The Right Way to Use Electronic Dog Training Collars
The Right Way to Use Electronic Dog Training Collars
By Kevin Simmons
As with every training tool used to modify a behavior in your pet, electronic dog training collars need to be used correctly in order to be effective.
Some dog owners buy an electronic dog training collar because their pooch doesnt follow orders consistently, or at all. As soon as they get home, they strap it on, expecting some sort of miracle. And when doggie decides to do something special, like growl at another dog, his owner zaps the animal.
However, with no conditioning, the dog wont know what to do, and will immediately be scared. What hell learn from this process is not to stop growling, but instead, how to avoid the pain. Quickly hell figure out one of probably three different methods of avoidance:
RUN as far and as fast as he can, until the zapping stops;
FREEZE and do nothing until the zapping stops; or
FIND his owner.
None of these three responses to the electronic dog training collar, however, teach the dog anything new. If anything, they reinforce more bad behavior: if he RUNS, or FREEZES, he learns an avoidance technique of the pain, but doesnt change the behavior, or he FINDS his owner, and starts to associate safety with the owners presence, and loses his independence.
This article will detail the proper ways to modify your dogs behavior using an electronic dog training collar, so that you dont encounter these frustrating mishaps.
Learn the Proper Command
Before you start using an electronic dog training collar, your dog must first understand what is being asked of him. There are no shortcuts during this step, and it can take longer or shorter depending on your dogs temperament, breed, and time allotted. Be patient.
At this stage, the only thing that needs to be done is to show the dog what you want them to do, along with constantly repeating the action. So, if you want your dog to kneel, you would show the dog what kneeling is, and say, Kneel, kneel, kneel.
This stage is NOT a punishment stage, so no disciplinary action should be taken. Just work with your dog a lot until he understands what you are trying to tell him, and associates the word with the action.
Once this has been achieved, now is the time to test your electronic dog training collar. Find out at what level your dog responds to, and do NOT use a level higher than that. Watch your dog carefully during this testing phase; he should not be in pain, yelp or get scared, he should only be mildly uncomfortable.
Now you are ready to try all of what youve learned, together. Before you ask your dog to kneel, push turn on the electronic dog collar. Then, immediately say, Kneel, until your dog responds. After a couple of tries over an extended period of time, your dog will start responding to the command faster than he does the stimulation. Soon, youll only be using the electronic dog collar to remind your dog to listen to your Kneel command, instead of using it each time.
[ Submitted with ArticleSubmitter Pro - http://www.articlesubmitterpro.com]
About the author:
(c) 2005 dog-training-info.com This article may be republished as long as these bylines are included. Kevin Simmons is the webmaster of http://www.dog-training-info.com/Please visit the site for more free dog training articles.
Written By: Kevin Simmons
 ABC News | Treating Dogs' Cancers Helps Humans? ABC News Some of the most promising insights into cancer are coming from pet dogs thanks to emerging studies exploring remarkable biological similarities between man and his best friend. Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs. Every year, millions of dogs ... |
 Cinema Blend | Jason Reitman to recreate 'Reservoir Dogs' -- with a major twist -- EXCLUSIVE Entertainment Weekly by Anthony Breznican Jason Reitman has aimed his sights at reinterpreting a new classic: Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. After re-creating The Breakfast Club, The Apartment, The Princess Bride, and Shampoo in a series of Los Angeles staged readings ... 'Reservoir Dogs': Jason Reitman Sets Stage Reading Of Tarantino Classic With ... Jason Reitman Using An All-Black Cast For His Reservoir Dogs Reading Terrence Howard, Anthony Mackie Among Cast of LACMA Reading of Reservoir Dogs |
 ABC News (blog) | Dogs Bites News Anchor's Face on Live TV The Hollywood Gossip What should have been a feel-good news story soon became anything but when Kyle Dyer, an anchorwoman at NBC's KUSA Denver affiliate, was bitten in the face by a dog that had been rescued by a heroic firefighter from an icy lake a day earlier. Dog Bites Newscaster: Tips to Prevent it from Happening to You Rescued Dog Bites News Anchor on Live TV Anchor Bitten By Dog |
 News 10NBC | Proposed Gorham dog breeding business on hold Henrietta Post By Julie Sherwood, staff writer The Gorham town Planning Board's approval last month of a dog-breeding facility is, for now, “null and void” because the application was not reviewed by the Ontario County Planning Board, Town Supervisor Fred Lightfoote ... Most opposed to dog-breeding facility LETTER: Dogs deserve much better Joanne Brokaw on Animals, God, Faith & Life |
 Wall Street Journal | Dog-on-it: Another Hollywood awards show News & Observer BY SANDY COHEN - AP LOS ANGELES -- With Uggie stealing hearts in "The Artist," snagging the spotlight at celebrity events and reportedly preparing for a sketch with Oscar host Billy Crystal, Hollywood really has gone to the dogs this year. Hollywood dogs do battle ahead of canine Oscars Hollywood Is Going to the Dogs |