Scott,

I had an Akita bitch for about 4 years. She came to me at 18 months old and it took a while for her to warm up to the family. To the best of my recolection, her recall was just average w/no distraction. With animal distraction she would come only after satisfying her urge to chase, bark atc.

She was very independant but too protective of the family so she was rehomed because my children were getting to an age when they were inviting friends over and I was concerned something bad would happen. That being said, I believe it just may be the breed you are dealing with. Your recall may never be as good as other breeds. My experience with the Akita is of an aloof,dependant and standoffish animal that loves to chase real prey and kill it no matter what it is. I've talked to a few other people who own them and the concensus is the same.

Sometimes you just have to accept a dogs' shortcomings and live with it. I'm not saying to give up on the training but you are running out of options short of pure force. If you're concerned that she will run off or do something bad then use the collar for a fail safe if thats all you have left.

BTW, do you have another dog besides the Akita? Another dog with a solid recall can help you with the training without using force. Just a suggestion.

Howard

Yup, they are hard-headed! :-) No other dog, I'm afraid, but we do have 2 cats. On that tangent Miko, while stubborn, is the sweetest Akita you'd ever meet. She is actually submissive to the cats (and we've worked hard to make it/keep it that way.) She comes from a long line of Akitas bread for temperament. Every dog the breeder had was as friendly as could be and some were accomplished therapy dogs. Miko loves everyone and everything. Dogs: ok to good. People: great. Children: out of this world! She has so far demonstrated little prey drive, except for some deer--she really wanted to go get the deer!

With a dog as big, powerful and with the reputation of an Akita we have worked hard to make sure she is well trained and well socialized. She's not quite as protective as we were hoping for, but quite frankly that's picking a nit, she's a really great dog.

Well with all the good advise and DVDs maybe you will get that recall you get from a GSD after all
Don't give up ,I wish you sucess

 Quote: candi campbell

Nick, I see you obviously do NOT have Ed Frawley's e-training DVD http://www.leerburg.com/318.htm because "collar conditioning" has ZIP to do with escape training, avoidance training, or ANY method of "working to turn the collar off" -- Instead, it's a two week protocol used with the dog before you ever even turn ON the electric shock !

If whatever methods you employ work for YOU, that's really great, but I would not use them on MY dogs (no personal offense intended...) -- My suggestion would be, please study Ed's e-collar DVD in great detail before you hand out advise regarding e-training on this board <:-)

Hi Cindy,
With all due respect to Ed as I have not seen his video - I think you have mistaken something here - or maybe the terminology is a little different for you than it is for me.

I am not sure what your experience in training is and specifically related to collar training but I can tell you that the majority of the remote collar trainers I know condition the dog to the collar as I mentioned.

It would seem that your info is gleedmed from a single DVD - I assure you mine is not. In fact i train several hundred dogs a year specifically with the use of remote collars and suggest to you that perhaps you misread something or are perhaps a little out of your depth.

Respeonses like yours are why credible trainers who are willing to share advice for free are leaving these boards to the rank amateurs and sales people.

Do you have any training advice to offer?

Nick

Nick,

Oh yes, I have some e-training advice to offer you:

1) Invest in Ed's DVD http://www.leerburg.com/318.htm because you have a TON to learn about the humane & effective use of a remote-control system, since your methods are pretty much WAY old school "yank & crank" e-collar style...

2) Maybe you should also try getting over yourself just a little bit -- Happy New Year 2007 <:-)

Scott, keep up the good work with Ed's e-collar & groundwork training methods on your Akita -- Mine turns on a DIME and races back to me at the "Come" command (every time & with great attitude!) even under very high distraction, with NO e-zapping whatsoever...

I'm sure you'll get to that level of voice command reliability soon <:-)

Scott, you're making a huge mistake using an e-collar on an 8 month old pup.

I haven't seen the e-collar DVD, but I would think it's based on the assumption that your dog has already gone through the learning phase of training and fully understands what she's being asked to do, which is NOT the case here evidently. E-collars are NOT designed to be used to teach new commands. It's a huge mistake to give a correction, of any kind, to a dog that doesn't FULLY understand what's it's being asked to do. You're moving WAY too fast.

See if you can exchange your DVD for the Drive, Focus, & Grip DVD. That's more along the lines of what you need to be working on at this point.

Mike, you said:

 Quote: Mike Sanchez

I haven't seen the e-collar DVD...

I began my Akita on Ed's e-collar training when she was 8 months old & would already obey perfectly either onlead out in public, or offlead in our home & fenced yard -- That is NOT too young to start e-training a well-schooled dog who's leash-wise on a longline !

Ed's methods involve extremely humane low-level stimulation that delivers LESS physical impact than a pop from a choke-chain OR a pinch from a prong collar -- Scott won't be making a mistake so long as he follows Ed's protocol to the letter <:-)

 Quote: candi campbell

Nick,

Oh yes, I have some e-training advice to offer you:

1) Invest in Ed's DVD http://www.leerburg.com/318.htm because you have a TON to learn about the humane & effective use of a remote-control system, since your methods are pretty much WAY old school "yank & crank" e-collar style...

2) Maybe you should also try getting over yourself just a little bit -- Happy New Year 2007 <:-)

Cindi,
I am curious as to how you know a thing about my methods of training? Have we trained together? What do you base your "yank and Crank "comment on? Can you explain in brief your new modern approach? Pls don't tell me to watch the video - I am asking for your words.

Actually Cindi - it is ok - no need to reply. Someone just sent me a link to another part of this site - where you wrote a testimonial in regards to the remote training DVD.

Just as I thought - after watching the DVD and training a grand total of 2 dogs with remote collars you are an authority.

I'm glad you had success with your dogs - best of luck to you.
To be clear - you don't know me - we have never met and you ghave never seen me train - so your "yank and Crank" comment is your uneducated and unfounded opinion.

Like I said - people like you are why there are less and less trainers on these boards willing to offer advice.

If you still feel your methods are superior and are up for a little challenge - we can arrange for a simple video challenge - each pick 3 scenarios and have our dogs perform them. I'd be glad to wager a little fun money that we could donate to the shelter of the winners chooising.
Enjoy your DVD!

Nick