14 month old GSD male who I have started on Basic Obiedience training. Max behaves well indoors and while onleash. My problem is around the house he will run around my neighborhood if given the chance. This especially concerns me because we have a highway 1/4 mile from my home.
GSD lives indoors primarily and only goes outdoors under supervision or into his outdoor pen. I do take the dog out to our farm where he is allowd to run free usualy a couple times a week. (He usualy stays within my sight when he is at the farm)
I have considered getting a shock collar for him when he tries to run off. Any other suggestions or imput?

I had a GSD that did that too, it drove me crazy I thought they wanted to stick close to their owners. I never let him off leash again till I knew he had a solid come command. IMO and I am no professional I would work with him on a long line, really long at parks and other public areas, your farm and work on the come till you think you can try it off leash at a secure fenced area. Keep working on it. If you can afford an electronic collar I would get one for extra saftey. The leerburg basics video has great instruction on come and stay that really helped my dog.

Gregg... You should not let your dog off leash at all yet... You are on the right path with obedience class but your dog is not ready to be off lead. You have to be prepared for your dog not doing what you want him to do and be able to correct him. An e-collar is not the answer for you yet.... maby down the road but not now. Your dog knows to mind you when he is on lead. He also knows you cant touch him when he is off lead. Once you finish basic obedience, get started in advanced obedience where you will learn how to work your dog off lead.

If you buy one of the nice dogtra e-collars , and pair that with someone highly adept at training with them ,it is a combo greater than sliced bread. The control the collar gives you is far greater than any other technique in dog training. The issue is to find someone that is highly skilled at training with one , for if not it is cruel for the dog . Buy a nice dogtra and find a skilled e-collar trainer to school you, you will not regret this move . GOD BLESS

I agree with Peter. The e-coller is a great tool that will give you better control than anything else. As long as the dog has e-coller understanding. As far as it being cruel....it is definatley not. This is something that ignorant people or people who never used one sometimes try to say about it. The highest level of stimulation on an e-coller is much less that a level 10 correction with a prong.
What I like to tell people is to stimulate themselves with the e-collar on all levels first then they will know what the dog is getting. You'll be suprised.
Then you start out at the lowest level of stimulation the dog notices....then you go from there.
As long as you read and understand it's use you will be fine. A prong collar can be just as dangerous if not more if used incorrectly.

Pat

The Ecollar is far easier to learn to use than a leash and conventional correction collars such as the choke or pinch.

I'd suggest that you take a look at my articles on Linda Guidry's website at

http://www.finographics.com/schutzhund/obedience/ecollarwork.html

I have been working with GSD using the leerburg basic obedience, I have just not reached that level yet with my GSD. I also have a Malinois 20 months old who responds well in learning. I will work with the dogs one at a time. The Malinois gets excited and starts hopping around and snapping when he sees me reaching for the prong collar and lead. The GSD sulks and acts like, Oh gosh looks like I have to go to work now. The difference between the two is like night and day.
I want my dogs to respond to my commands, I want them to react to the tone in my voice, I want them to read my body language and see the expressions on my face when I work with them. I know the chain collar and leads are alot more work for the handler, but I believe those tools give the handler and dog a better feel for each other. If I can’t get my GSD to mind me by going to “old school” then I will get an e collar for him. Thank you Lou Castle for your link to articles about e collars, they were very informative to me.
Thanks Ptlm Grubb for your bit of “old school” advise.