click click until he stops). Why do we have two different levels?
Your trainer uses a very different method than we do which can definitely create confusion when watching our videos. It sounds like they are doing what we call "low stim" training. Lots of trainers use this method and it is not wrong or bad, but it isn't what we do. The dog learns to come when they feel the low stim levels and they "turn it off" by coming to you. Then the higher level is used as more of a correction for doing something they presumably know is wrong. We don't use this method for a few reasons, one of which is we don't want to use any stim unless the dog chooses to ignore us. Here is a link to our e collar overview video which explains this better. ua-cam.com/video/nr8eH_ujgBo/v-deo.html Overall, it is super important to pick a method that you believe in and stick with it. If you like your trainer and what you are doing feels fair to the dog, then I would stick with it. If you train one way with your trainer and then another way at home it will be too confusing for you and your dog. Feel free to reach out with questions any time!
Hi, thanks for the video. I have just purchased a collar for my 7 month old Dutch Shephard. She constantly jumps and bites, for some reason when we take her to the beach its the worst behavior. As I try to walk her off the leash she will jump up at me and bite, the more I try to push her away and stop her the more she does it. I am hoping that by using the collar I can teach her not to jump/bite before taking her back to the beach.
An e collar can absolutely work for that! I would start with leash acclimation like we did in this video and see how it goes. Just take your time, be patient and adjust the collar level in small increments. What collar did you get?
I noticed when she was loose in the yard with the doodle she seemed happy and outgoing and playing with the doodle but then after you corrected her a couple of times she didn’t seem to really wanna play anymore and she did stick at your side. Is that normal?
Great question! We watch dog body language carefully when training to make sure the session is going well. Towards the end she was much calmer and not as crazy trying to play, but still had happy body language. If your dog gets in "training mode" and follows you around it isn't an issue at all as long as they are not stressed out or unhappy. If they are stressed then you would definitely need to make the training easier and help them to have some success.
I should have watched this video before using my collar. I have a 6 month old and a 8 year old GSD and got my first e collar yesterday. I've used it a few times on the 8 year old with tone which had no effect and then vibration with no effect and then actual static stim. My collar only has 7 intensity levels but has a continuous low or high and a momentary low or high for each level. I made the mistake of stimming too high and now my dog is afraid of the collar and will hide when he sees the remote receiver. The younger pup hasn't had issues with it. Definitely need to backtrack some and reassess
Back tracking at this point is the right plan! Here is a link to an e collar overview video we recently released. I would watch it first. ua-cam.com/video/nr8eH_ujgBo/v-deo.html After watching it I would try the vibration again. Here is a video showing how we acclimate to the vibration. ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html Use a lot of treats for the first session so that your dog knows that the vibration is a good thing! He may be scared of the vibration now so make sure to give him treats before it even vibrates the first time. It also helps to put the collar on loosely. Let us know what questions you have after getting started, we would love to help!
Thank you for the video. I have 2 doodles that have been through a 2 week board and train for basic obedience and now I want to work with them myself on the e collar. I bought the Dogtra 1902s so I can use it for both. I have a question regarding the 1902s. It has the Stim (on the side) and the Vibrate (on the front). Would you use both buttons for any reason, or try to stick to one button for all your commands? Ex: Stim to "come", vibrate to "Place".
Great question! We use the vibration as a pager and it means "come". We only use the stim if they don't listen. This is different than the low stim level training where you use the stim every time you call them. If you watch our intro to vibration video and then watch the acclimation to stim video after it will make more sense. Here is a link: ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining I think this touches on my question, but I want to be certain. So once I've acclimated my dog to the pager function for "come", I would then do as you did in this video to introduce the stim utilizing heel. Then the stim is multifunctional as a correction/focus grabber when needed if the dog doesn't respond to the pager for recall or other commands, like a heel, while on walks etc? Thank you!
@@JSMcGrath It sounds you understand it well James! Just as an added detail, the reason we acclimate the dog to stim with the heel command is that it is easier to gauge their reaction to the collar and to ensure you don't end up using it at too high of a level. If you start the stim with a dog running around the yard you might need a much higher level to catch their attention the first time and this can result in too high of a a daily working level. Once the dog is acclimated to the stim you can use it for any command that your dog already understands well.
Can you use an e collar to help curb barking? Our 16 month old Papillon goes into a barking fit at every real or imagined noise. I am unsure if he is trying to alert us to possible danger or if the “noises” are stressing him out. I try to reassure him that all is good, but it would be great to be able to use an e collar to break his focus on what he (thinks) heard.
@@KarenMonks An e collar can work for barking, but I would make sure you practice some other calming techniques first. I would start by making sure he has a rock solid heel command. Then I would practice making a noise outside and heeling him until he is calm. Then I would add a word to stop the barking (quiet, no, etc). Create a noise outside, tell him "no" if he is barking and then heel to calm if needed. Once you have put the time in with the leash I would start using the e collar along with the word no. The reason for doing it this way is to prevent your dog from getting scared or stressed out by the situation.
I’ve seen a collar used as negative reinforcement where the trainer will say come, apply stim and stop when the dog responds. What technique is bettter and why?
That's a great question! We don't use it as negative reinforcement and instead use the vibration as a pager and use the stim if needed as positive punishment. Here is a link to a video where we describe why. ua-cam.com/video/nr8eH_ujgBo/v-deo.html That being said, as long as you are taking time to teach them properly and treating them fairly either method can be used successfully.
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thanks! I have also seen the pager used as punishment to stop aggression. The trainer said it was a more negative experience for the dog than stim. This is so confusing. Is it really just to pick what seems right to me and use consistently??
@@MaggieMarshallDogTraining Some people do use the vibration as a correction and there is definitely nothing wrong with that. Many dogs consider the vibration to be an aversive unless they are taught that it is a good thing. That being say, we really prefer the vibration to be a good thing because we consider the e collar a communication tool and not just a correction tool. When a dog is taught that the vibration means come they get excited when the button is pushed because they know they will be praised for listening. If a correction is needed, the stim level is so adjustable on a good collar that you can have a super minor correction as well as a sterner one if you ever needed it. Your last sentence seems spot on to me! I would just pick a method that makes sense to you, study it enough that you feel good about it and then be consistent.
Hey Kristen! I would most likely stop a lot of the leash pulling before starting the e collar. Here is a video showing exactly how we do that. ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html You could then introduce the e collar at the end of the session once your pup is in "training mode". Reach out with any questions!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thank you so much! I’m honestly getting to the point where I don’t want to take him anywhere, due to his pulling…and the fact that he’s about 50 pounds and very strong. Plus it’s just embarrassing to be out in public while having zero control of your dog. Anyways, thanks again! I’m glad I found you. As I like how simple and to the point you keep your videos.
Absolutely Kristen! If you watch the two videos and practice a few times a day you could fix 90% of your leash pulling within a week. If you like podcasts, we just did an episode on leash pulling which would be helpful for you. The trainers spend some time talking about all of their favorite tricks to stop leash pulling. Here is a link to our Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0u4lIDhvmK17EBbp7VfXZ5
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Omg I freaking love you and I’m subscribing right now! Thank you so much!! Seriously, I really appreciate you going out of your way to help me. If you offer online courses and I find myself needing more help, I’m 100% coming to you.
