Kodee is a housedog, and although we live on 15 acres just outside of town, our property is not fenced, and we live on a busy road. When I take Kodee outdoors, he is always on-leash, unless we are out back for exercise (farther from the road), and then he is on a long-line. This is how he gets his "running time" in. Frisbee, fetch, etc is on a long-line. However, I do not trust his recall 100%, so I am careful that he doesn't get too far from me, even on the long-line (it's a 30 foot line). Our neighbors have horses, and cattle. So far Kodee has never shown an interest in the livestock, but if he did, I am afraid he could get away from me, long line or not.

I would also like him to have more freedom to run around at the park, etc. I just don't like that he isn't allowed to run very far, b/c of safety issues. I do feel like he gets enough exercise, but he could always get more. Would an e-collar be a good tool for me in this situation? If so, which one would be the best (I would rather pay the money for a good quality one - you get what you pay for, usually). Also, how long would it take to improve his recall on an e-collar? I'm assuming I could use it for corrections for anything, if he was off-lead, but I don't want to screw up and confuse him.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I would love to work w/Kodee off-lead, but I am terrified for his safety. He got hit by a car once several months ago, when I let him follow me from out back to go into our house. Normally what I do is take his long-line off, then take him into the house on a leash. About 3-4 times I skipped putting him on leash to go in, and just let him follow us off-lead. (It's not a very far distance to walk with us). About the 4th time I did this, he took off and ran across the road. When I followed to get him, he darted into the road and ran into the side of a passing car. Knocked him unconscious, but no other injuries. Needless to say, I don't want this to ever happen again).

I guess my main worry is whether an e-collar would be more reliable (if he was trained properly) than a long-line.

I used an ecollar for off-lead recall work and found it very helpful and very reliable, at least with my dog. I seldom need to stim him (usually just a tone will do) and I never have him onlead when we are outside in the yard. It works for us even with major distractions present.

I highly recommend the DVD if you have questions about ecollar work and it is a MUST if you do get an ecollar. Ed demonstrates training recall on the DVD.

I used a remote collar for a situation exactly like yours. We live on an acre with cow pasture on three sides and a dangerous road in front. Cars regularly pass by at 80+ and the farmer who owns the cows has threatened to shoot any dog he catches chasing his cattle.

I use a Dogtra 1900 that I bought here at Leerburg. I decided to use the front of the house to be the boundary. Whenever Molly passed that line I stimmed her. It only took a couple times and she was stopping at the front of the house. Recently we had a tornado tear the roof off the barn beside the house and dropped it on a power line. With all the fire department and police Molly sat exactly where she was supposed to with all that activity.

You will also want to turn the dog loose some time and watch from the window so the dog realizes that even when you arent there the boundary is the same. Another thing I found that works well is to not stim at exactly the same place. Sometimes let the dog wander over the line a little. This gives the impression that the stim can come anywhere beyond the boundary line. I think Ed calls that landmines. You want the dog to think that the area past the boundary is mined so that the stim can go off anywhere. It keeps the dog from just trying to force their way past the boundary.

You also don't need a lot of stim. For Molly I used setting 25 of 127. That's not even enough for me to feel when I test it on my hand. I can just barely feel it if I do it on the inside of my arm. It feels like a slight pinch.

Edited to add: If you get the Dogtra collar, get a Chinch It collar. It's much easier to take on and off and it's a lot more adjustable than the one that comes with the Dogtra.

If your sure he knows his recall when on the long line then go for it. i got a dogtra 2300 and am at ease when out with my rott, he would sometimes brake recall if a rabbit popped up etc and the collar has reinforced when i say no i mean it.
I use the vibrate function most of the time. I stim at 30 out of 127.

Thanks everyone. After getting several opinions from different sources, I kind of went back and forth. Initially I decided to continue working with just the long line. But the thing is, I know he knows what "come" means. He just chooses to ignore me sometimes, usually under distraction, of course. I will continue working w/positive reinforcement, but I think at one year old he has reached the point of needing the "correction" phase of his training. I've worked consistently with him on the "learning" phase, and he knows several commands. We work daily, so he doesn't "forget" what I'm talking about.

So, I ordered the Dogtra 1900 today, along w/the cinch-it collar and Ed's Remote Collar DVD. I am really excited - I feel like we can go a lot further in training w/the e-collar. I'm anxious to watch the DVD!

Thanks again! Wish me luck!

I have a rescue dog who ran every time a door opened. Since we live in a triangle between US50 and US7, this was not good. I got a Dogtra and it's been great. It took about 2 weeks before she stopped that behavior. I now use the remote instead of a lead, except when the regulations don't allow. I'm a 76-year old woman with some arthritis in my hands -- I have MUCH more control over the dog using the remote than I do with the leash. I haven't seen Ed's video; I got the remote before I knew about Leerport, but I'm pretty sure that he will agree that the collar is for training, not punishment. Keep the "nick" turned low so that it annoys rather than zaps the dog. Use the pager only if the dog is heading into danger or showing aggressive behavior. Like any other training mechanism, it doesn't work by magic. You have to work at it a little.

I have a rescue dog who ran every time a door opened. Since we live in a triangle between US50 and US7, this was not good. I got a Dogtra and it's been great. It took about 2 weeks before she stopped that behavior. I now use the remote instead of a lead, except when the regulations don't allow. I'm a 76-year old woman with some arthritis in my hands -- I have MUCH more control over the dog using the remote than I do with the leash. I haven't seen Ed's video; I got the remote before I knew about Leerport, but I'm pretty sure that he will agree that the collar is for training, not punishment. Keep the "nick" turned low so that it annoys rather than zaps the dog. Use the pager only if the dog is heading into danger or showing aggressive behavior. Like any other training mechanism, it doesn't work by magic. You have to work at it a little.

I bought the e-collar and dvd and I am very pleased with the results. I am able to down or sit my GSD anytime anyplace. I had to use a little higher setting on the Dogstra 1900, but it works. I have no problems with a recall, in fact she comes running when I call her now. Well worth the money.