he Right Way to Use Electronic Dog Training Collars

The Right Way to Use Electronic Dog Training Collars
By Kevin Simmons

As with every training tool used to modify a behavior in your pet, electronic dog training collars need to be used correctly in order to be effective.
Some dog owners buy an electronic dog training collar because their pooch doesnt follow orders consistently, or at all. As soon as they get home, they strap it on, expecting some sort of miracle. And when doggie decides to do something special, like growl at another dog, his owner zaps the animal.

However, with no conditioning, the dog wont know what to do, and will immediately be scared. What hell learn from this process is not to stop growling, but instead, how to avoid the pain. Quickly hell figure out one of probably three different methods of avoidance:

RUN as far and as fast as he can, until the zapping stops;
FREEZE and do nothing until the zapping stops; or
FIND his owner.
None of these three responses to the electronic dog training collar, however, teach the dog anything new. If anything, they reinforce more bad behavior: if he RUNS, or FREEZES, he learns an avoidance technique of the pain, but doesnt change the behavior, or he FINDS his owner, and starts to associate safety with the owners presence, and loses his independence.
This article will detail the proper ways to modify your dogs behavior using an electronic dog training collar, so that you dont encounter these frustrating mishaps.

Learn the Proper Command

Before you start using an electronic dog training collar, your dog must first understand what is being asked of him. There are no shortcuts during this step, and it can take longer or shorter depending on your dogs temperament, breed, and time allotted. Be patient.

At this stage, the only thing that needs to be done is to show the dog what you want them to do, along with constantly repeating the action. So, if you want your dog to kneel, you would show the dog what kneeling is, and say, Kneel, kneel, kneel.

This stage is NOT a punishment stage, so no disciplinary action should be taken. Just work with your dog a lot until he understands what you are trying to tell him, and associates the word with the action.

Once this has been achieved, now is the time to test your electronic dog training collar. Find out at what level your dog responds to, and do NOT use a level higher than that. Watch your dog carefully during this testing phase; he should not be in pain, yelp or get scared, he should only be mildly uncomfortable.

Now you are ready to try all of what youve learned, together. Before you ask your dog to kneel, push turn on the electronic dog collar. Then, immediately say, Kneel, until your dog responds. After a couple of tries over an extended period of time, your dog will start responding to the command faster than he does the stimulation. Soon, youll only be using the electronic dog collar to remind your dog to listen to your Kneel command, instead of using it each time.

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About the author:
(c) 2005 dog-training-info.com This article may be republished as long as these bylines are included. Kevin Simmons is the webmaster of http://www.dog-training-info.com/Please visit the site for more free dog training articles.

Tags: Dog Training, Electronic

Dog Training for Competition

og Training for Competition
Part-1
Competition Obedience

By
Joseph L. Bickel

As your dog training progresses, you might be wondering where and how you can apply the dog training you and your companion have learned. You have completed your puppy training. You have begun to master your obedience dog training. What can you do next? This article will give you information about taking your dog training to the next level. Competitions can assist you in fine tuning your dog training, open you to a world of fun, and earn titles, ribbons, and trophies for your efforts.

Competition Obedience

Competition obedience gives you the chance to show off the hard work you have done dog training your partner. Competition obedience is point based, A minimum score of 170 out of 200 points is what is required in order to qualify. You must acquire at least 50% of the points for each exercise. Repeated commands are not allowed. Over emphasis on commands are not allowed.

Most organizations offer three levels of competition: Novice, open, and Utility. You must achieve three qualifying scores to earn a title at each level. At the novice level, you can earn the title of Companion Dog (CD. Open dogs can earn the title of Companion Dog Excellent (CDX), and utility dogs can earn the title Utility Dog (UD). Dogs winning first or second place in Open or Utility classes are awarded points toward a title of Obedience Trial Championship (OTCH). The points for Obedience Trial Championship are based on how many dogs are defeated. It takes 100 points to earn the title of Obedience Trial Champion.

