We are really having very positive results with our two dogs, Nickie and Roxie after their introduction to the e-collar at Roni Hoff's seminar last weekend.

Hubby was home with them all day yesterday while I was at work. He said that they were so much calmer and attentive to him then before. (He did not have the e-collars on them at all during the day). He would have them "wait" at the doors before coming in or going out. Also wait before coming out of their crates and sit before putting their leash on. He said that basically, they behaved perfectly for him all day.

When I got home from work and after dinner, I put their e-collars and prong collars on and did a little work with them going out and coming in the front door. Then each one separately got some heeling exercise out in front of the house.

As soon as I started out the front door with Nickie, I saw 3 women starting to come up the driveway (they were the door-to-door religious persons). Nickie started to do a little posturing and I said to him "off off off" while giving a simultaneous nick on the remote. (In the past, he would have tried to lunge toward them, barking). He quickly sat down and just watched them. I said to them "we are doing a little dog obedience lesson - not a good time for us." They smiled and went next door. We could still hear them talking even so couldn't see them. This was a HUGE distraction for Nickie. I started our heeling exercise - just on the sidewalk leading to the driveway - only about 10 steps, then a turn, back the other direction. We did this about 25 times. He was still wanting to look towards them but was able to stay with me.

Then Roxie and I had our turn. I took her to the sidewalk out in front of the house by the street. We did about 10 trips back and forth (a further distance than with Nickie). One of our neighbors approached us and when I saw him coming, I had her sit and he and I talked - no problems at all with her.

Like I said, we are making excellent progress and this will be our routine every evening!
P.S. Roni, if you are reading this, Nickie jumped up on the window box several times yesterday without any coaxing!

Congratulations Diane! Glad to hear that the dogs are doing so well!!!!! I really would like to stress that the dogs need to wear their collars, "just like a watch" so that we do not teach them collar awareness. So put those collars on first thing in the am and move them at least once during the day. Also, no commands without tap, tap, tap,.
Remember, this is a adjunct to help the word go in. They just aren't ready for the proofing stage!!!!
P.S. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU AND STEVE!!!!!! WAY TO GO!

Thanks Roni,
We couldn't have done it without all your help (plus Steve & Robbie Kaplan). When hubby calls me this morning, I will read him your posting.

Greetings Diane,

So glad to hear that you and Steve are doing soo well. Your progress while at the seminar was outstanding. Soo glad to hear you guys are doing so well.

I am so jealous of not being able to attend the seminar. However, I would like to share some of the success that Luna (9 month old boxer) and I are having.

Introduced Luna to the collar about a month or so ago after a really long time with her just wearing it off and on with no use (she really seems to be clueless as to its function - great!) I followed some of Roni's suggestions from this board and have been using the super light stim in conjunction with her basic commands. As reported before, I was amazed at how it just seemed to supercharge her desire to perform.

I have really been working hard with her on off leash healing and recalls and today was a great success. We went about two miles or so through the neighborhood off leash (she drags a light line just in case). I have been working her to sit when I stop and to sit at curbs to cross the street also. The whole walk went without incident! Lots of medium level distractions but she would always look back to me and get ride to my left side when I used the "lets go" command with stim (I used that versus heel to distinguish the casual walk from if I want to teach her a higher level). Really, she never drifted much. If I slowed, she slowed. If I ran she ran. If I stopped and she was ahead, she would quickly come right back to my side. It was quite a victory!

Sorry for the long rant, but I was really excited with the success.

One question I did have - I noticed on a previous post Roni that you said that once I use the ecollar, not to give commands with out the stim. Can you explain this a little more? Is that just during a certain period, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Congratulations Jon, on the progress with your dog!!!!
To answer your question; once the dog is understanding the words we are using for the commands, I then give the command once without the stim to see if the dog responds to the word alone, and just one word. If he/she does, then, I try that same command under a graduating scale of distractions, if at any time
the dog doesn't understand, i then go back to foundation training
of helping the dog perform the task (perhaps luring with food).
This describes a variable schedule. I use this system for a reward schedule and in duration exercises in working on the length of time we perform the task. Way to go Luna!!!!!
You can also introduce different types of rewards for her.
Happy Training!!!