Hi-
I am not real familiar with e-collars, but a gal at agility class bought one for her dog, a little Chihuahua, for chasing cars. They are off a block from a major hwy so the street in front of their home doesn't have much traffic, but the busy hwy is close. She was going to take it back because she was afraid to use it. Our instructor who is anti-prong... thought she should keep it, that was one of the few reasons she could see using one. It about knocked the wind out of me! She is going to put it on the dog and not use it for a month so the dog doesn't recognize the collar with the shock. So what is the timing on the correction? Does she wait until the dog is going full speed to chase the car, as soon as it starts the chase, does she try to call the dog while in chase before zapping it, sorry just wanted to pass on the correct way to correct this. Is it correcting for not coming when called, or just for chasing? She is using a long lead now with a little success. Thanks for any help with this.
Sue

In my limited experience (see related post on e-collars) I would use the stim as soon as the dog takes off, and stop when she stops the chase. If she waits until the dog is at top speed, I imagine she will have to use a very high level of stim, the dog will yip, and she will probably get upset and discontinue training. I would also teach a solid recall with the collar. Those things in combination will help a lot, I think.

That makes since. Sorry, but just to clarify...would she be calling the dog in the process or not since I do not believe she has done any type of formal obedience training to have a good recall? Would you be correcting just the unwanted behavior, or for not coming when called? or both? Just from watching her in class, her dog doesn't have a recall. When off-leash, when it leaves her it doesn't come back til it is ready or when she retrieves it.

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I do not believe she has done any type of formal obedience training to have a good recall. ... Just from watching her in class, her dog doesn't have a recall. When off-leash, when it leaves her it doesn't come back til it is ready or when she retrieves it.

Not meaning to be rude, but the dog needs a solid recall first, and should never be off-lead until that is done. An e-collar can be used, but is certainly not needed for standard training, maybe the car chasing. Others on the forum have a lot more experience on dog training then me, but I think this is just common sense. A loose untrained dog can easily become a dead dog.

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That makes since. Sorry, but just to clarify...would she be calling the dog in the process or not since I do not believe she has done any type of formal obedience training to have a good recall? Would you be correcting just the unwanted behavior, or for not coming when called? or both? Just from watching her in class, her dog doesn't have a recall. When off-leash, when it leaves her it doesn't come back til it is ready or when she retrieves it.

You said earlier that she is having no success with a long lead (huh?) and that the dog doesn't come when off-lead.

I'm not clear on how the small dog can chase cars when on a lead. Or why he is off-lead with no recall.

Or did you mean off-lead in class?

The answer Polly gave about correcting way before the dog ever hits "full chase" is absolutely right, but it sounds a little like the handler can't even manage a regular lead. ??

Can you suggest that this person study a couple of videos, like Leerburg's Basic Ob and, if she is going to use the e-collar, the e-collar video too. She needs them both if she is having trouble keeping a Chihuahua on a lead from chasing cars. I'm not being snide. I just can't picture this Chihuahua wrestling the lead out of the handler's hand and tearing after a car. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Here are the videos she needs (IMO): http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm
http://www.leerburg.com/318.htm

P.S. "Put it on the dog and not use it for a month" -- I hope you mean for short periods, right? Not full-time? I seriously recommend the video. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

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....Not meaning to be rude, but the dog needs a solid recall first, and should never be off-lead until that is done. An e-collar can be used, but is certainly not needed for standard training, maybe the car chasing. Others on the forum have a lot more experience on dog training then me, but I think this is just common sense. A loose untrained dog can easily become a dead dog.

Perfectly said! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Ms. Sutherland,

"if she is having trouble keeping a Chihuahua on a lead from chasing cars..." Now that vision really cracks me up!

A Chee-hoo-ah-hoo-ah chasing cars... After jerking a lead out of her handler's hands. So many visions... So many thoughts...

I know the issue is serious. But it seems to this casual reader that a long lead and a collar or harness would go a little way toward mitigating the fear associated with the dog taking off. It does boil down to control, and who is training what. And an e-collar on the dog? Maybe with an electronic fence...

And I know the breed can be a nasty little package...

I apologize if I have ruffled any one's feathers. I attribute my attitude to experiences with slightly bigger dogs. Hubris. It is hubris.

Mike A.

Sue, I used to hate Chihuahuas & think anybody who owned one was an idiot, until I met a really great one (he's fearless, friendly, very smart, quite obedient, AND really cute!) -- Anyway, do get that lady to buy Ed's "E-Collar Training for Pets" DVD before the poor little dog gets hit by a pedestrian (I mean a car) and killed <;-O

I think the combined weight of a fifty-foot longline, plus the e-collar might be as heavy as the doggie is itself, but she CAN train a reliable recall quickly, easily & most humanely by using Ed's method on his video -- AND this way she doesn't have to wait til they've finished weeks & weeks & weeks of group obedience classes to get her dog to come when called either (!)

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....I used to hate Chihuahuas & think anybody who owned one was an idiot, until I met a really great one (he's fearless, friendly, very smart, quite obedient......buy Ed's "E-Collar Training for Pets" DVD before the poor little dog gets hit by a pedestrian (I mean a car).....

<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm with you on training the recall. There is no dog who doesn't need that most important of all commands. JMO!

I too thought all Chihuahuas were yappy jittery nutjobs, and I too have now met Chihuahuas who were smart, calm, and well-behaved. So now I try not to be so breedist, or whatever the word would be for breed prejudice. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I think I have met good and not-so-good of most breeds by now.

The dog is off-lead in class, just for the obstacles. It is fenced so he is safe there. I believe he was off-lead at home when chasing the cars and she put him on a long lead to try and correct the problem. I don't believe she has him off lead at home anymore. He isn't pulling the lead from her hands. I am going to assume (from seeing her at class)she is not correcting the dog, but only holding it back from chasing and when the car is gone he will come to her. I will strongly suggest the videos, I have several and think they are great. I know the importance of a solid recall, and I know a dog car chasing will eventually be a dead dog. She knows it will be a dead dog if she doesn't correct the problem.
She is a nice gal, and her dog is very sweet and friendly. I was just trying to help. My instructor doesn't have experience with e-collars and I know lots of people here do. I just wanted her to use it right. As far as the collar on for 30 days, I will make sure she understands it can't be on 24 hours a day- I would hope they talked about that.

Thanks all for your help, I appreciate it.
Sue