Heeling is an important component at all levels of competition to receive good scores. Precision is a key focus of this exercise. A pattern is predetermined by the judge for the handler and dog. This pattern includes straight heeling, left and right turns, about-turns, slow, normal, and fast heeling, and halts. The dog must heel on the handlers left side. The dogs shoulder must be even with the handlers leg. The dog must automatically go into a sit when the handler stops. At the Novice level, the heel will be done on and off leash. At the level of Open and Utility, all heeling is done off leash.

At the Novice level, each team does their predetermined pattern, including a figure 8 around two humans. The team must also perform an off lead stand for examination. A recall must also be performed. A recall consists of the dog in a sit and stay. The dog is then called to the handler, and then sits facing the handler. The dog , on command then returns to the heel position and sits. This exercise is done individually. The next phase is the dog in a down-stay for a minute and three minute interval. The down-stay is done with up to 12 other dog teams in the ring..
In the Open class, all the exercises are done off lead, including the figure 8. The recall requires a drop in place half way in ( on the handlers signal the dog drops to a down position).

In addition, the dog must also complete a broad jump, a high jump, and a retrieve of a dumbbell. The Stays in the Open Class are three and five minutes with the handler out of site.

In the Utility Class, heeling is performed with had signals only, no voice commands. The judges may also require the handler to have their dog sit, stay, stand, down, and come by hand signal.

The dogs must also retrieve two objects that have been scented by the handler. The objects are placed with eight similar objects that are not scented. The dog must then identify and retrieved by the dog. In addition, the dog must retrieve one of three identical gloves. The glove to be retrieved is designated by the judge. The dogs then compete in a send out and directed jumping exercise.

If you are looking to take your dog training to the next level, consider entering your dog in an obedience trial. Along with a great learning experience, it can be a lot of fun. You will also gain a large amount of dog training information from your fellow handlers.


Copyright 2004 Joseph L. Bickel

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About the author:

Joseph L. Bickel has worked as a dog trainer and handler for over 15 years training police k-9's.
http://www.obediencedogtraining.com

Tags: Dog Training, dog history

A Guide To Dog Training Collars

As more breeds of dogs are domesticated, the number of available dog training collars are also steadily increasing. Sometimes, it is so hard to keep up on what dog collars to use for your dogs.

As more breeds of dogs are domesticated, the number of available dog training collars are also steadily increasing. Sometimes, it is so hard to keep up on what dog collars to use for your dogs.

Let me guide you through the maze of Dog training collars. Let us take a look at each of the available collars we can have for our dogs.

First, there is the buckle collar. The buckle collar is really like a buckle that we use for our trousers. Buckle collars have buckle fasteners too to secure it over the dogs neck. The buckle collars for dogs come in different varieties. There are buckle collars that are flat, rolled, made in nylon, or made in leather. The most preferred buckle collars of owners are the ones made in nylon. They are easier to clean, dont shrink and they come in different colors and styles. The leather ones, although it has been popular, is not very easy to clean and if wrongly washed they may shrivel or shrink.

Another Dog Training Collar especially used for flyball training and sled dog racing is the Martingale collars. Martingale collars provide limited choke on the dogs neck. These collars are not so easy to come off as they really fit the neck of your dog in a very nice way. Martingale collars are so flexible and they eliminate the danger of choking even if the dog gets very excited.

Next is the, Limited Choke Collar. These collars are more like the choke chain but they have rings at the end to make room for a few inches of allowance. To use these collars, you just have to ease the dog training collar from the head of your dog and slip it down its neck and tighten it a little.

An outdated Dog training collar is the choke chain. This was formerly used by dog owners before the invention of the other types of collars. Mostly, choke chains were used for punishment and correction. When a dog misbehaves, the owner would just jerk on the leash and the dog would choke, letting him think twice of what he is doing. Before, choke chains were really made of chains but now they are mostly made of nylon. Choke chains really are a torture to dogs, in some cases when the jerking is very hard, it can damage the windpipe of the dog.

