The Complete Guide to E-Collars: Everything You Need to Know before buying
You have no idea what your looking for and even if you did, how to use it is another baffling question. Here is your advice from a professional canine handler and trainer that has worked with genetically bred high drive dogs [dogs that are designed to put our systems to the test].
Struggle wth finding accurate information and/or want to avoid frequent mistakes people make? Take five to dramatically change your view on e-collars.
Let's dive into how to use an ecollar not only effectively; but more importantly ethically.
Ecollars to dog are what reigns are to a horse
Image never being frustrated because someone does not understand how it is that YOU communicate. One of the main ways in which a dog communicates is through physical touch. Clear comminication lessens conflict and build strong relationships. Let's dive into that and give you a roadmap to this communication super highway. Learn the ins and outs to get you to your destination without any pitfalls.
Sure you can buy any e-collar on the market, slap it on your dogs and put the power of zeus himself onto a dog. Without the benefit of a learning phase in collar communication we are simply setting the dog up to "ride the lightning". The dog may ultimately learn that "barking" or another unwanted behaviours leads to an unwanted stimulus but is that fair?
Not in my books.
What if we taught the dog, not only what that stimulus is and how it is that they turn it off? The traditional way of thinking surrounding an e-collar is long dead. Modern dog training teaches the dog, what the stimulus is and what to do with it. Informed and experienced trainers use ecollars as motivators and implore a system of communication that taps into the way god designed them.
Check out Larry Krohn's you tube page dedicated to conditioning and working with e-collars, this is modern e-collar training explained well
Why as a professional, I use e-collars
There is always dialogiue but that dialogue is not always purposeful nor is it clear. An ecollar, no different than a leash provides an avenue to communicate what behaviour it is that a handler is seeking.
Take this for example, you jump in your car and start heading down the road without putting your seatbelt on. What happens? That annoying, unpleasant sound dinging over and over again, repeatedly pressuring you to put your belt on. Now, you and I can deduce that putting your belt on provides you a measure of safety. So, you put your belt. This is escape and avoidance training, classical negative reinforcement. Car manufactures have been using it for years.
The next time you're exposed to this sound, you know exactly what to do. After one of two beeps you buckle up. The time after that? You beat your car to the nagging dinging and buckle up before you put it in drive. Boom, not only did you learn to escape that pressure, you avoided it all together.
Can you see how this style of communication benefits a dog?
That relentless barking, leash reactivty, returning a working dog back to task from distraction becomes simple if they understand what that "dinging" of the seatbelt means. That pressure you feel is nothing in the grand scheme of life and the pressure it lends. By acclimating a dog ecollar feedback we use it as a teaching tool and not a scolding tool.
Could you imagine now that every time you experienced that "seatbelt pressure", $100 popped out of your dash? Now not only are you motivated by the pressure, your excited at its sensation because just like pavlovs dinner bell, you know good things are coming your way.
the e-collar market
Not all collars are created equal
It’s time for you to buy a collar. Here are my top ranked collars and why.
Straight to it. This is my number one. If you have more than one dog or are looking for a consistent, high performing collar without any issues, this is the collar for you. For over a decade this collar as performed without fail. Submerged in water, multiple dogs, consistent feedback and accessory options such as tone and bright light that can be turned off and on with the press of a button. There is no collar I recommend more than this.
The remote itself is designed for gross motor skills. Not only does it fit well in your hand and is supported by multiple styles of carrying cases, operating it is a dream.
With multiple options, discreet design and funtionality this system is a great choice at a great price. The educator collar is designed for functionality and they guarantee your satisfaction. Having used this collar myself I highly recommend it as an entry level collar that is easy to use.
Dogtra provides a complete line of ecollar technologies focusing on their products being user friendly for pet training to working dog training. Dogtra continues to grow their brand and collar capabilities in every industry [pet, sports, leo/military etc]. Dogtra's remote tend to be extemely user friendly and the collar itself offers a wide range of stim.
Get Trained and Avoid Mistakes
E-Collars, like any training equipment, are only as good as the training that is paired with them. E-collars can be absolultey devastating if used in the wrong hands. Slapping a bark or ecollar on a dog and expecting great behaviours and expecting to balance a dogs behaviour is not going to pan out well and can have long lasting detrimental affects.
Now this may get you on your way to purchasing an ecollar that professionals in the industry rely upon to provide clarity in commiunication but it is far from a complete guide to training with it. They are an incredibly resourceful tool in the right hands. Now that you've taken the first steps, reach out to a trainer that understands and can teach you the multiple benefits of e-collar communication.
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