January 29, 2014
I've been told by some trainers that I can use the remote collar on my new dog the day I get the collar & I only need to leave it on for one hour before using it. Is it necessary to leave the collar on for 2 weeks before using it?
Full Question:
Hello,First off, I would like to tell you: You have a great site.I have been utilizing your website and products for over 10 years (when your website was blue).
My question pertains to electronic collars (new dog).?I heard, when first using an electric collar, I should put the collar on and take it off many times a day for two weeks. Recently, I have encounter other established trainers state to me that this is unnecessary. I was told, I could use the collar the day I got it. Just make sure that the dog has the e-collar on for 1 hour before I actually use it and leave it on the dog for a while after I am finished using it (preferably take it off at bed time), and to not let the dog see me using the remote when using stimulation?
Is it absolutely necessary to keep the collar on for 2 weeks before use?
Additional facts:
Rott/Black lab mix
Young adult dog (female)
Very obedient (doesn't need much correction)
Very smart, relatively soft dog
Collar will be used for focus and recall training in a highly distracting settings (Proofing).
Thanks!
Cindy's Answer:
You can use the collar the day you get it but then you run the risk of the dog KNOWING that the collar means something. A remote collar is unlike anything most dogs have worn on their neck before and they definitely notice it.
I don't want my dogs to think that when they have on collar X it means they have to respond to me. I want the collar to be nothing to them. If you just have a companion dog that will never be in a competition & they can wear the collar whenever they go out, it doesn't really matter as much.
So the answer is NO, it's not absolutely necessary but in my experience it's best to get the dog desensitized to wearing the collar long before you ever turn it on for the first time.
My current dog wore the collar for months before I ever turned it on. It's part of how I train, my dogs get collars rotated on and off from the time they are little so the equipment means nothing.
I certainly wouldn't be putting a remote on a new dog and using it right away. I'd be doing everything with fun, food and play for a long time before I added any type of aversive experience.
If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend this new video Training the Recall.
There is a great section in there on using the ecollar for recalls.
Cindy Rhodes
I don't want my dogs to think that when they have on collar X it means they have to respond to me. I want the collar to be nothing to them. If you just have a companion dog that will never be in a competition & they can wear the collar whenever they go out, it doesn't really matter as much.
So the answer is NO, it's not absolutely necessary but in my experience it's best to get the dog desensitized to wearing the collar long before you ever turn it on for the first time.
My current dog wore the collar for months before I ever turned it on. It's part of how I train, my dogs get collars rotated on and off from the time they are little so the equipment means nothing.
I certainly wouldn't be putting a remote on a new dog and using it right away. I'd be doing everything with fun, food and play for a long time before I added any type of aversive experience.
If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend this new video Training the Recall.
There is a great section in there on using the ecollar for recalls.
Cindy Rhodes
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