An innovation of the choke chain dog training collar is the Snap-around choke. This is like the choke chain but designed so as not to damage a dogs windpipe. The snap-around choke is very snugly fit and it is worn up high the dogs neck and when the leash is jerked, it does not damage the dogs windpipe and does not jolt the dog that much.

Most of the collars we have discussed are worn around the dogs neck. However, there are also dog training collars that are worn on the head. These collars are fit on the dogs head with a leash attached under the dogs muzzle. The principle of this is that, where the dogs head is, its body will follow. The dog may not adjust that easily to wearing these kinds of dog collars and they may look like a pony halter or a muzzle.

Next is the Pronged or the German Pinch dog training collar. This collar is especially made for dogs that are wild, unruly and difficult to control. These collars apply pressure on the protruding areas in the dogs neck therefore it effectively catches the dogs attention. This kind of dog training collar does not damage the dogs windpipe

Another dog training collar is the electronic collar. These collars set off radio waves that shock the dog. The consequence of using this kind of collar is that your dog will always leave on fear and negative anticipation of the next shock. Electronic collars should not be used by novice trainers as they may not know how to properly make use of this collar.
There is also this thing called the no-bark collars. These are generally not really collars but they are used to train dogs not to bark. It is oftentimes very damaging and not beneficial on the dog to use this kind of collar.

There are still so many dog training collars available. They are constantly evolving to make collars as comfortable and as dog-friendly as possible. Other dog training collars include: light-up collars, they light up or glow at night; ornamental collars; schutzhund training collars and many others.

An important thing in choosing a dog training collar is that they must cater to your needs and should not be damaging to any of the dogs anatomy. It is also important to weigh the pros and cons of each kind of collar so that both you and your dog will be benefited from that dog training collar you have chosen.

About the Author: Gina Marie Capatar writes on a variety of topics. She is a freelance writer and the head writer for http://www.isnare.com You may contact her at gina@isnare.com or visit http://outsourcing.isnare.com for writing job proposals.

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How To Maintain Your Love Affair ... With Your Dog Part One - Training

How to Maintain Your Love Affair with Your Dog - Training

How to Maintain Your Love Affair with Your Dog - Training
Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your Canine Companion
2004-2005 by Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

When I first laid eyes on my little ball of black fluff at an adoption fair, I knew there was no turning back. My husband and I had been looking for just the right dog for months, and all the research and networking had finally paid off. There was no doubt in my mind that we had found the most perfect, precious four-legged family member in the world.

As luck would have it, the adoption fair was right around the corner from our home, this gave us a great opportunity for a home visit at the end of the event. I ran home, scrubbed and cleaned and did everything I could to make sure our home was puppy worthy. As soon as she arrived with her foster mom, the puppy made sure to let us know she was in the right placebut more about that later.

Because both of us had lived with dogs before, I was sure we knew everything we needed to start off on the right foot and have a loving and healthy relationship with our dog. I was only partially right. Through lots of hands-on experience and a great deal of patience and training, Ive learned a number of ways to maintain that original love-at-first sight feeling.

Training and Behavior

□ Train your dog. Whether you are dogs should always walk appropriately on leash, type of person, or one who lets your canine companion cuddle up in bed with you, you will benefit from appropriate training. Not only do you want to potty train your puppy so that he understands the appropriate place to relieve himself (not on the new carpet!), you also want to establish and maintain a set of expectations early. Good training is based on positive reinforcement and takes into consideration the age and breed of your dog. You may find a trainer through referrals of friends and family, through your vet, or pet-specialty store. You can also read a number of excellent books on dog training. Some great books are, How to Be Your Dogs Best Friend, and The Art of Raising a Puppy, by the Monks of New Skete, The Power of Positive Dog Training, by Pat Miller, and The Other End of the Leash by Patricia B. McConnell, PhD. (Any book by these authors are great places to start your self education.) A good place to look for more information about training your dog is the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

□ Be Consistent. According to Training through Positive Reinforcement, learning consists of trying out new behaviors and seeing what happens as a consequence of those behaviors. If your dog has been taught to avoid jumping on people, allowing him to jump just this once on his favorite person is going to confuse him hell think the behavior is okay. However, by withholding attention or treats from him until he learns to sit and wait for a stranger or his favorite person you are maintaining consistency in his training regimen. As long as your pet understands what you expect and you behave in a consistent manner throughout your relationship, you will have a blissful relationship.