I would definitely get a Dogtra Arc. This is our top recommendation for our training clients. It comes with one collar and you can add an additional collar. Here is a review/demo of it as well as links to the collars. ua-cam.com/video/prSRtossyHI/v-deo.html Dogtra Arc: amzn.to/3penaIQ Dogtra Arc Second Collar: amzn.to/46hysg1
If you are just using it in your yard then the 300 yard range should be be fine. If you plan on doing off leash hiking or something similar then I would go for a longer range unit.
I have a 9 month old rescue ( and 2 other dogs), the rescue didn't seem to have any training other than being mostly house broke. One of my dogs loves catch but when he drops it, Gus (rescue) rushes in and grabs it and takes off with it. I was trying to incorporate some recall training and while he DID NOT have the ball, I told him to come and when he didn't, I hit him with vibrate. It broke my heart! He wouldn't touch the ball again. It took another full day to make him aware that he is more than welcome to join us in playing ball. How do I avoid this situation again?
We actually see way more dogs scared by the vibration than from an actual stim/correction. For that reason, we spend a good amount of time slowly acclimating to the vibration and using treats to show the dog it is a good thing. The idea is that vibration will mean "come" to the dog. Here is an unedited video showing how we acclimate a dog to vibration. If you spend a couple days on this the fear should go away completely. ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
Hello! At what age would you say is best to introduce the e-collar? I have an almost 5 month old puppy. I’m not sure what his breed is but he’s definitely mixed with a Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is a good boy, but he has become quite stubborn with commands and recall.
That is a great question Kiara! We worry more about training experience rather than age. We believe in "layering" the e collar on top of obedience commands the dog already understands very well. If your dog knows the commands and is choosing to willfully ignore them it is fine to start using an e collar. We never use an e collar with a young dog (less than 4 months) since they are not mentally mature enough yet to truly advance their training to off leash. 5 months is fine as long as they understand their commands and you introduce the e collar slowly and patiently. We always stress to clients to remember that it isn't a device to punish bad dogs, it is a communication tool and a way to break focus. If you don't have a collar yet I would watch this video on the Dogtra 280x. It is brand new and is the most versatile collar on the market in our opinion. ua-cam.com/video/hhh0eUHy9pk/v-deo.html
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining I also am curious. I’ve grown up around family members who always gave their dogs light tap on the butt when they did something wrong. In my opinion, hitting a dog- a puppy who is learning at that is not right nor effective in training. Am I right to assume this? Thanks a bunch!
@@kiaralee9455 We aren't fans of swatting on the butt for a few reasons. One is that some dogs are sensitive and will be scared by this. On the other side, some dogs will react with frustration and will lash out at the owner. Either of these scenarios can turn into a serious issue. Some dogs will handle it fine without an issue, but it's not worth the risk in our opinion. We are bigger fans of having a dog drag a leash if needed and then picking the leash up to gain control whenever the dog does something wrong.
I sent my dog away for training with the e collar and she came back completely terrified. Is there a way to reintroduce her to the collar. I'm devastated and heart broken about it
I’m so sorry to hear that Katherine😔 You can definitely help her though! I would suggest watching our video on acclimation to vibration. Take it slow and use lots of treats the first couple sessions. Your goal won’t be to “train” her. Your goal will be to show her that the vibration is a good thing and means “come”. Then you can add the stim back in later the way we show in this video. Finding her working level is important so that you never over correct. Let us know what questions you have once you get started!
I was going to say, the first mistake was sending her away, think of it from her perspective, you abandoned her at this random place where they collar you with electricity while you're feeling lost and abandoned. Training should always be done by you or at the very least in your presence. My sister and I got 2 puppies from the same litter, brothers. I trained mine personally with a prong collar and positive reinforcement and she idk had him trained but then looked at it as "he's been trained but he still doesn't listen to me" when she refuses to spend time with him and work on his training, it's not a thing where you just ship your dog off and they come back trained and well behaved, you actually have to work with the trainers and learn too, dog training is 10% training the dog and 90% training the owner. I requires effort and time and patience. If you aren't willing to do all 3 of these then do the animal a favor and don't get it or it's going to end up being re-homed, sent to the pound or worse
A few other videos I’ve seen say to train the dog using the stimulator with the command and then release the stimulation when they do the command. This video is contrary to that method. Can you explain the difference?
Great question! Low stim level training has become fairly popular, but it is not something we believe in. Training in that manner means the dog is receiving the stim even if they have done nothing wrong. If the stim is supposed to be a correction then it doesn't seem fair to do that. If the stim isn't a correction, what is it? If the dog blows off a command once they are trained would you use the stim level to stop them? If so, won't that be confusing when they are being good and you push the button to call them? This is a fairly quick answer that doesn't get into all the nuances, but we dive into this in a high level of detail on our podcast "Balanced Training with Suburban K9". It is on Spotify and Apple. Let us know if you have any follow up questions and thanks for starting this conversation!
We generally have the d ring where the leash attaches either straight up or on the side of the neck in between us and the dog. As long as the leash isn't wrapping around their neck the collar will generally work itself to the best position based upon your height and the dog's size.
My dog reacts very visibly to a level 1 stimulation on my e collar, it’s scares him badly. Should I not use it? Or will he acclimate to it? My e collar also has vibrate and tone, many try that instead
What brand collar do you have? Also how many levels does it have? If your dog is very sensitive I would watch this video before using the vibrate. ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html A lot of dogs get nervous of the vibration if you don't introduce it with treats or games.
I got the Garmin Sport for my male GSP (note he’s a tiny GSP, 40 pounds fully grown). It has 10 levels and I started on level 1 with stimulate and it terrified him.
That is one of the reasons we use Dogtra collars. They have at least 100 levels on them which allows you to adjust the stim level much more precisely for your particular dog. If you are still able to return the collar I would suggest the Dogtra 280x. It will allow you to find the right level for your pup. If you can't return it then maybe just spend a few weeks working with the vibrate and see how your dog does with that.
Thanks for the suggestion. I watched your other video and it was very helpful, I will work in this soon with my pup. I will also consider exchanging the e-collar for something with more levels. Does the vibrate function also have levels for the e collar you suggested? Or is that only 0 or 1 (off or on)?
Unfortunately the vibration does not have different levels. We introduce it with a lot of treats and dogs generally love it within a day. For dogs that are extra nervous the tone can be easier for them to adjust to though.
I am a little confused. Is the collar supposed to be negative reinforcement. Another trainer used the continuous button so the dog would learn to "turn it off" by doing the right thing. Is this just another way, or are both used for different purposes? I have a dog who will be very on-task most of the time but on random occasion, he will suddenly decide to do his own thing and tunes you out and bolts to run for fun. The risk is getting into traffic and hit by a car. So he cannot be trusted because it seems so random and unpredictable. I was hoping e-collar could solve this so he could be off-leash to have fun.
