How is everybody doing tonight? I am literally scheduling "leerburg time" into my day now.
I will be on first thing i wake up daily now if dogs permit. And last before i pass out in bed at night.

I tried dogtra today for smiths and giggles. She rested through vibration. She was sniffing the ground, ignored vibration.
I then went straight to training.
Layed her down while vibrating, praised and treated when she was down. The same way we learned whistle and hand signals.
Still, she doesnt seem to realize it is there and vibrating on her neck. After many repetitions, she still ignored vibration?

Out of curiosity, i stimed her with actual stim. She slightly moved at level 14. I layed her down to the stim. She could FEEL the stim, and i could SEE her thinking about the stim, and see her waiting for me to down her.
I stopped session after about 11 goes with the actual stimulation. My flyball friend needed to get to work.

Please, tell me, is it the vibration on dogtra not strong enough to grab her attention? Or what was i doing wrong with vibration, yet she works with actual stim? Whats up? o.o

Anyways, just like my dogs not literally deaf, and i have taught hand signals. And same goes for her not being at a distance from me, yet i still have her trained to whistles.
I would like the ecollar to be the next on our list to learn.
Dog is not actually deaf, or very hearing impaired at all. Simply, older dog hearing.
So the sound feature on a collar IS an option! But it seems all the "sound ecollars" are out of budget. Maybe connie do you know of anybody with a used collar for sale below retail price?

Duane Hull thank you for the flyball. Why DO those smile faces pop up all the time a link is posted?

THANK YOU CATHY!
Still, i am unsure... my dog doesn't seem to feel dogtra vibration. Maybe it will just take more repetition? And she will come to feel it?
My dog has always been a very "sturdy". It really takes a lot physically to get this dogs attention. This dog will literally ignore burns from hot pavement. (bad ownership, in far past) And when shes in "psycho" mode i could just about hang her, and she would not snap out of it.
Maybe the mini educator vibrational WOULD be fitting good for her?

Brianah,
Save your money. You don't need an e-collar for vibration or otherwise. My guy was also an energetic senior who loved to do things. He had a reaction to ear medication which caused him to go deaf. He could still hear a sharp clap. I taught him to look at me when I clapped and then I solidified all our hand signals. That was good for..... uh..... maybe 2 training sessions. He was 13 and we took Noseworks classes. Why wouldn't you expand on the Noseworks training? Much more thought invoking and energy sapping than learning a new signal for an old trip. If you are teaching it on your own, I think your money would be better spent on a class which will really broaden your horizons on where you can go with the training. And it will all be brand new to her, so much more effective than the same old tired obedience commands.....I'm spinning in circles with boredom for her.

Physical exercise and mental stimulation was a requirement of my dog's up to his last day. And he approached it with the same vigor and love of life that he always did. He too was in great shape but he was a senior dog. What that entails no matter how great of shape they are in, is loss of muscle mass, less lubricated joints and if not placed on a physically less demanding schedule; INJURY! And that Brianah is the truth of age. You can not stop it or cure it.

Your job as her leader is to protect her from herself. I don't care what you think(well I do but I'm trying to make a point ) and what you see(I was often blind to Thor's aging because his spirit never did). You should make accommodations for her age and keep her comfortable. Keep in mind that she more likely than not has arthritis, which has nothing to do with physical condition. It can often times be worse in a more active dog due to the constant wear and tear they place on their skeletons. With that in mind keep her physically, and mentally exercised but check with your vet on what his/her take is on what is safe and what is not.

Mental stimulation is our big thing here. As i have been repeating. Most of what she does daily requires tons of brain, and far mess movement.
Said, again. teaching a new signal to down requires like, no physical exertion. Just brain.

Dog is already involved nosework. And many other group events.

