Using the E-collar

[Dr. Teeth]

Which is correct when you use the e-collar.

I have used one before and I always trained giving a low nick stimulation after the command, if the dog failed to comply.

I bought a new collar yesterday and read through the manual: which says to stimulate at low levels while you give the command and establish the relation between the stimulation and the command, then allow the dog to avoid the stimulation when he complies.

The way in the manual seems to take a step back and not allow the dog to get right the way I already trained him. Is this a way of making the dog sharper to the command? or is it wrong all together?

[BeautifulChaos]

To me, the first one is more correct. The way that I have always collar conditioned my dogs and was taught to do is to give the command, give the dog roughly 2 seconds to comply, then give the command a second time while giving the collar correction.
So it would be:
"sit" 1, 2...
"SIT" + lowest possible stimulation until the very second that the dog begins to move into the sit, here, etc.

I'm wondering if this is what the manual was saying to do?

[fuzzybunny]

I've always it done it after the dog has failed to comply as well.

[BlackPuppy]

The second is what I have read to do online.

[Lucy Dog]

LOU CASTLE - ARTICLES

Read it. Learn it. Apply it.

[cowboy17]

Originally Posted by Dr. Teeth

Which is correct when you use the e-collar.

I have used one before and I always trained giving a low nick stimulation after the command, if the dog failed to comply.

I bought a new collar yesterday and read through the manual: which says to stimulate at low levels while you give the command and establish the relation between the stimulation and the command, then allow the dog to avoid the stimulation when he complies.

The way in the manual seems to take a step back and not allow the dog to get right the way I already trained him. Is this a way of making the dog sharper to the command? or is it wrong all together?

I can't understand the "while".
The dog isn't given the opportunity to comply. the command is associated directly with a correction...??

I could understand "command" no comply "correction" repeat "command", of course this would be after the dog has already been shaped and clearly understands what is being asked of them.

No experience here with e collars though.

What 'command' are you training?

[Zahnburg]

The command turns on the electric and the execution of the command turns the electric off.

[GSDElsa]

Originally Posted by Zahnburg

The command turns on the electric and the execution of the command turns the electric off.

Exactly. Everyone I train with...including myself generally use it this way. On continuous, not nick.

For instance.....working on recall. Throw a treat, you say "FIDO HIER!" and on here the electric comes on and as they are turning to come book it back it comes off.

I personally like this better than having to issue a correction for non-compliance. You're basically not giving the option for the dog to not comply using low level stimulation.

[GSDElsa]

Originally Posted by cowboy17

I can't understand the "while".
The dog isn't given the opportunity to comply. the command is associated directly with a correction...??

I could understand "command" no comply "correction" repeat "command", of course this would be after the dog has already been shaped and clearly understands what is being asked of them.

No experience here with e collars though.

What 'command' are you training?

You're not thinking about it in the right context. The stimuation is at a "working level" where the dog is not so uncomfortable it is truly being issued like what you would likely think of as a correction with the e-collar. No ZAP! Just a steady ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

[Zahnburg]

Originally Posted by GSDElsa

generally use it this way.

Very good point. The e-collar is an amazing tool and can be used in myriad ways to accomplish myriad behaviors.

My previous post was an effort to keep it as simple as possible for newer trainers.