Great question! We don't believe in using an e collar as negative reinforcement. The idea of using the stim every time you call a dog just doesn't make a ton of sense to us. Instead, we train with the vibration and make that a positive thing. The vibration means come. Then we add the stim as positive punishment if needed when the dog doesn't listen. We dive into this distinction pretty deeply on our podcast if you are interested. It is called "Balanced Dog Training With Suburban K9" and is on Spotify and Apple for free. I hope this helps and feel free to reach out with any questions!
It's nothing bad. I was thinking like you! I hv 2 fighting dogs. I'm on week 1 my dogs are already so happy ...no pain at all I put it on. It's a great system. When you read the book it really is eye opening
Which podcast do you go over this topic? I have long struggled with this idea, and it can lead to confusion for both the dog and the handler if you cannot pick. I view it very similar to electrical troubleshooting, diet exercise, to find a program and stick with it, you’ll probably get acceptable but when you jump from one to one that’s when things fail.
@@brianlocal3 We talk about it on Season 1 Episode 2 which is called The Come Command - A Deep Dive. Totally agreed about finding a method and sticking with it! There are a lot of great trainers out there and everyone does things differently. If the method makes sense to you and seems kind/fair to the dog, then it is probably ok!
Heeling may be calming, but it seems that the criteria for what is heel position seems vague. Does heel mean just no forging and just being on the left side? "Come" seems like a clearer behavior in terms of criteria for the dog.
Good question Sarah! We introduce the stim with the heel command because even with a very low level stim some dogs are surprised when they first feel it. Also, when they are off leash many dogs will ignore the stim at first (because it means nothing to them yet). This can lead to an owner setting the stim level higher than it needs to be. We aren't proofing or advancing the heel command with the stim, we are just trying to establish the lowest working level the dog can feel. It is not a correction and doesn't have any real meaning at first. If they handle it well we immediately move to the come command. Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment!
Thanks for the thoughtful response. Would introducing the stim without any command at all be counterproductive? With my last dog I had him out in yard just chilling and me inside, out of sight and watching out a window. I did lowest stim until I saw a very faint turn of ear and turn it down as I thought it was too high and did not want that. When I added "come", dog on line and no distractions. SO there was no command or asking the dog to do anything and he did not associate the stim with my presence. He did not develop any "superstitious" behaviors either. Just trying to think about how to do it with my new dog. She is in the "getting used to wearing the collar" mode at the moment and not 100% on what the "heel" command even means, but she does understand "come". @@SuburbanK9DogTraining
If your dog has a fairly stable temperament then doing as you suggest and introducing with no command would work fine! As you mentioned, just take it slow and keep a close eye on the dog. We actually like to have the dog associate the collar with us because it helps proof the word “no” much better and then chance of them become collar wise is about zero. Our newest podcast episode on Spotify/Apple Podcasts dives a lot deeper into that thought. I love that you are putting so much thought into your training!
Thank you Just found your channel and I had not done my research yet on your page I appreciate your response and your videos Your style is very similar to Tom Dokkens obedience ideals , I like it
Hey Victor! I would consider doing some work on the heel command. It goes quickly and really helps teach a dog to be calm and respectful. Don't worry about the age, we train older dogs all the time. I would watch this video on heel and then practice it for three or four days. After that you should be ready to pair the e collar with heel. ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html
@SuburbanK9DogTraining We were at Petsmart and they carry them. Thought I'd ask a pro. Will be purchasing one this weekend. Hoping for good results. Love your videos and appreciate your help.
Make sure to check its stated range and then I would recommend cutting the range in half. If you are looking at a 1/2 mile or 3/4 mile collar then you should be fine in any reasonable situation. If the collar distance is expressed in yards I would just do some math to make sure it will be reliable for you.
Great question Sydney! We actually acclimate to vibration very differently! Here is a link to a video showing that process. m.ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
Great vid, although I think your dog is calm and laid back GOOD FOR YOU! Our 18 month Shepard is a DEISEL. I wish I had a dog like yours. This one is like an explosive. a hand grenade, she pulls/tugs/ripps/ runs/ bolts/ NO CONTROL. I need vid that shows how to deal with THIS mess of a Shepard. Shock power 10,000 DC AMPS wouldn't phase THIS dog. Go for a walk with our dog she'll rip your arm out of the socket is another dog is within a thousand yards or a car goes by. Well, luck of the draw. Struck out choosing THIS one. Wanna trade? I'll pay you!
😁 We always start with mastering loose leash walking before we move to off leash training. It really helps calm the dog down and get them ready to learn. Here is a video that should be helpful! ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html
You really need to stress that those numbers are for your Dogtra which has 127 levels. If people start their 10 level e-collar at 6 or 7 they will scare the crap out of their dog
Totally agreed on the importance of people knowing their collar. I hope a lot of people see your comment. I can't believe anyone still sells collars that only go from 1-10.
@@langies In this video we are not working on heel. We are just using heel as a way to introduce the e collar. We repeat the word often to give the dog a chance to listen (return to heel) and then use the stim if they don't. As you saw from the video we take a long time to acclimate the dog to make sure we don't rush it and scare them.
As a dog trainer teaching heel, I repeat the word as they are doing it and give pets and praise. When I need them to do it, and they dont, I cinch up and say heel and give praise and pets when they are in the right position. I saw nothing wrong with what the trainer was doing. He is TRAINING! IT IS NEVER 100% when training. He was being patient and calm and using the stimulus as a reminder... "hey! Bzzzz heel!" 😊 people always so quick to attack!! (And we want to train our dogs better?!😂)
Helpful but how about using a real dog that wants to drag you down the street? Heel outside with mine is a joke after trying various methods. Will just keep trying.
Hi Pam! We almost always stop leash pulling before introducing the e collar. That is what we did with the GSD in this video. Here is a link to a different video showing how we stop leash pulling with a wild Lab that pulls a lot!!! ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html
@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thank you. I tried the prong collar but he is so irratic that it would twist apart and he would be loose. I used two leashes after that which helped but outside he just pulls every which way. I have tried going back inside if he pulls, stopping and waiting, training leads idk. It's awful. I fitted him for a gentle leader but he hates it so far. Next will be ecollars.
@@pamsloan84 Which brand prong did you use? When a Herm Sprenger is properly fitted it should not come off very easily from the dog twisting and moving. Some other brands are more likely to have that issue. Introducing an e collar at this point is not bad or wrong, it just takes more finesse to make sure you don't accidentally over correct your pup.
I don't recall the brand. I occasionally used it with my first border collie and it helped alot with the pulling. This second dog had it falling off so often I couldn't trust it so I stopped using it. He's very sweet and smart but so reactive. I will have to try that brand. Been resisting the ecollar myself. Clickers never worked for me so I was a little leary. At this point it's worth a try. He gets in a world of his own outside. Even if I hold his collar and say look at me, his head will face me but his eyes are straining sideways to see whatever he's focused on. If it wasn't so frustrating it'd be pretty funny. I have to try not to laugh and get still his attention. Inside he listens very well.
