Quote:

Yes, actually, I spent a whole day reading everything I could on this site, and I see that this is exactly where I got the idea that you needed to correct the whole way back to your original spot where you first called your dog. So now I don't feel nearly as bad as I did when you all were saying that I shouldn't have done that. I do understand where praise and treats are worth their weight in gold, but there must be consequenses for not coming when called. That's where I am having difficulty...dc

Okay, you got me! I guess I am NO authority on how to train recall with corrections. If you want to train that way, follow Ed's advice. Also in that case corrections are being delivered from a distance, through the long line. I was worried for you that you would loose the ability to be able to get your dog by the collar if need be, if the dog thinks they will get sh** when you take them by the collar. I also still think there is a difference between "scolding" and a correction as well.

By the way, I am not against corrections for properly trained dogs , from properly trained owners

La La!

Jennifer

I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! well put jennifer......

When I lived in MD. I would take Bruno to a state park and cut him loose. I bought Ed's video and a remote collar. I followed the protocol and felt he was ready. The very first time he got a distance away from me and I tried to recall him. He did not even flinch so I gave him about a level 3 correction on the e-collar. He went from a jog to a sprint! I panicked, turned the collar all the way up and hit him again. By this point he was already over the hill and out of my view but I heard him yelp. I called him again and about 1-2 seconds later met him at the top of the hill. I was exhausted and he looked like "No fair!" I did not scold him for coming back, rather gave him tons of praise and the best treats in the pouch. After that I have never had him ignore me again, although I think he's collar wise by now. He's never outside of the yard without some type of lead or the e-collar.

In short, I love using the e-collar when off leash in the woods and I think you may also. It's awsome to watch him in heaven chasing fish and frogs or leaves in a creek or digging his nose into the ground smelling things he just can't smell at home. You have to do the training on the lead as recommended. Now, I can tell Bruno "To Far" and he'll come closer to me but not actually right by my side. I also sometimes use the pager for this. I can command him to "stop" and he will do so from a dead run. We've done this for so long it's gotten kind of boring. Someone mentioned cart pulling so I'm going to try and get him into hauling chopped wood from the forest for me.

I have taken him through 3 obedience courses and when they teach the recall, you really praise the heck out of fluffy for coming when called. Even when you're frustrated, when he finally does come, nothing but praise for finally doing what you say.

No problem Jennifer, and I do understand exactly what you are saying about so many different ways to train. We do have a wonderful bond and I am taking all of your advices and keep practicing on some distraction training.
I guess I was just feeling defeated because we are stuck in the back yard, but now I am looking at it with a whole new look.
I do however have a question about the e collar. How does it make the dog come back once he truly understands the command. From the guys above post, it sounding like the poor dog was going the oposite direction.
just wondering.
Is there anywhere on here to post videos? I have taught my dog to go to the fridge and bring me back a bottle of water and go back out and shut the fridge door. She's the smartest. dc

Edited by darlene palmer (05/03/2007 06:57 PM)
Edit reason: needed to ask another question

He did go the opposite direction, once. I think he saw a deer or something and his drive was more commanding than the stim level I nicked him at. In looking back, I don't think I did enough distraction training with him or maybe I slacked off in training for awhile and we got lazy.

Stim levels in a yard or someplace calm will be lower than when your dog is excited and wants to get something really bad. I've been using the collar with Bruno for about a year now and picked up a few things either the video doesn't cover , or I missed them somehow. I watch the video about every 3 months as a refresher.

My understanding of the e-collar is another way to correct your dog for not obeying the command given when off leash. If I tell my dog to heal and he ignores me I will give him a correction with a leash and a prong collar. Usually a level 2 or so, and he comes right to my side. With the e-collar, instead of having him on a leash and prong, you give the dog a mild electric shock that reminds him to obey your command just as the prong would. The video Leerburg has on E-collar training explains all of the steps to take so your dog understands why he's being stimulated. He also explains how to find the right stim level for your dog. On the Dogtra 1700 NCP Bruno's normal stim level is around 95. When out in the field I have to bump it to 105 or so or he'll ignore it. My sister has a great dane who outweighs Bruno by 40 pounds. She has the same collar and his normal stim level is around 40. It's just like anything else, you have to time it right so the dog corresponds the stim with the action.

Bruno is used to having the collar on when we go out and the only time he's ever ignored me was the very first time as I explained above. One other time I thought he was ignoring me and he was actually trying to find a way back to me. I could see him plain as day and I saw a route he could have taken but he went a different way that sent him slightly further away. Now, I take him in our woods behind the house and cut him loose. He usually stays within 100 feet of me. Rarely do I have to tell him "To Far" and I may have to nick him once in 4 trips out.

I gotta go, hope this helps.