Quote: randy allen

I have a GSD as you've described. The point I am in her training is 'if' I get a word in before she shifts gears (so to speak) the call off is very good. However if I miss that opportunity through inattention on my part she would be in the next county before I'd ever see her again except for the e-collar. The high stim does nothing more then knock her out of the 'zone' so she can once again focus on me. I hate using in that way but it's either that or a gone dog.
She's getting better, a couple of times now I've called her off in full drive without having to resort to the e-collar.........She still wears it when out and about.

Exactly as Randy stated so well -- ditto for me.

Katie

Hi Everyone;
IF I am understanding Rachel, she is electing to teach the dog what the stimulation from an e collar means before using it under
a high drive distraction. Randy is right, sometimes the dog is so intense they truly cannot hear you. Remember, vocal is secondary to physical so my experience is when the dog is taught thru obedience what the stim means, the level that is needed to have the subject respond is much lower. It also seems to me that this is a much more respectful way to train. Developing skill using a training tool also helps the handler know her dog and when a leader is more confident, she will be able to be a better leader. I love the level display on the Dogtra collars. Noting the working level on the dog in the begining is very useful, however in a dangerous situation, I don't want to take my eyes off the dog so I advise people to turn the reostat up until the dog responds. I don't think Rachel was saying she is unwilling to use a high level, IF that is what is needed, just that she wanted to be fair to her dog.
Happy Training,
Roni

Thank you Roni, that's exactly what I mean and am looking for. It's just that I would never start with a high level and always want to give the dog a fair chance. In the end a good recall and off training with an e-collar outweights life long walks on a leash IMO.
Crittering is the tricky part due to dopamine and that's where obedience very often fails as Roni states.

Wild game is tricky. One must know the dog. Try to catch the dog/s before they shift into overdrive, then I think you'll have the first step towards the dog hearing you over all levels.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

 Quote: randy allen

Try to catch the dog/s before they shift into overdrive, then I think you'll have the first step towards the dog hearing you over all levels.

That's exactly what I am after. And yes it's important to know your dog. My female loves to run and on her own I can stop her right next to me (just had the situation yesterday evening). My male on the other side "just wants to get a look". He is the one I really have to work on.