I think it really just comes down to how you see the e collar. If it is seen as a device to punish the dog when they are really bad, then totally agreed. She doesn't need that. If you see it as a way to catch her attention at a distance so that she can run free at the forest preserve, then it is a safety device and it makes a lot of sense to train her on one.
Please don't cut the collar!! Inside the collar are wires for range of transmission! If you cut it, you lose range! Maybe not with your particular brand of collar, but if you're telling people to do this someone will ruin theirs!!!
Are you seriously a trainer with these? You dont actively use the collar and work the dog. Put it on and start at 1, continue as your dog is just sitting around you until you see the slightest indication (looking around, scratching at their neck like an itch. Et . THEN procede to work on acclimating your dog!
This is a scam! An ESA does NOT entitle you to bring your animal everywhere! Only Service Animals have that privilege. It's good for housing and SOME airlines. Not malls and stores that aren't already dog friendly.
That makes sense! We definitely see a lot of ESA scams where people are told they can treat them basically like service dogs. Did you see a video where someone was selling fake paperwork to people?
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thinking back, I believe it was an ad that popped up during your video. For some reason I thought I could comment on it. 😂 Need more coffee!
Just got a new e collar today, and watched your video on starting with a heel command. My Springer Spaniel is 18 months old, and I could never take him on a walk without using a gentle leader. But if he ever got it off his nose or I didn't have it, he would wrench my shoulder every time! Using your video, he was walking almost perfectly within 30 minutes, and I never increased from a Lvl 1 vibration! By the end of the walk, he was heeling to a slight 1 finger leash pressure, and no correction! It was a beautiful walk! New subscriber! Thank you!
That is great to hear! Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment! Have fun with your pup and feel free to reach out with questions any time!
I've watched four other trainers before I watch your video, and I can honestly say that I find your method of teaching the come command makes the most sense to me. I also appreciate very much that you didn't start with a dog that you already had practice with and made edits if things didn't go as expected. I don't believe in the tap,tap,tap,tap, method. And I don't want to use the ecollar forever. Just for a month or two should do it.
I've always trained my dogs without an ecollar in the past. But I can see where this could be a very handy tool in training if used correctly.
Thank you very much, I want to do this right, and your video makes the most sense to me.
Absolutely! We have used this method for years and it works well and is fun for the dog and owner when done right. Will you be using the vibration function as well? If so, I prefer to start with that. I'll link a video below.
What's kinda crazy is that many dogs get scared by the vibration because they don't know its supposed to be a good thing. We use a lot of treats during the first session with vibration to ensure they know vibration=come not vibration=you are in trouble.
ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for not just showing the “perfect” pup on an e collar and how to correct and adjust when the dog doesn’t respond. Your video has been super helpful!
I'm glad it was helpful! Acclimation usually goes very well when you have a method, but unfortunately a lot of people aren't taught a method and just use trial and error. In our opinion that is what causes a lot of anti e collar sentiment.
I appreciated the video - showing the process without lots of editing.
I'm glad it was helpful! We tried our best to cut out the boring repetitive parts of the process while still showing all the important parts. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
I really appreciate this video!! I have trained and retrained bullies and boxers and terriers. My last dog i trained flawlessly to do over 30 tricks and could learn within 20 min!! I have walked and watched big german shepherds and dog sat great danes; however!!! I finally got my dream Whippet a year ago and he is more horse than dog!!😂 i finally got an ecollar because nothing works!! 😂😢 The way you are training makes perfect sense!! ❤ it!!😊 we are starting today. My little speed demon needs to RUN but also to hear me for safety's sake. 😊 crossing my fingers!! Thank you so much!
Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment! I hope the training goes well and feel free to reach out with questions any time!
Thank you for the simple, clear instructions from start to finish, going thru each step, each command, each number - also that you're getting her used to the collar and not expecting perfection right away- loved the imperfect clarity of this, as I'm just starting e-collar training and it's important for me to start right so it's not a bad experience.
Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment Paula! I am thrilled to hear that you are learning before diving right in. That will make things much easier and more fun for your pup!
I agree! Just got mine. Starting today!
Thanks for the great video! I love your attitude towards the pup. It's so nice to see training without ego.
Thanks for taking the time to drop such a nice comment! I hope the video helps and feel free to reach out with questions any time!
I have two chihuahua's who used to bark at everything from the tree branches swaying in the wind to a lizard on the window. I bought e-collars meant for large breeds to help mitigate their bad behavior. They looked ridiculous on my dogs almost looked like it weighs them down, but boy let me tell you. I attached these collars around their little necks cranked up the shocker to 99 and pressed the glorious bolt button down on my controller for around 5 seconds after the first time they started their annoying barking ritual and wow!!! To my shock (pun intended) they immediately stopped barking and jumped up in the air about three feet they ran whimpering back to their beds. No more barking, no more crying, no more anything. They are such good babies now they lay in their beds all day I haven't had to say no not once in the past week. I do occasionally press they bolt button randomly just to let they know who's boss, I think they are beginning to like it because now when I press it they start play fighting with each other viciously it's adorable. I love my shock collars and will now buy one for my cat and parrot. I think it's the best tool you can have as a pet owner to show dominance. Don't be afraid of shock collars they don't hurt your pets they just shock them kind of like when you hide behind a door and pop out on your wife...
Thank you! You are so clear in your instructions to us and Bambi. Demonstrating patience and care for the dog.
Great video I’m grateful as I attempt to train two very strong and very affectionate pits that I inherited from a friend that passed away
Thanks for watching Susan! Sorry to hear about your friend and feel free to reach out any time!
Thanks I do have a question. When I take these two together to the dog park they sometimes gang up on another dog and it can get ugly
When I take them separate especially the male he can get too aggressive about getting another dogs collar. And she will do this too
When they play together they never hurt each other but they play full out and make sounds like someone is going to get killed
These dogs are super sweet all other times they are great with cats and even baby chicks. They sit, stay, go away on command
I think the young man that had them never took them to play with other dogs
Should I not allow them to play so aggressively with each other ?
Should I work with the collar to modify this behavior?
I’m still learning about them as is obvious
I am trying to find ways for them to get enough exercise
Rough play isn't bad, but I would make sure you can stop them whenever you feel like it. You can practice calling them to you when they start playing really rough. Have them come to you and then hold a down stay for a minute or so. Then let them go and play again. When you can do this easily at home you will be able to start doing this at the park and getting them calm whenever they get too excited.
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thanks ! I will do that! and come back here and let you know how that goes. After they do maybe 6 days of that and they do good you think I should try at the park? Always give them a treat when they come and start the long stay right?
these videos are awesome and kudos to the camera person!
Glad you like the videos! Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment!
This is THE BEST VIDEO! Very helpful
I'm glad it was helpful to you! Please feel free to reach out with questions any time!
OK, that was great advice. Thank you very much.
Thank you so much for posting this video! I’m currently on day one with the e-collar and your video taught me how to properly start training my 1 year old husky/akita mix. I wanted to ask, my girl looks wildly similar to Bambi, what breed is she?
