Hi there guys, it has been a couple of months since I first posted on here struggling with our pup who is almost a year now. She had been having problems with her e-collar poor instruction from me, and to compound things we had gone through several dogtra collars as they never seemed to remain consistent for more than a week. As suggested we tossed them got the power of markers and training with food dvds and waited patiently. After watching the videos I hit pause when it came to the training with food dvd when he was showing the dogs that couldn't pay attention and he told the trainers to stop with the commands and to begin working on desensitizing your dog to new situations, and work on just getting her engaged before going any further. For the past four weeks we have done just this, going to a different place every day, maybe a few of the same places every week. The change in our dog is incredible, we are now walking through the downtown area in our small town, which is full of distraction and it isn't even phasing her, she literally ignores everything but me, however we still are using prong collar only for when we are walking just incase she decides to make a break for something, I am not using it for corrections whatsoever at this point except for inside the home when she decides to harass the other small dog around.

I wanted to thank the forum members for getting us on the right way, if anyone has any fun ideas to train new things besides basic obedience I am all ears, I am hoping to start some kind of tracking training with her in the late summer once we are playing tug really well.

I hope in the future to be able to return to an e-collar and have the confidence to keep her completely off leash (where it is legal), and of course will never be using another product from dogtra.

Jeff, this is wonderful to hear and kudos to you for being open to the suggestions and beginning again with your dog!! OUTSTANDING!!

Fun stuff other than basic obedience?

Touch
Hup (jumping over an object - this can be expanded to include a retrieve)
Crawl
Speak
High Five
Pick up the object/put in a box
Identify an object

I'll stop there and let other folks give you their ideas, but contrats - really.

.... "to begin working on desensitizing your dog to new situations, and work on just getting her engaged before going any further. For the past four weeks we have done just this, going to a different place every day, maybe a few of the same places every week. The change in our dog is incredible, we are now walking through the downtown area in our small town, which is full of distraction and it isn't even phasing her, she literally ignores everything but me" ....

Working on engaging with the dog and on focus is never a wrong thing to do!

I remember your first post like it was yesterday, because it horrified me. Now look at you: well on your way to being an exemplary owner/handler. This is the kind of post that folks who put in the time end energy to get owners on a better path with their dogs just love to read.

Great job!!!

I remember that thread. Nice to hear she's doing well! She's so purty as well.