□ Learn a New Trick. Just because you and your dog have been maintaining your earlier training and sticking to the basics, doesnt mean that you cant find something new to do together. Clicker training and agility training are quite popular and are a great deal of fun for you and your dog. You can find local classes through your Parks and Recreation Department or visit The Dog Agility Page on the internet.

□ Introduce Your Dog to Strangers. The time will eventually come when you and your pet will need to be separated at least for a short time. If you ever plan to vacation, travel for business or even attend to a family emergency, your dog is going to be under the care of someone other than you. Prepare for this by introducing him to many new people throughout his life. The simple act of letting your pet meet and greet new people will help socialize him in the event that you need to leave. Also, if you live in an adults-only household, you may want to take the time to introduce your dog to children. The more positive experiences he has around kids, the better off you are when your sisters kids come to visit. But remember never leave children alone unattended with dogs.

□ Take A Ride. Teach your dog early that riding in the car is a fun way to go places. Take them on short trips in your car and always make the destination a fun or interesting place for them to be. Make sure you have proper pet-carriers for smaller dogs and appropriate seat belts or harnesses for larger breeds. You want your car rides to be safe and fun for both of you. If the only time your dog gets in a car they end up at a vet, it wont take them long to decide that cars are bad -- making it difficult to crate them or load them into the car when you need them to come with you.

□ Establish Your Pecking Order. Your dog needs you to let them know where they stand in the family order. It may sound cruel to say that you are the Alpha or the Leader of the Pack. But the truth is if you do not set up a plan to show your dog who is boss, he will walk all over you. It may seem cute when your 8 pound puppy demands your attention by pawing you while you work, but when your puppy is an 80 pound dog who is demanding you drop everything to play with them, it can be distracting at best and dangerous if you are carrying a hot pot to the table or healing from a medical procedure of your own.

About the Author: Peggie Arvidson-Dailey, The Pet Care Business Expert, is author of Surprisingly Simple Sales Steps: What Every Pet-Care Business Owner Needs to Know to Build Their Business in a BIG Way! To learn more about her book and sign up for tips, hints and sneak peeks at ways to run your pet-care business smarter visit http://www.peggiespets.com

Tags: dog history, Dog Training, dog tip

Dog Training Collars -- Proper Selection Leads To Training Success

The proper selection of a training collar can have a significant impact on the success of any dog training program. Most new dog trainers make the mistake of choosing a dog collar that does not allow for adequate control during the training sessions.

During my nearly four years of working with dogs, I have seen dog collars in numerous sizes and shapes. From head leaders to pronged choke collars, the choices available to dog owners are endless. However, in my training experience, I have not seen a dog training collar as effective as the classic choke collar.

The basic choke collar is an effective training tool that can be used on almost any size dog (for very small dogs, a nylon dog collar might be preferred). When used properly, the correction and response of the dog is almost immediate.

The key to using a choke collar effectively is to keep the dog collar loose when the dog is exhibiting proper behavior. For example, if the dog is heeling without pulling ahead, the choke collar should remain loose. If the dog begins to pull ahead, a quick "pop" or tightening of the collar will teach the dog that unwanted behavior has occurred. As soon as the dog's behavior has corrected, the collar is once again loosened.

By using the tightening & loosening technique, the dog quickly learns to associate good behavior with a loose collar. If the collar were to remain constantly tightened, the dog would only learn to fight against the choking feeling.

Regardless of which collar type you choose, it is imperative that the dog collar fit properly and give you, the trainer, maximum control over the dog.

About The Author

For nearly four years, David Dunlap has been working & training dogs from puppyhood to more advanced levels. For more information on dog collars, visit http://dogcollarinfo.com