Quote: randy allen

I didn't really mean to be contentious about anything, but in the light of a new day I can see how it could easily been taken that way. Sorry if I rubbed the wrong way.

I didn't take anything that way at all; I thought you gave good advice!

I have the same problem EM ALVAREZ as i try walking her close to fenced in dogs and correcting her and it works for that time but the next day will be the same. I have the basic obedience dvd and it is great. I just ordered dealing with Dominant & aggressive dogs. Could anybody comment on the video? Thanks for the info.

Thanks again to all who responded to my post.

Kind of off the subject of where this thread has gone, but dead on for where I thought it was going at first.

My question is at what age is it safe to start e-collar training?

Thanks

Jon;
Depends on how you are going to use the collar and what your understanding of dog behavior. As far as safety. The e collar is extremely safe for all dogs at any age, used properly.
Roni

Thanks Roni.

I had a trainer help me start using the ecollar with my older dog, plus I have done a good bit of research, have Ed's video, etc. I have a six month old puppy that has very good basic obedience - sit, stay, down, place, heel, come - but I would like to start taking her to the next level and really like the results we had with the ecollar and the other one.

Any advice from you or others is most welcome. I'd go to your seminar, but I am in NC - a little far.

Jon:
I am interested how hearing how you used the collar with your other dog and how the trainer introduced the collar. Sounds like your pup is doing well. How might you use the collar for your pup?
Thanks for sharing.
roni

We used the collar primarily to work with off leash heal and longer recalls. My trainer taught me to use the nick button only, working from the lowest level that produced a reaction in the dog. When I got Ed's video, I was happy to see that the methods were similar - using the nick with the "no" (use aah, ahh actually) after a failed command.

I found the collar to be most helpful with longer recalls and for ensuring that recalls werent ignored...that would be my goal for the pup. Let's face it, dragging a line in the yard can be a little cumbersome. I still use a drag line when on walks, in a non enclosed place, etc, but the collar lets you stretch it a little more.

One question though - I was taught to position the collar with the "box" on the top of the head, just behind the left ear. Ed's video shows using the collar with the box below. My dogs are boxers, and even when the collar is snug, the box slips due to not a lot of hair. So down below seems like it might work better...is there a downside to this if the dog is wearing the collar when not working? Typically, I dont leave the collar on all the time, but try and leave it on some times when not training so the dog doesnt associate the collar with having to pay attention.

Thanks for the help.

Jon;
I generally start the collar in the trachea area on every dog.
I position the collar on either side then, when I move the collar (if the dog is wearing it for a number of hours). Old school thinking is that you have to place the collar on the back of the head (when teaching a down)to reinforce the down. But I find these are the same trainers that are substituting the e-collar for a pinch and thinking that you need downward pressure
to work the down.
Please make sure to NOT teach your dog "collar awareness", by putting the collar on just prior to working. Keep us posted on your progress! Happy Training!!!!

Thanks Roni. I introduce Luna to the collar today. I put it on, clicked and gave her a treat and repeated several times. My plan is to do this several times a day over the next two weeks before trying to do any work exposing her to stim.

Since I have only used the collar for heel and recall, my question is can I simply substitute in any place where I would normally use a leash correction? For example, giving the down. I say down. She doesnt move. I say aah, aah (our version of no), down. She doesnt move...I say aah, aah with stim, right?

Thanks for your help.