OK so what did Ed say about Horses and dogs in his DVD "E-Collar training for pet owners".

I've conditioned my dog to the E-Collar and used it in his training a few times, not as many as I'd like to have and not as many as I should have.

Anyway....We were out tonight for a walk with the bhoy and I had put his E-Collar on for some reason as I'd not normally for the walk we were going to. While we were out, we decided to go to the river instead of the forest and had a nice walk along the banks (ahh a change of plans <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.

We walked past the Horses (roaming free) with the dog on leash and all was fine. The bhoy isn't too bad around horses as we've done a LOT of socialising with him around them, and the horses are usually very nice, although a little rough at times.

Walking along I thought I'd test the E-Collar to find his working level for tonight and it didn't seem to be working. At this point the wife was muttering something like "what a waste of £200 that was", so I had a footer and got a reaction at about 70 (on the 1700NCP), then ramped it up when he got in a bit more drive.

On the way back to the car we thought we'd walk through the field and let the bhoy off leash to play "find the stone in the grass" <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> The Horses were VERY far away and out of site <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.

So the wife is playing with the bhoy throwing stones in the long grass and he's bringing them back having a great time, heeling, sitting etc.

A car pulls up, two guys rattle the fence and the Horses come a running at great speed. I said to the wife to leave the bhoy off leash as he's be fine (recall is good under normal circumstances) and just have him heel (HUGE mistake), which she does, then sits him but he's now focused on the fast moving things over there somewhere (Another mistake) <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.

OFF HE GOES in full prey (I think) and of course the recall fails <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I shout down, dog gives furry finger! I shout down again, but with the long handed correction in the form of my £200 E-Collar <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Down he goes! Focus lost and back on us and we're all happy <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

The good thing about the E-Collar for me now is that I still have a dog. Forget all the other stuff for a minute and think about 8 horses VERY excited about these visitors and the treats they get from them. If I had no way of stopping my dog he'd be dead.

Lesson learned!

Reccomendation?

Get the DVD! Get the collar! Learn to use it and ALWAYS put it on when going out <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Realisation?

Even if you think your recall is good, it's NOT as good as it needs to be! KEEP WORKING ON IT!

John

Ooohh....and I thought you were going to ley bhoy go pet the horses with his furry fingers... :P <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Just goes to show how important it is to keep on practicing your recall.. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

John - a GREAT post. I often think about how to emphasise EXACTLY what your point is here. Anyone that loves there dog should read this and LISTEN to what you say. Thank you

Ed

You've sold me!

thanks

To be honest I wasn't very keen on using the E-Collar before as I'm a novice pet dog trainer and the whole reason I bought it was to try to solve a few problems I had with him running the fence at the neighbours etc.

But I'll never be without one again!

John

Really feeling stupid right now,not very computer savvy and can't figure out how to start a new topic--but here's my question.At what age can I start using the e-collar? I've had great results with my first GSD and would like the same control with my 10 month old-again sorry for doing this ass-backwards <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Hi Michael,

Click on the "Post" link on the same line as the forum you are viewing, just above "Poster" and "Views" headings.

To Answer your question I'm not really sure what age you should start but I think you'll be fine at 10 months.

You have a couple of weeks of collar conditioning to do anyway but I'd think you'd be OK to start when this is done.

If you don't already ahve it get the DVD "E-Collar training for pet owners" and watch it a few times before putting the collar on for the first time and a few more times before using the collar.

HTH

John

A lot of folks that know me are always shocked when they learn that I do own a e-collar. A long distance hunting one too! For exactly the same reason! I also would like to add that it always carrys a charge and that I do know how to use it and will use it when needed! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Thanks John,
I have two of Eds videos but not the one on E-Collars,I took a class with my 1st pup on the use of the collar and feel pretty comfortable using it,but can't remember what age I started it at.Maybe my next class should be in computers <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

To add to this, I have 2 female dog aggressive dogs. Recently purchased an e-collar and use ed's methods for obedience with it. A similar situation happened when I was training my female shepherd mix off lead in a park. She was doing great until a woman walked by with a rottweiler and dachsund. She bolted toward them and I called her to no avail. My immediate reaction was then to turn up the stim almost all the way, tell her NO and nick her. The first made her stop for a while, the second, She stopped dead in her tracks. I called her back and she came right back. I know it probably was not the correct way to use the collar, but it probably saved her life, if not from the Rottweiler who was twice her size, had she gone and attacked it, but later from being put to sleep for attacking a strangers dog. The best part is, she hasnt had much interest in other dogs since then, but it may just be a coincidence. But in this case, it saved her life.