I was given an ecollar as a gift at a work conference about a week ago and I am wondering what would be the best way to introduce the collar. I've done a little bit of thinking to use it as a clicker training deal. My ecollar vibrates, tones and stimulates. I want to use the tone as a signal of release/good/treat. And the vibrate as a hey your not doing what your suppose to try again and then the stimulate as a hard no. What do you think I could use alot of advice because I don't want this to turn into negative training. She has obedience down like sit, lay, wait, paw,easy walk, run, pull, and bite with toys.

Joseph,

When I was getting started with an e-collar I found the Leerburg DVD on e-collar training very helpful (http://leerburg.com/318.htm). In addition to how to use an e-collar to train different commands, it explains vital steps that I would recommend you familiarize yourself with before you start about getting the dog accustomed to the collar, and finding the right level of stimulation for the individual dog. Worth the money IMO (especially if you got the collar for free).

I use the tone on my dogs' e-collars as a recall. I trained this by making sure they know a verbal recall command first, then simultaneously giving the verbal command and the tone. Having the dog on a long line when I first do this is helpful - if necessary, a gentle tug on the line clarifies what I want. Do you train with markers? As soon as the dog starts towards me, I mark, then treat when the dog reaches me. My dogs worked out with just a few repetitions that the tone on the collar means the same as the verbal command "Come", and then we practiced and proofed with just the e-collar tone.

Do you already have a verbal marker for "release/good/treat"? If so, you could try the same approach of giving the verbal cue simultaneously with the collar tone.

Yes I have a verbal marker of good to recognize you did something good and also I have her with a certain hand signal too. I tought her specific words for certain things and hand signals to go along. She can do both together or seperate. I just don't want going another approach (ecollar) have a negative affect on her training.

 Quote: Joseph Eubank

Yes I have a verbal marker of good to recognize you did something good and also I have her with a certain hand signal too.

Can you describe how the marker is used? Just to make sure we all mean marker the same way.

Say she sits when told verbally or hand signaled I follow the good behavior by the word good which means you did what told then a treat few seconds later but she also know good behavior by a hand signal.