Bambi is a German Shepherd. Here hair is just really short which makes her look different than most. I'm glad you are getting started with your pup! Sounds like she is a mix of a couple cool breeds that love to run off leash. Please feel free to reach out with any questions as you get into it!
Hi great video thank you. If you are out in a busy park, you shout “come Theo” to your dog, he ignores and carries on doing his thing. Do you then press the button and shout come again ? Or after the command?!. Would i press it the same time as I shout come Theo the second time or after?! Thanks
Great question! We generally pair the stim/correction with the word "no". So what we do is press vibrate as we call the dog. Make sure to spend a lot of time making sure the dog knows the vibration is a good thing (we have a video on that if you are interested). Then if the dog chooses not to listen we say "no" as we push the stim. Then we call the dog again "Theo Come!" and give a lot of praise when they listen. Let us know what questions this brings up!
@ thank you for your answer! So for example, if I say “Theo come” and he doesn’t, I then say “no” whilst pressing the sim. And then try “Theo come” again without pressing it?!
Obviously I’d have spent a lot of time working out the correct level he needs to listen etc before using in the wild lol!
Thanks!
@@sachashokrollahi109 Exactly!
Excellent video! Thank you!
Absolutely! Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment and feel free to reach out with questions any time!
A trainer told me to hide the control and make the dog think the bad behavior is what made the buzz go off as in example your dog is digging in the back yard buzz collar without dog seeing or realizing it is coming from you.
Many trainers use the method you describe and it will certainly work, but it isn't our favorite method. The reason is that we like to proof the word "no". Through time your dog will really start to learn the word "no" and will care when you say it. Then you can simply tell them "no" in other situations without the collar on and they will actually stop. That being said, if you are only trying to fix one issue it doesn't matter all that much. Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment!
Great video but can you make one with a completely untrained, crazy puppy or rescue dog?
Great question! We believe in fully training a dog first and then "layering" the e collar on top of known commands. This makes the e collar process very smooth and easy for both the trainer and the dog. I would suggest starting with one of the videos below and then circling back to this one. Once your dog is in a calm state of mind the e collar process will be a breeze! Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We love to help!
Leash Pulling: ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html
Come (Using Treats) ua-cam.com/video/P-xi6hYhtug/v-deo.html
Come (No Treats) ua-cam.com/video/TH6ZO0LV7Gc/v-deo.html
Hi there, Our trainer told us to have obedient/rules behavior at a level 10 for our Berner and we push it constantly until dog complies (i.e. dog is playing, I call "come" and push button until he responds by coming). For unwanted behaviors, we were told to click it multiple times at a 30 to stop the behavior (i.e. dog is chewing a shoe, I click click click until he stops). Why do we have two different levels?
Your trainer uses a very different method than we do which can definitely create confusion when watching our videos. It sounds like they are doing what we call "low stim" training. Lots of trainers use this method and it is not wrong or bad, but it isn't what we do. The dog learns to come when they feel the low stim levels and they "turn it off" by coming to you. Then the higher level is used as more of a correction for doing something they presumably know is wrong. We don't use this method for a few reasons, one of which is we don't want to use any stim unless the dog chooses to ignore us. Here is a link to our e collar overview video which explains this better. ua-cam.com/video/nr8eH_ujgBo/v-deo.html
Overall, it is super important to pick a method that you believe in and stick with it. If you like your trainer and what you are doing feels fair to the dog, then I would stick with it. If you train one way with your trainer and then another way at home it will be too confusing for you and your dog.
Feel free to reach out with questions any time!
Hi, thanks for the video. I have just purchased a collar for my 7 month old Dutch Shephard. She constantly jumps and bites, for some reason when we take her to the beach its the worst behavior. As I try to walk her off the leash she will jump up at me and bite, the more I try to push her away and stop her the more she does it. I am hoping that by using the collar I can teach her not to jump/bite before taking her back to the beach.
An e collar can absolutely work for that! I would start with leash acclimation like we did in this video and see how it goes. Just take your time, be patient and adjust the collar level in small increments. What collar did you get?
I noticed when she was loose in the yard with the doodle she seemed happy and outgoing and playing with the doodle but then after you corrected her a couple of times she didn’t seem to really wanna play anymore and she did stick at your side. Is that normal?
Great question! We watch dog body language carefully when training to make sure the session is going well. Towards the end she was much calmer and not as crazy trying to play, but still had happy body language. If your dog gets in "training mode" and follows you around it isn't an issue at all as long as they are not stressed out or unhappy. If they are stressed then you would definitely need to make the training easier and help them to have some success.
I should have watched this video before using my collar. I have a 6 month old and a 8 year old GSD and got my first e collar yesterday. I've used it a few times on the 8 year old with tone which had no effect and then vibration with no effect and then actual static stim. My collar only has 7 intensity levels but has a continuous low or high and a momentary low or high for each level. I made the mistake of stimming too high and now my dog is afraid of the collar and will hide when he sees the remote receiver. The younger pup hasn't had issues with it. Definitely need to backtrack some and reassess
Back tracking at this point is the right plan! Here is a link to an e collar overview video we recently released. I would watch it first. ua-cam.com/video/nr8eH_ujgBo/v-deo.html After watching it I would try the vibration again. Here is a video showing how we acclimate to the vibration. ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html Use a lot of treats for the first session so that your dog knows that the vibration is a good thing! He may be scared of the vibration now so make sure to give him treats before it even vibrates the first time. It also helps to put the collar on loosely.
Let us know what questions you have after getting started, we would love to help!
Thank you for the video. I have 2 doodles that have been through a 2 week board and train for basic obedience and now I want to work with them myself on the e collar. I bought the Dogtra 1902s so I can use it for both. I have a question regarding the 1902s. It has the Stim (on the side) and the Vibrate (on the front). Would you use both buttons for any reason, or try to stick to one button for all your commands? Ex: Stim to "come", vibrate to "Place".
Great question! We use the vibration as a pager and it means "come". We only use the stim if they don't listen. This is different than the low stim level training where you use the stim every time you call them. If you watch our intro to vibration video and then watch the acclimation to stim video after it will make more sense. Here is a link: ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining I think this touches on my question, but I want to be certain. So once I've acclimated my dog to the pager function for "come", I would then do as you did in this video to introduce the stim utilizing heel. Then the stim is multifunctional as a correction/focus grabber when needed if the dog doesn't respond to the pager for recall or other commands, like a heel, while on walks etc? Thank you!
@@JSMcGrath It sounds you understand it well James! Just as an added detail, the reason we acclimate the dog to stim with the heel command is that it is easier to gauge their reaction to the collar and to ensure you don't end up using it at too high of a level. If you start the stim with a dog running around the yard you might need a much higher level to catch their attention the first time and this can result in too high of a a daily working level. Once the dog is acclimated to the stim you can use it for any command that your dog already understands well.
Can you use an e collar to help curb barking? Our 16 month old Papillon goes into a barking fit at every real or imagined noise. I am unsure if he is trying to alert us to possible danger or if the “noises” are stressing him out. I try to reassure him that all is good, but it would be great to be able to use an e collar to break his focus on what he (thinks) heard.
