Hello,

I'm wondering what are some of the determining factors when deciding to utilize the remote collars for training.

At present I'm using a prong collar on my PitX everytime we walk. She is very good, however, when she sees another dog she really fixates on it, wanting to bark and pull/jumping around a bit. She has improved alot with the prong with respect to behaving heself if the other dogs are closer than previously. If the other dogs are not reacting to her, she will look and I can give a few mild popps on the collar to refocus her, and I am also reinforcing her to sit and "watch" me, giving her "cookies" for looking me in the eye.

Tonight for instance, I saw 2 smallish dogs heading our way, so I altered my path. The other dogs became very yappy and were pulling toward us....so...I now needed to administer what to me are very strong pops on the collar, and at that point it is very hard to get my girls attention. She did sit with the leash loose, but her muscles were tight, she did sit good however.

She has outrageous prey drive, hences my concern esp with little yappy dogs....(whose owners were kinda pleading with their dogs to behave) and I now look like a bully 'cause I swear, I do not see anyone correcting there dogs or doing any sort of conditioning/training.

I adopted her last Labor Day from the shelter.

I have another female dog and they get along without incident. The PitX is younger and subordinant to the GSD cross.

At home the Pit is pretty soft in temperment and responds very readily to verbal commands corrections. She is truly the happiest animal on the planet!!

Based on this, any suggestions?? Continue with the prong or should I possible consider training with the remote collar.

Hope this all makes sense!!

Thanks,

Linda

Hi Linda,

How old is this pit? And, when do you correct her - at the moment she fixates on the "prey" or after she is already engaged (i.e., lunging at, etc.)? The timing of the correction is rather important. Nonetheless, I use both e-collars and prongs with my adult dogs and I actually prefer to e-collar since they are much more consistent. However, I would definitely pick up Ed's video on e-collar training and not actually use the thing (don't even charge it) for the first 2+ weeks, but keep putting it on and off with treats. Since I have been in the mindset of using e-collars from when I get a pup, I actually have my pup wear an e-collar to get it accustomed to it from the very beginning. Again though, I would make sure you follow the advice Ed gives on his DVD.

Another thing I neglected to ask in the beginning, does she pull or walk far ahead of you when other yappy dogs are absent?

My PitX "Tyge" is about 1-2yrs old. I'm pretty structured with my dogs when we are walking. They are both right on my left side, with no pulling. We "walk" then play for a while to break things up.

I work on getting her attention the moment I recognize that she spots another dog. Like I said, she is much better..before she would go off so to speak if another dog was near. Now she only becomes reactive if the other dogs is making motions towards us, even at a distance.

I"m thinking of just picking up the DVD to really see what its all about.

Its just that it takes quite a stong correction from me once she has fixated...I just question if the remote collar would be more effective with less pain/discomfort...which I must be inflicting with the prong. That kind of bothers me, although I know its necessary. This dog is strong, and I don't want her to even think she can pull me around. I did establish that pulling is a no no, and she is very good about that.

Thanks for you reply.

Linda

 Quote: linda walsh

I"m thinking of just picking up the DVD to really see what its all about.

This is a GREAT idea.

First, I echo what Connie said, get the DVD and study it before you order the e-collar. If for no other reason than if you decide not to do the e-collar, based on what you see in the DVD, you'll save some money. Later, if you change your mind and get the collar, you'll be making a more informed decision.

Second, I have a dog aggressive GSD. I use the e-collar and the prong when we are going for walks. If I can catch him soon enough, and the other dog isn't too aggressive, I can get his attention and control him with a not severe leash pop. However, if we are taken by surprise (there is a brown lab that comes charging at us from around the corner of a house, inside a fenced yard) or my attention is wandering and I don't see what Hans sees and he goes into drive, then I have to give him a pretty healthy nick with the e-collar to get his attention back to me and his walk.

For us, this is progress. Before I had the e-collar, I very seldom was able to correct him with a leash pop. Now I can. Yesterday, on a walk, we saw a person walking his dog up ahead of us. Hans ears went up and I turned around and said "heal" and he came with me and the ears went down. No nick, no leash pop. Before the e-collar this would not have gone so smoothly. So the e-collar has helped.

Next, get him to ignore other dogs completely. I have to work on that.

One other thing, and I hope no one gets mad at me for saying this. Ed makes everything he does look easy, including how to work with a dog and e-collar. Follow his instructions, but don't be surprised if it doesn't go as well, at first, as it does for Ed. People like Ed know so much about dogs they can almost read their minds. For the rest of us, we have to work at it, even with the great instruction Ed provides.

HI,
Thanks for the replys. I am going to order the DVD. I have been thinking about this for quite some time now. And I need to educate myself and take it from there.

Rick, sounds like you are making some headway with your GSD. Isn't that the greatest feeling in the world??!! I can relate to what you have experienced. I really don't let my mind wander when I'm out with my dogs or if folks are over and they are mingling. Overall she is better, we are heading in the right direction, but once she "fixes" on a "target" (yapping lunging dog) it can then be difficult to get her to focus on what I'm asking of her.

Thanks again.

Linda