A training question for dog owners

Ranger_B · 01-23-2011, 06:01 PM

I have used e-collars for off leash work with my malinois. He has some crazy drive and he took to the collar very quickly. We recently adopted a dog and she has just started with the collar. I was against them at first. The one I am using now has a page function that buzz/beeps before I need to sting him or her. I agree with the other posters that you may want to start with socializing your dog first. Dog parks and taking your dog to public places may get him adjusted to the sights,sounds and smells of other people. On the plus side he is a great dog at protecting your house.

RGD. · 01-24-2011, 11:05 PM

Barking collars and training collars are two separate things. I don't like either one but have used training collars with good results on my Beagle. I suggest :

1. Make sure that the device has a beep or tone warning.
2. Never shock without giving a warning and give him time to react to the tone.
3. Make sure the shock amount can be adjusted.
4. Use the lowest possible shock setting that gets his/her attention.
5. Reward when he/she obeys at the warning tone.
6. Never deviate from when a shock is given. During the training you cant let the infraction to occur without being there to correct. In other words, for example, you can't correct him in the evenings and weekends when you are home and allow him to charge the fence when you are not home during the day.

That said, I much prefer "clickers" to train with. I would practice basic commands with him until he obeys without question. Socialize him with other dogs and humans. Once he obeys your commands, then be at the fence with him when other dogs walk by, pet and calm him as they go by until he gets use to them and sees that they don't upset you when they go by. He is after all simply trying to protect his territory.

Good luck with it.

Ron

yakman · 01-25-2011, 09:12 AM

I also use the one that buzz's and beeps before I need to sting her. I swear by it. The one i have is adjustable, I started out low and worked my way up. It only took me a 10 days of using it to retire it

Gophernut · 01-25-2011, 09:24 AM

We got one last summer for a lab that would just take off and not respond to verbal commands. We have had to zap her once. She took off, I gave her a beep and then a low shock. She stopped and immediately came back to us. She has since had to only hear the tone to stop the unwanted behavior. We now only occasionally have to put it on her, and usually only when there will be other dogs around. We live in the country, so it's nice to be able to let her out to run when it's too cold for us to stand outside. And even then, the collar is so loose that the tone is the only setting that would work anyways.
The zap setting is so low, that my daughter's fiancee zapped his arm, and said it felt like a 9 volt battery to the tounge. More of a tickle then a zap, but enough to get the dog's attention.

tsolomon · 01-25-2011, 10:51 AM

What you need to do as pack leader is to let him know that this behavior is unacceptable. You can do this by setting up a situation where you can control the dog enough to send the message not to do it. I think that some type of remote training collar would be a last resort.

If you have your dog leashed in the yard, will he still charge another dog that is out front? The simplest of corrections done right at that time is where I would start. If he doesn't react when leashed, maybe you need to stand between the dog and fence and tell him to stop when he charges. Boxers are pretty smart and once you communicate that this isn't his job and his behavior is unacceptable to the pack leader, then you should be able to stop this. Plan on spending a day or two out in the yard working on this.

Can you get someone to walk a dog by a couple of times so you can work on modifying your dog's behavior? First with you in the yard and then from inside the house. He must be trained so that he understands that it is never ok to charge the fence regardless of where you are.

You must be ready to reward good behavior with a treat so that there is positive reinforcement for not charging. The clicker can help here as it provides that instant confirmation that his behavior is correct. You know your dog better than any trainer and all they can do is give you tools to try. Different dogs respond to different methods, which is why trainers often have multiple ways to accomplish a training goal.

01-23-2011, 06:01 PM	#1
Ranger_B Have My Own Room Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Frank Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,321 Trading: (31)	Re: A training question for dog owners I have used e-collars for off leash work with my malinois. He has some crazy drive and he took to the collar very quickly. We recently adopted a dog and she has just started with the collar. I was against them at first. The one I am using now has a page function that buzz/beeps before I need to sting him or her. I agree with the other posters that you may want to start with socializing your dog first. Dog parks and taking your dog to public places may get him adjusted to the sights,sounds and smells of other people. On the plus side he is a great dog at protecting your house.

01-24-2011, 11:05 PM	#2
RGD. God Like Status Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ron Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 971 Trading: (1)	Re: A training question for dog owners Barking collars and training collars are two separate things. I don't like either one but have used training collars with good results on my Beagle. I suggest : 1. Make sure that the device has a beep or tone warning. 2. Never shock without giving a warning and give him time to react to the tone. 3. Make sure the shock amount can be adjusted. 4. Use the lowest possible shock setting that gets his/her attention. 5. Reward when he/she obeys at the warning tone. 6. Never deviate from when a shock is given. During the training you cant let the infraction to occur without being there to correct. In other words, for example, you can't correct him in the evenings and weekends when you are home and allow him to charge the fence when you are not home during the day. That said, I much prefer "clickers" to train with. I would practice basic commands with him until he obeys without question. Socialize him with other dogs and humans. Once he obeys your commands, then be at the fence with him when other dogs walk by, pet and calm him as they go by until he gets use to them and sees that they don't upset you when they go by. He is after all simply trying to protect his territory. Good luck with it. Ron

01-25-2011, 09:12 AM	#3
yakman Just in from the Storm Join Date: Dec 2010 First Name: garry Location: Humble,TX Posts: 27 Trading: (1)	Re: A training question for dog owners I also use the one that buzz's and beeps before I need to sting her. I swear by it. The one i have is adjustable, I started out low and worked my way up. It only took me a 10 days of using it to retire it

01-25-2011, 09:24 AM	#4
Gophernut Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Steve Location: Hudson, WI Posts: 1,661 Trading: (15)	Re: A training question for dog owners We got one last summer for a lab that would just take off and not respond to verbal commands. We have had to zap her once. She took off, I gave her a beep and then a low shock. She stopped and immediately came back to us. She has since had to only hear the tone to stop the unwanted behavior. We now only occasionally have to put it on her, and usually only when there will be other dogs around. We live in the country, so it's nice to be able to let her out to run when it's too cold for us to stand outside. And even then, the collar is so loose that the tone is the only setting that would work anyways. The zap setting is so low, that my daughter's fiancee zapped his arm, and said it felt like a 9 volt battery to the tounge. More of a tickle then a zap, but enough to get the dog's attention. __________________ "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." Thomas Jefferson

01-25-2011, 10:51 AM	#5
tsolomon Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 1,251 Trading: (31)	Re: A training question for dog owners What you need to do as pack leader is to let him know that this behavior is unacceptable. You can do this by setting up a situation where you can control the dog enough to send the message not to do it. I think that some type of remote training collar would be a last resort. If you have your dog leashed in the yard, will he still charge another dog that is out front? The simplest of corrections done right at that time is where I would start. If he doesn't react when leashed, maybe you need to stand between the dog and fence and tell him to stop when he charges. Boxers are pretty smart and once you communicate that this isn't his job and his behavior is unacceptable to the pack leader, then you should be able to stop this. Plan on spending a day or two out in the yard working on this. Can you get someone to walk a dog by a couple of times so you can work on modifying your dog's behavior? First with you in the yard and then from inside the house. He must be trained so that he understands that it is never ok to charge the fence regardless of where you are. You must be ready to reward good behavior with a treat so that there is positive reinforcement for not charging. The clicker can help here as it provides that instant confirmation that his behavior is correct. You know your dog better than any trainer and all they can do is give you tools to try. Different dogs respond to different methods, which is why trainers often have multiple ways to accomplish a training goal.