@@KarenMonks An e collar can work for barking, but I would make sure you practice some other calming techniques first. I would start by making sure he has a rock solid heel command. Then I would practice making a noise outside and heeling him until he is calm. Then I would add a word to stop the barking (quiet, no, etc). Create a noise outside, tell him "no" if he is barking and then heel to calm if needed. Once you have put the time in with the leash I would start using the e collar along with the word no. The reason for doing it this way is to prevent your dog from getting scared or stressed out by the situation.
I’ve seen a collar used as negative reinforcement where the trainer will say come, apply stim and stop when the dog responds. What technique is bettter and why?
That's a great question! We don't use it as negative reinforcement and instead use the vibration as a pager and use the stim if needed as positive punishment. Here is a link to a video where we describe why. ua-cam.com/video/nr8eH_ujgBo/v-deo.html That being said, as long as you are taking time to teach them properly and treating them fairly either method can be used successfully.
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thanks! I have also seen the pager used as punishment to stop aggression. The trainer said it was a more negative experience for the dog than stim. This is so confusing. Is it really just to pick what seems right to me and use consistently??
@@MaggieMarshallDogTraining Some people do use the vibration as a correction and there is definitely nothing wrong with that. Many dogs consider the vibration to be an aversive unless they are taught that it is a good thing. That being say, we really prefer the vibration to be a good thing because we consider the e collar a communication tool and not just a correction tool. When a dog is taught that the vibration means come they get excited when the button is pushed because they know they will be praised for listening. If a correction is needed, the stim level is so adjustable on a good collar that you can have a super minor correction as well as a sterner one if you ever needed it.
Your last sentence seems spot on to me! I would just pick a method that makes sense to you, study it enough that you feel good about it and then be consistent.
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thanks so much for the reply
Do you happen to have any videos on a dog that pulls the whole time? Or could you please explain how this would look?
Hey Kristen! I would most likely stop a lot of the leash pulling before starting the e collar. Here is a video showing exactly how we do that. ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html You could then introduce the e collar at the end of the session once your pup is in "training mode". Reach out with any questions!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thank you so much! I’m honestly getting to the point where I don’t want to take him anywhere, due to his pulling…and the fact that he’s about 50 pounds and very strong.
Plus it’s just embarrassing to be out in public while having zero control of your dog.
Anyways, thanks again! I’m glad I found you. As I like how simple and to the point you keep your videos.
Absolutely Kristen! If you watch the two videos and practice a few times a day you could fix 90% of your leash pulling within a week.
If you like podcasts, we just did an episode on leash pulling which would be helpful for you. The trainers spend some time talking about all of their favorite tricks to stop leash pulling. Here is a link to our Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0u4lIDhvmK17EBbp7VfXZ5
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Omg I freaking love you and I’m subscribing right now! Thank you so much!! Seriously, I really appreciate you going out of your way to help me. If you offer online courses and I find myself needing more help, I’m 100% coming to you.
I want to get an E caller for my 2 dogs. Should I get an individual caller and remote, or should I do one remote for 2 callers?
I would definitely get a Dogtra Arc. This is our top recommendation for our training clients. It comes with one collar and you can add an additional collar. Here is a review/demo of it as well as links to the collars. ua-cam.com/video/prSRtossyHI/v-deo.html
Dogtra Arc: amzn.to/3penaIQ
Dogtra Arc Second Collar: amzn.to/46hysg1
They have one for 300 yards, which should be plenty of range. But the one you recommend has a much better range.
If you are just using it in your yard then the 300 yard range should be be fine. If you plan on doing off leash hiking or something similar then I would go for a longer range unit.
I have a 9 month old rescue ( and 2 other dogs), the rescue didn't seem to have any training other than being mostly house broke. One of my dogs loves catch but when he drops it, Gus (rescue) rushes in and grabs it and takes off with it. I was trying to incorporate some recall training and while he DID NOT have the ball, I told him to come and when he didn't, I hit him with vibrate. It broke my heart! He wouldn't touch the ball again. It took another full day to make him aware that he is more than welcome to join us in playing ball. How do I avoid this situation again?
We actually see way more dogs scared by the vibration than from an actual stim/correction. For that reason, we spend a good amount of time slowly acclimating to the vibration and using treats to show the dog it is a good thing. The idea is that vibration will mean "come" to the dog. Here is an unedited video showing how we acclimate a dog to vibration. If you spend a couple days on this the fear should go away completely. ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
Hello! At what age would you say is best to introduce the e-collar? I have an almost 5 month old puppy. I’m not sure what his breed is but he’s definitely mixed with a Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is a good boy, but he has become quite stubborn with commands and recall.
That is a great question Kiara! We worry more about training experience rather than age. We believe in "layering" the e collar on top of obedience commands the dog already understands very well. If your dog knows the commands and is choosing to willfully ignore them it is fine to start using an e collar. We never use an e collar with a young dog (less than 4 months) since they are not mentally mature enough yet to truly advance their training to off leash. 5 months is fine as long as they understand their commands and you introduce the e collar slowly and patiently. We always stress to clients to remember that it isn't a device to punish bad dogs, it is a communication tool and a way to break focus. If you don't have a collar yet I would watch this video on the Dogtra 280x. It is brand new and is the most versatile collar on the market in our opinion. ua-cam.com/video/hhh0eUHy9pk/v-deo.html
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thank you!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining I also am curious. I’ve grown up around family members who always gave their dogs light tap on the butt when they did something wrong. In my opinion, hitting a dog- a puppy who is learning at that is not right nor effective in training. Am I right to assume this? Thanks a bunch!
@@kiaralee9455 We aren't fans of swatting on the butt for a few reasons. One is that some dogs are sensitive and will be scared by this. On the other side, some dogs will react with frustration and will lash out at the owner. Either of these scenarios can turn into a serious issue. Some dogs will handle it fine without an issue, but it's not worth the risk in our opinion. We are bigger fans of having a dog drag a leash if needed and then picking the leash up to gain control whenever the dog does something wrong.
This was great. Thanks
I'm glad it was helpful!
I sent my dog away for training with the e collar and she came back completely terrified. Is there a way to reintroduce her to the collar. I'm devastated and heart broken about it
I’m so sorry to hear that Katherine😔 You can definitely help her though! I would suggest watching our video on acclimation to vibration. Take it slow and use lots of treats the first couple sessions. Your goal won’t be to “train” her. Your goal will be to show her that the vibration is a good thing and means “come”. Then you can add the stim back in later the way we show in this video. Finding her working level is important so that you never over correct.
Let us know what questions you have once you get started!
Don't send away ever. Be there
I was going to say, the first mistake was sending her away, think of it from her perspective, you abandoned her at this random place where they collar you with electricity while you're feeling lost and abandoned. Training should always be done by you or at the very least in your presence. My sister and I got 2 puppies from the same litter, brothers. I trained mine personally with a prong collar and positive reinforcement and she idk had him trained but then looked at it as "he's been trained but he still doesn't listen to me" when she refuses to spend time with him and work on his training, it's not a thing where you just ship your dog off and they come back trained and well behaved, you actually have to work with the trainers and learn too, dog training is 10% training the dog and 90% training the owner. I requires effort and time and patience. If you aren't willing to do all 3 of these then do the animal a favor and don't get it or it's going to end up being re-homed, sent to the pound or worse
A few other videos I’ve seen say to train the dog using the stimulator with the command and then release the stimulation when they do the command. This video is contrary to that method. Can you explain the difference?
