Training Your Dog With An E-Collar

Although many view remote training collars as inhumane, when used properly during training this assumption has been proven to be far from the truth. Electronic training collars have been around for many years. About 20 years ago a shift in the training community happened that brought a gentler training collar along with different and more effective training techniques and this tool is now incorporated in nearly every working dog’s training program.

Are Training Collars “Shock Collars”? 

A common misconception in today’s world is that all electronic collars shock the dogs. This is not true. Although the dog does not like nor appreciate the stimulation the collar gives when the button is pressed on the remote; it is more of a vibration than a shock. There are also various levels you can set the stimulation to and any seasoned trainer will tell you to start out on the lower end of the spectrum and work their way up as needed. Another test a good trainer will do before putting the collar on their dog is to test it on the palm of their hand. 

What is being told is not a dominance factor between the handler and dog – it’s for safety.

Why Use a Remote Training Collar?

The purpose of using an electric training collar is to establish expectations and really nail down a strong communication system between you and your dog. Reinforcing commands with a training collar so they understand what is being told is not a dominance factor between the handler and dog – it’s for safety. Say your dog does not follow commands as well when they are off their lead, see a deer, and run off. If there’s a busy highway nearby, or an aggressive, bigger dog that is off their lead that they are about to cross paths with, they need to know to stop instantly; the collar helps reinforce that. 

Getting Started With A Collar

As mentioned before, it’s important not to set your stimulation too high. If they yelp or act as if they are in any pain it is too high. It should seem like a bug is crawling around on them and just aggravate them a bit. Start with simple commands such as “sit”, “come”, and “heel”. Make sure the collar is a bit tighter than a usual collar as the notches need to be pressed against their skin to deliver stimulation. If you are looking for an everyday training collar for your dog, the Garmin Tri-Tronics Sport Pro System from Tippy River Dog and Hunt Supply is a great collar for everyday training. They are also a certified JOY Dog Food dealer so you can make sure your working dog is being fueled with the best quality food to keep them powering through their training sessions.