Hey guys,

I was wondering how you go about correcting your dog during times you aren't training and are not likely to have a prong collar or even an e-collar on. I read that you shouldn't keep an e-collar on for more than 12 hours at a time and that may even be too long due to skin irritation. So... during times this isn't on... I'm wondering how you get your dog to obey at all times? My problem is I have a cat indoors that one of my dogs always likes to chase for fun. If she has the e-collar on, she will fully obey, same if I have a leash... but sometimes later in the evening after watching tv for awhile she might get bored and go run upstairs to chase the cat, and then I have almost no control. She will come back to me, but I have to give her the command two or three times and I want her to obey on the first command.

Would you suggest always having the e-collar on her inside or maybe put her in the crate when I'm watching tv? I just don't want her to think she only has to obey when it's training time or that she thinks she can get away with something for a few seconds.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance!

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.....I have a cat indoors that one of my dogs always likes to chase for fun. If she has the e-collar on, she will fully obey, same if I have a leash... but sometimes later in the evening after watching tv for awhile she might get bored and go run upstairs to chase the cat, and then I have almost no control. She will come back to me, but I have to give her the command two or three times and I want her to obey on the first command......

I'd start with yes, crate while you are watching TV, and also a drag lead always on while uncrated. Then I'd concentrate on the recall until that's very solid. If I didn't have this video, I'd order it:
http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm

From what I am reading, it sounds like basic obedience. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> The recall is one of the first commands I like to have solid.

http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4181867/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1

There are lots of discussions here of "recall" if you use that search term and expand the date range to much longer than a week.

JMO! Good luck. The recall can be a fun and easy command if you set the dog up to win.

Another thing is I have 2 GSD's... one male and one female. Many times while inside, they listen decently, but if I have them stay and say the name of the other and give them the come command, the other will try and come as well.

Should I put one out in the backyard or something for 15 minutes while I train one and then the other? Also, as far as walks... should I start by walking each one seperately for a few weeks until I think they will both listen?

Lastly, am I doing the right thing by first saying the dogs name, then issuing the command? How do you guys with multiple dogs train?

Thanks!

I would start with a 3' drag leash while the dog is out of its crate in the house. Then go to a 5' or 6' drag leash. Then finally go to an e-collar.

The key is letting the dog know there is not a time that you cannot give it a correction. You are just progressively getting farther away from the dog. Obviously, this assumes that the dog understands what you are asking from it and what it is being correct for.

I just brought home twins and I needed to reaffirm my dogs good behavior in the house around the infants. I used an e-collar on both dogs for the week my wife and twins were in the hospital and “practiced” the commands I knew would be upcomming. Then, I kept the collars on the dogs when periods of great distractions presented themselves after evryone was home. Basically, whenever someone came over to help, or see the twins, I put the collars on and was ready to correct any improper behavior.

If the e-collars had not done the job I would have put the drag leashes on and put the dogs in their crates as necessary.

Again, the dog needs to know you are in control of it.

I have 2 males, both the same age, and it is a real treat to keep them in line. Since I was below a beginner when I got them, and after reading everything I could on this board, I realized I needed the help of my husband when it came to training them together.

I started myself by training each one separately until I was satisfied that the commands were solid. Then I introduced them (but only after they were tired out from playing!). I tried keeping them at a distance of about 20 feet, but found I had a harder time controlling them from that distance. I ended up working them side-by-side, which I know is not popular with a lot of people. It just happened to work better for me. I only gave them simple commands together at first - "sit" & "down". Lots of treats and praise! I didn't even practice "stay" for the longest time, but when I did, it was both of them together and no distractions - eyes on me.

When it came time for separate commands when they were together, I did have my husband control the leash of the one who was not working. It was mostly a case like you have - "If he goes, I want to go too." I would call one dog and my husband would keep the other one in the down-stay. Then we would alternate. It seems like baby steps at first, and I guess it really is, but eventually they do get it! Now I use e-collars with them and they are doing very well.

Also, when I started walking them, I knew which one I wanted on which side of me, so that was the way I practiced with each one alone - Chance was always walked on my right, and Beau always on my left. When I finally walked them together, they had no problem knowing where to go. I do use prong collars even now because they still like to explore a little more than I want them to.

Patience and repetition work wonders - and a little help from a spouse/friend doesn't hurt either! Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. Jan- How long or when do you keep your e-collars on your dogs? Are they on at all times whenever you guys lets your dogs roam a bit under your supervision? Is there ever any time they aren't on? A problem I have is currently my dogs are outside during the day and I don't have the e-collar on when they are outside, but as soon as I let them in, they like to run upstairs and look for the cat before I can get the collar on. I might try going outside first and putting their collars on before they can come in.

I do the opposite. I have the e-collars on outside - where I do my training. If you read another post here on "puppies and cats", you will see my response on how I deal with my dogs inside regarding the cats. My dogs have fur-saver collars on all the time which I can grab if I have to inside, but, for the most part, they do know how to behave. We do short bursts of obedience training inside (sit before eating, down while watching tv, etc.), but most of my training is done outside.

In the early stages of training, I have a prong collar and tab (or long line) on the dog every single time you are interacting with the dog. I also mark the correction with a work, "no" "hey" "shhh", which ever you like to use. Soon, the dog always associates the word with a correction, so you can get the dog to stop the undesired behavior with the word, no correction needed (although I correct intermittently to reinforce the word).
This way every time you give a command you can reinforce it. So the collar only came off if the dog was in the crate.
Good luck,
Michelle

Also, dog training can't be situational to be practical. In the reinforcement stage especially (and proofing) you should give commands in all kinds of places. The dog should obey command in and out of the house, anywhere you give the command.

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In the early stages of training, I have a prong collar and tab (or long line) on the dog every single time you are interacting with the dog.

I agree (except for a prong collar on puppies). Even tether the dog to you so it is with you constantly until the commands are solid.