We already go to events regularly.
Regardless if its a brushing up on groundwork that shes never going to actually use anymore, or if its teaching her a whistle signal, that i will never really need to use.
We do everything i can think up, to keep her mentally stimulated.
I mean, i take this dog to conformation "help and advice on handling and stacking" groups.... I can tell you now, dog will NEVER be in a meaningful conformation ring! Sure, my dog has a nice free stack. And looks a charm as i trot her out and back to judge.

Really, i know you all don't believe me, you have a terribly old dog in mind.. shes in decent condition... She still deserves to have her "work" she lives for. And no soreness after the days "work". because if there was bad soreness, i would consider some sort of change, or put her to rest.
I really dont want you to have to be concerned. Thats for between me, the vets, and my dog.
When shes done, i WILL lay her to rest, our of respect. But again, between me, the vets, and most importantly the dog.

I had a friend with a border collie who ran agility trials every weekend into his late 13th year. And dog was far more conditioned, and could take a lot more than some young-ins, and recharged up in between trials much quicker than some younger dogs. Dog had cancer in his "boy parts" at a time too. Came back flying. Questionable case of abuse of an older dog? Should i have been concerned as you all are?

Hows your night going sheila?

Edited by Brianah Maloney (07/25/2014 12:19 AM)
Edit reason: super long posts.

self delete

 Quote:

I tried dogtra today for smiths and giggles. She rested through vibration. She was sniffing the ground, ignored vibration.

Depending on the situation sniffing the ground can be avoidance or stress. She may of been reacting to the stim more than you think.

 Quote: Betty Waldron

 Quote:

I tried dogtra today for smiths and giggles. She rested through vibration. She was sniffing the ground, ignored vibration.

Depending on the situation sniffing the ground can be avoidance or stress. She may of been reacting to the stim more than you think.

She was sniffing the ground. Vibration (and then stim until i found her level) was ignored during sniffing.
I will just need to get my hand on educator for a try?

She is most likely confused, unsure what the vibration is all about and avoiding it. The stim became uncomfotable enough that she did something though she was still unsure what the heck it was for. A different ecollar is NOT the answer. At 13 y/o I'd be all about management, long lines, super yummy treats and the like.

I agree with Mara.

While I do use the occasional e collar it is for long distance proofing only, not training.

I would not introduce one of my senior dogs to it.

I've only ever had one person tell me this but he is normally right on the money. He told me that dogs feel the stimulation more then we do and by some reactions I've seen from seasoned dogs I tend to agree with him. He also gave me the reason but since it was a while ago and I don't want to misquote him I'm going to keep it to myself. LOL

Very seasoned trainer that established and maintained airport dog programs world wide.

Personally? My senior dogs kind of get a pass on a lot of things...............

Brianah, please re-read the latest posts made above by Sheila, Betty, and Mara. You don't have to keep telling us over and over that your 13- or 14-year-old Weim has the energy of a 3-year-old. We get it. We understand your point. You have an energetic senior dog who requires daily physical and mental exercise.

From my reading of the responses you have received in these many pages, it sounds like the overall opinion is that an ecollar, while it may have its legitimate uses as a training or communication tool in the right hands, really has no place being used to provide mental stimulation or entertainment for a dog. There are far better ways to accomplish that.

You are already doing quite a variety of activities with this dog. I suggest just keeping those up. Pay attention to her well-being (which I know you are doing!) and provide more activity when she needs it, and rest and relaxation when she needs that.

Hey; I have an idea...

Maybe you could learn HOW to use an ecollar before you start experimenting on your senior dog? I have no issue with you learning new ways to stimulate or communicate with your dog, but does she really need to go through the whole learning curve with you?

If you truly have watched Ed's videos here, you undoubtedly would have seen the one where he talks about how to introduce the collar to the dog and determine the proper stim level FOR THAT DOG! By starting low and gradually increasing, you have pbly confused the dog. By the time you get to a satisfactory working level, your dog may have grown leary of the collar and you could get avoidance reactions.

PLEASE, if you're going to use it, learn how to use it properly.