April 21, 2011
My dog is a fear biter. I need to know if I should use an electric collar to train him to come when called.
Full Question:
I know you are extremely busy, but you are the acknowledged dog expert from so many different circles, and I am running out of ideas on what to do with my dog, so forgive me for taking your time... I adopted a rott/shep mix when he was 6 mo old, and have had him for a year and a half. As you have probably already guessed, he is a fear biter. We have been to several different trainers, and he is somewhat more comfortable around children after our follow up trips to the park, but he is still snappy/growly to adults both in my home and outside. There is a field across the street where I let him off to run, and 90% of the time things are fine -- he comes when I call, and his on-leash obedience is acceptable, but sometimes there are other people there, and he will run up to them, growl and circle them. I don't want to take away his exercise, but I don't want him to bite anyone either... I noticed that you tell people fear biters can only be handled with strict obedience, and I also noticed that you sell electric collars on your site. Do you think it is a bad idea to resort to an electric collar so he can run, but if he gets too close to a stranger I can correct him from afar? Will that just teach him to associate strangers with negative punishment?Also, I have a younger 8 mo. GSD (actually a puppy from one of your bitches, Fritzi) who is sound, but someone told me he will learn those bad habits from my older dog, is that true?
Also, for off-leash obedience, what do you think of using the electric collars for both dogs?
Sincerely
Christine
![Ed](https://leerburg.com/Photos/articles/authors/edfrawley.jpg)
![Ed](https://leerburg.com/Photos/articles/authors/edfrawley.jpg)
If I were you I would not allow the dog off leash without an electric collar. The mistake in what you are thinking is that the dog should not be corrected for coming near a stranger but rather for not coming when called.
If you get a collar you need to be sure that you understand obedience training and the correct steps for obedience training first (not all obedience classes teach this). You also need to understand how to train with a collar. We have videos on this.
The fact is that you have a liability and unless you take steps to have 100% control all the time, the dog should not be off leash.
If you get a collar you need to be sure that you understand obedience training and the correct steps for obedience training first (not all obedience classes teach this). You also need to understand how to train with a collar. We have videos on this.
The fact is that you have a liability and unless you take steps to have 100% control all the time, the dog should not be off leash.
100% (3 out of 3)
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