Great question! Low stim level training has become fairly popular, but it is not something we believe in. Training in that manner means the dog is receiving the stim even if they have done nothing wrong. If the stim is supposed to be a correction then it doesn't seem fair to do that. If the stim isn't a correction, what is it? If the dog blows off a command once they are trained would you use the stim level to stop them? If so, won't that be confusing when they are being good and you push the button to call them? This is a fairly quick answer that doesn't get into all the nuances, but we dive into this in a high level of detail on our podcast "Balanced Training with Suburban K9". It is on Spotify and Apple. Let us know if you have any follow up questions and thanks for starting this conversation!
That's an illogical way to train a dog his way is better. Remember reward good behavior correct bad behavior. It's a dog not a TV
Great video
Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment! Feel free to reach out with questions any time!!!
Great video I am learning.
That's great Robert! Feel free to reach out with questions any time!
Thank you for your video. Helping me lot because I am new
Absolutely! Have fun training your dog and feel free to reach out with any questions!
Excellent training vid, thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it Harry. Reach out with questions any time!
Thanks for your doing this
Did I notice you have the prongs on the collar to the side of the neck? Is this the best location for it?
We generally have the d ring where the leash attaches either straight up or on the side of the neck in between us and the dog. As long as the leash isn't wrapping around their neck the collar will generally work itself to the best position based upon your height and the dog's size.
So this is just a momentary stim or do you hold it a smidge until she gets on track?
Its about a very quick press of the button. Probably a third of a second. If that doesn't work a little longer is absolutely fine though.
My dog reacts very visibly to a level 1 stimulation on my e collar, it’s scares him badly. Should I not use it? Or will he acclimate to it? My e collar also has vibrate and tone, many try that instead
What brand collar do you have? Also how many levels does it have? If your dog is very sensitive I would watch this video before using the vibrate. ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html A lot of dogs get nervous of the vibration if you don't introduce it with treats or games.
I got the Garmin Sport for my male GSP (note he’s a tiny GSP, 40 pounds fully grown). It has 10 levels and I started on level 1 with stimulate and it terrified him.
That is one of the reasons we use Dogtra collars. They have at least 100 levels on them which allows you to adjust the stim level much more precisely for your particular dog. If you are still able to return the collar I would suggest the Dogtra 280x. It will allow you to find the right level for your pup. If you can't return it then maybe just spend a few weeks working with the vibrate and see how your dog does with that.
Thanks for the suggestion. I watched your other video and it was very helpful, I will work in this soon with my pup. I will also consider exchanging the e-collar for something with more levels. Does the vibrate function also have levels for the e collar you suggested? Or is that only 0 or 1 (off or on)?
Unfortunately the vibration does not have different levels. We introduce it with a lot of treats and dogs generally love it within a day. For dogs that are extra nervous the tone can be easier for them to adjust to though.
I am a little confused. Is the collar supposed to be negative reinforcement. Another trainer used the continuous button so the dog would learn to "turn it off" by doing the right thing. Is this just another way, or are both used for different purposes? I have a dog who will be very on-task most of the time but on random occasion, he will suddenly decide to do his own thing and tunes you out and bolts to run for fun. The risk is getting into traffic and hit by a car. So he cannot be trusted because it seems so random and unpredictable. I was hoping e-collar could solve this so he could be off-leash to have fun.
Great question! We don't believe in using an e collar as negative reinforcement. The idea of using the stim every time you call a dog just doesn't make a ton of sense to us. Instead, we train with the vibration and make that a positive thing. The vibration means come. Then we add the stim as positive punishment if needed when the dog doesn't listen. We dive into this distinction pretty deeply on our podcast if you are interested. It is called "Balanced Dog Training With Suburban K9" and is on Spotify and Apple for free.
I hope this helps and feel free to reach out with any questions!
It's nothing bad. I was thinking like you! I hv 2 fighting dogs. I'm on week 1 my dogs are already so happy ...no pain at all I put it on. It's a great system. When you read the book it really is eye opening
Which podcast do you go over this topic?
I have long struggled with this idea, and it can lead to confusion for both the dog and the handler if you cannot pick.
I view it very similar to electrical troubleshooting, diet exercise, to find a program and stick with it, you’ll probably get acceptable but when you jump from one to one that’s when things fail.
@@brianlocal3 We talk about it on Season 1 Episode 2 which is called The Come Command - A Deep Dive. Totally agreed about finding a method and sticking with it! There are a lot of great trainers out there and everyone does things differently. If the method makes sense to you and seems kind/fair to the dog, then it is probably ok!
8:54
Heeling may be calming, but it seems that the criteria for what is heel position seems vague. Does heel mean just no forging and just being on the left side? "Come" seems like a clearer behavior in terms of criteria for the dog.
Good question Sarah! We introduce the stim with the heel command because even with a very low level stim some dogs are surprised when they first feel it. Also, when they are off leash many dogs will ignore the stim at first (because it means nothing to them yet). This can lead to an owner setting the stim level higher than it needs to be.
We aren't proofing or advancing the heel command with the stim, we are just trying to establish the lowest working level the dog can feel. It is not a correction and doesn't have any real meaning at first. If they handle it well we immediately move to the come command.
Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment!
Thanks for the thoughtful response. Would introducing the stim without any command at all be counterproductive? With my last dog I had him out in yard just chilling and me inside, out of sight and watching out a window. I did lowest stim until I saw a very faint turn of ear and turn it down as I thought it was too high and did not want that. When I added "come", dog on line and no distractions. SO there was no command or asking the dog to do anything and he did not associate the stim with my presence. He did not develop any "superstitious" behaviors either. Just trying to think about how to do it with my new dog. She is in the "getting used to wearing the collar" mode at the moment and not 100% on what the "heel" command even means, but she does understand "come". @@SuburbanK9DogTraining
If your dog has a fairly stable temperament then doing as you suggest and introducing with no command would work fine! As you mentioned, just take it slow and keep a close eye on the dog.
We actually like to have the dog associate the collar with us because it helps proof the word “no” much better and then chance of them become collar wise is about zero. Our newest podcast episode on Spotify/Apple Podcasts dives a lot deeper into that thought.
I love that you are putting so much thought into your training!
Which episode do you give your rundown of your ideals.
We actually just posted one a few days ago! Here is the link: ua-cam.com/video/nr8eH_ujgBo/v-deo.html
Thank you
Just found your channel and I had not done my research yet on your page
I appreciate your response and your videos
Your style is very similar to Tom Dokkens obedience ideals , I like it
What if you’ve never used the heal command with your dog before. And your dog is 8. And stubborn. We’ve used come but works when he wants to listen.
