A little background: I'm on my second week of e-collar training with my rescue GSD. He's a big boy with hardly any socialization skills. He's wonderful in the house, but is very "watchful" outside. We live in the country on a dirt road with very little traffic. Vincent (GSD) hates anything that dares to walk/run/drive on our road. We've gotten past lunging at cars...he now sits when he sees one and does not break his sit until released. I'm not sure how to handle people. Should I put him in a sit when I see someone coming down the road. Keep him in a sit until they pass. Or should I put him in a close heel and continue walking toward the person? He's fine with people as long as they are not walking/running in the road. We are still working on a long lead. I'm so glad I found this board. I have so many questions. Thanks for any advice.

What are you using the e-collar for? To get a reliable 'come'? I'm a bit confused.

And how do you want him to react to people? I know, for me, I want my dogs to be either friendly or neutral because I take them everywhere with me. And this frequently involves alot of friends, strangers and children.

Are you working with a trainer at all? I find most of my best training isn't around my home but in new places. I will work on my dog initially understanding the command at home but them immediately get out in the 'real' world for the proofing and practice. Driving to a trainer and getting their help/guidance/tips is the best by far for us.

BTW, I only use the e-collar AFTER I do all the traditional on leash training and notice I'm having trouble with the dog listening when it's time for the off leash work (uh, and the deer chasing). How long have you had this dog and been working on leash?

Vincent is a rescue that I've had for almost a year. He came to us pretty much unsocialized, entact, the hair on his neck was broken and worn away from some type of collar, he had pneumonia and a hernia. After nursing him back to health and having him neutered I started training. Vincent knows all his basic commands and with no distraction performs 100%. What good is that???? I read alot about e-collars and spoke with a highly recommended trainer and I decided to give it a try. I had an initial hour of training. I'll be going back in about two weeks. Vincent responded incredibly well. So what I've been doing this first week is working on his recall, sit, sit at a distance, sit/stay,heel and crittering. We've worked pretty much without distractions. Though he did get away from me once to chase a deer. The woods were so thick I couldn't see him. Gave him recall, didn't come, upped the stim, and he came out of the woods on the second higher stim recall. With Vincen't background I don't think he's ever going to "like" other dogs. People he tolerates. (Though he's a sweetie in the house). I just want him to ignore people and things on the road. I want to be able to walk by another dog, kids on bikes, and joggers.
There is so much experience on this board that I thought I would ask questions here before calling my trainer all the time. I hate to ask him stupid questions, I'm aftraid he'll take my remote control away (kidding). Thanks for advice, hope I ansered all your questions.

Have you visited Lou Castle's website? And Ed Frawley's? Both have great information on e-collars. I read through Mr. Frawley's web site and found a ton of training info on it for all types of problems, obedience and aggressive dogs included. Also have you tried a search on this site for ecollar training?

Some thoughts..good luck and good for you for rescuing a dog in need. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

It was this information I found on this site and Lou Castle's site that made me pursue e-collar training. I had tried strictly motivational at first, then I worked a little with a SCH trainer to tighten up my basic commands on a prong. Then on to this trainer for the e-collar training. (I would have stayed with the SCH trainer but she was 2 hours away). This is the only forum on e-collar training that I've found. I just want to be very careful with the collar. Vincent's had it hard enough I don't want to go screwing him up with poor handling.