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How to Use an
Electronic Dog Training Collar
An electronic dog training collar is a device that gives you a safe way to control your dog off leash. It's effective and simple to use.
I already covered electronic collars in other sections of this site...
Electronic dog collar page introduces you to different types of electronic collars and explains advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Electronic dog fence page covers various types of electronic collars that prevent your pet from leaving the boundary of your property and it too lists advantages and disadvantages of each type.
If you are concerned that your dog may experience pain or just feel electronic dog collars are cruel, visit those pages.
What I would like to do here is to concentrate on a type of electronic dog training collar that allows you to remotely apply a corrective action to a dog that got distracted or is engaged in an unwanted behavior.
So…
What Makes an Electronic Dog Training Collar so Effective?
Dogs get distracted very easily. And because they are smart, they quickly learn that if they are out of your reach, they don't have to respond to your commands. All they need to do is pretend they don't hear you.
An electronic remote training collar allows you to apply a corrective action after your dog got distracted. When you apply a correction, it startles your dog and turns his attention to you. At that moment, you can issue one of the commands your dog already knows.
But what really makes an electronic dog training collar so effective is that your dog doesn't know that the correction is coming from you. He will not feel that you are punishing him and your relationship will not suffer.
My Training Technique
An electronic remote training collar is a perfect tool to use when your dog gets easily distracted during your training sessions.
Before you begin, check the batteries and make sure the transmitter works. Set the level of stimulation to the lowest setting. You can always adjust it later.
Let me give you an example of how I would use it if I were practicing some basic commands with my dog...
I would issue a command and see if my dog responds or not. If he doesn't, I apply a correction by pressing a button on the transmitter and simultaneously repeat the command. The reason I repeat the command at the same time as applying a correction is I want my dog to associate the correction with my voice. With time, he will begin to respond to my voice alone.
To make your training session even more productive, reward your dog every time he follows your command. It does not matter if you had to apply a correction or not, what's important is that he followed your command. A pat on a shoulder or a food treat will reinforce your dog's response in the future.
Stopping Unwanted Behavior
To stop an unwanted behavior, you also use an electronic dog training collar, but your approach will be different.
Since during unwanted behavior your dog is absorbed in his activity, you can set the level of stimulation a little higher, but adjust the level gradually until you find the setting at which he responds.
The major difference in your approach is that you don't want your dog to associate the correction with you.
If he hears your voice at the time he receives an unpleasant stimulation, he will associate that unpleasant experience with you. Pretend you don't see him when applying the correction. Better yet, apply the correction from the spot where he can't see you.
Take a look at the following…
- Dog chasing animals
- Dog eating feces
- Dog digging
- Dog barking
All of the above are unwanted dog behaviors and you can be easily stop them with the help of an electronic dog training collar.
I can almost hear the question – "All behaviors you listed are spontaneous. How do I know if it will occur or not?" You can't know for sure, but you can anticipate. If you know that your dog starts digging every time you leave him alone in the backyard, then, before you let him out, put his electronic dog training collar on. And keep the remote handy!
With time, your dog will learn that the above behaviors are followed by an unpleasant experience and will stop from engaging in them, even when you are not around.
An electronic dog training collar is truly an amazing tool.
When Bo, my German shepherd, acquired a habit of chasing rabbits in my backyard, I bought an Innotek UltraSmart Micro Remote Trainer.
I was skeptical at first, but was I amazed with the results! Within 3 weeks, he was a new dog!
If you are considering getting an electronic dog training collar for your dog, I highly recommend Innotek UltraSmart Micro Remote Trainer because…
- It has 9 stimulation levels
- Works up to 300 yards
- Is waterproof
- You can control 2 dogs with a single remote by purchasing an extra collar.
And...
- I've personally used it and seen the results.
This product really lived up to the narrative on the box it came in! If your dog has some bad habits that can be corrected by an electronic dog training collar, give it a try.
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