Hey Victor! I would consider doing some work on the heel command. It goes quickly and really helps teach a dog to be calm and respectful. Don't worry about the age, we train older dogs all the time. I would watch this video on heel and then practice it for three or four days. After that you should be ready to pair the e collar with heel. ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html
what a beauty!
Thanks!!!
If in a high stimulus environment the dog scratches their neck and “fights” at the correction, is that just too high?
Couple questions. What collar, what level is it at and what breed/age of dog?
Can you recommend a decent collar. Our Beagle just won't stop digging. We want to try a shock collar to try and get him to stop.
I would recommend the 280c. Here is a link: amzn.to/3J0Pa9C
It’s a great collar and the price is pretty reasonable.
@SuburbanK9DogTraining what is your opinion on the sport dog brand?
@@jeffreytaylor6083 Sportdog is a great brand! They work well and tend to last a long time.
@SuburbanK9DogTraining We were at Petsmart and they carry them. Thought I'd ask a pro. Will be purchasing one this weekend. Hoping for good results. Love your videos and appreciate your help.
Make sure to check its stated range and then I would recommend cutting the range in half. If you are looking at a 1/2 mile or 3/4 mile collar then you should be fine in any reasonable situation. If the collar distance is expressed in yards I would just do some math to make sure it will be reliable for you.
Oh, that's a good girl! 🤘
My dog is 3 .. is it too late to try something like this ?
Definitely not! We train older dogs all the time and it isn't an issue at all. Let us know if you have any questions once you get started!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining is my dog considered older ??😩😩🥲
Hahaha. No! I just meant we train non-puppies all the time!
Does this work the same way for using the vibrating option? how do you implement a sound or vibration warning before the stimulation?
Great question Sydney! We actually acclimate to vibration very differently! Here is a link to a video showing that process. m.ua-cam.com/video/1xnBM47shVA/v-deo.html
Great vid, although I think your dog is calm and laid back GOOD FOR YOU! Our 18 month Shepard is a DEISEL. I wish I had a dog like yours. This one is like an explosive. a hand grenade, she pulls/tugs/ripps/ runs/ bolts/ NO CONTROL. I need vid that shows how to deal with THIS mess of a Shepard. Shock power 10,000 DC AMPS wouldn't phase THIS dog. Go for a walk with our dog she'll rip your arm out of the socket is another dog is within a thousand yards or a car goes by. Well, luck of the draw. Struck out choosing THIS one. Wanna trade? I'll pay you!
😁 We always start with mastering loose leash walking before we move to off leash training. It really helps calm the dog down and get them ready to learn. Here is a video that should be helpful! ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html
hahahahaha!!!😂
sounds like my 1 y/o Aussie!
You really need to stress that those numbers are for your Dogtra which has 127 levels.
If people start their 10 level e-collar at 6 or 7 they will scare the crap out of their dog
Totally agreed on the importance of people knowing their collar. I hope a lot of people see your comment. I can't believe anyone still sells collars that only go from 1-10.
Your command for heel is “heel,heel, heel”?
Do you prefer a different word?
I agree, one heel should suffice. Also feel like the use of the word when the dog out of heel position isn’t helping association
@@langies In this video we are not working on heel. We are just using heel as a way to introduce the e collar. We repeat the word often to give the dog a chance to listen (return to heel) and then use the stim if they don't. As you saw from the video we take a long time to acclimate the dog to make sure we don't rush it and scare them.
As a dog trainer teaching heel, I repeat the word as they are doing it and give pets and praise. When I need them to do it, and they dont, I cinch up and say heel and give praise and pets when they are in the right position. I saw nothing wrong with what the trainer was doing. He is TRAINING! IT IS NEVER 100% when training. He was being patient and calm and using the stimulus as a reminder... "hey! Bzzzz heel!" 😊 people always so quick to attack!! (And we want to train our dogs better?!😂)
Helpful but how about using a real dog that wants to drag you down the street? Heel outside with mine is a joke after trying various methods. Will just keep trying.
Hi Pam! We almost always stop leash pulling before introducing the e collar. That is what we did with the GSD in this video. Here is a link to a different video showing how we stop leash pulling with a wild Lab that pulls a lot!!! ua-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/v-deo.html
@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thank you. I tried the prong collar but he is so irratic that it would twist apart and he would be loose. I used two leashes after that which helped but outside he just pulls every which way. I have tried going back inside if he pulls, stopping and waiting, training leads idk. It's awful. I fitted him for a gentle leader but he hates it so far. Next will be ecollars.
@@pamsloan84 Which brand prong did you use? When a Herm Sprenger is properly fitted it should not come off very easily from the dog twisting and moving. Some other brands are more likely to have that issue. Introducing an e collar at this point is not bad or wrong, it just takes more finesse to make sure you don't accidentally over correct your pup.
I don't recall the brand. I occasionally used it with my first border collie and it helped alot with the pulling. This second dog had it falling off so often I couldn't trust it so I stopped using it. He's very sweet and smart but so reactive. I will have to try that brand. Been resisting the ecollar myself. Clickers never worked for me so I was a little leary. At this point it's worth a try. He gets in a world of his own outside. Even if I hold his collar and say look at me, his head will face me but his eyes are straining sideways to see whatever he's focused on. If it wasn't so frustrating it'd be pretty funny. I have to try not to laugh and get still his attention. Inside he listens very well.
That dog doesn't need it
I think it really just comes down to how you see the e collar. If it is seen as a device to punish the dog when they are really bad, then totally agreed. She doesn't need that. If you see it as a way to catch her attention at a distance so that she can run free at the forest preserve, then it is a safety device and it makes a lot of sense to train her on one.
Please don't cut the collar!! Inside the collar are wires for range of transmission! If you cut it, you lose range! Maybe not with your particular brand of collar, but if you're telling people to do this someone will ruin theirs!!!
We use Dogtra collars and there is no issue with cutting the strap to fit. What brand do you use where this causes a problem?
Are you seriously a trainer with these? You dont actively use the collar and work the dog. Put it on and start at 1, continue as your dog is just sitting around you until you see the slightest indication (looking around, scratching at their neck like an itch. Et . THEN procede to work on acclimating your dog!
How would you go about acclimating after introducing the collar in the way you suggest?
electro shock therapy? how utterly vile
Why do you call this electro shock therapy?
This is a scam! An ESA does NOT entitle you to bring your animal everywhere! Only Service Animals have that privilege. It's good for housing and SOME airlines. Not malls and stores that aren't already dog friendly.
I’m confused by this comment. Did you watch a different video?
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Oh, sorry! Yes, I was watching another vid. Don't understand how it posted to your video. My bad!
That makes sense! We definitely see a lot of ESA scams where people are told they can treat them basically like service dogs. Did you see a video where someone was selling fake paperwork to people?
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thinking back, I believe it was an ad that popped up during your video. For some reason I thought I could comment on it. 😂 Need more coffee!
😂 I wish we could control what ads are shown on our videos. There are some strange ads out there!
You have no idea what your doing. Before you even do any of that you need to make sure she feels the e collar by testing it before leave the house
No. That is a terrible plan. Why would you put in on the dog in the house and simply push the button?