Electic dog collar, anyone used one ?
Discussion
We had fostered a 8 year old staff who has never been socialised with other dogs, also not been properly walked.
So fart we taken her to the sea, beach, fields let her off the leash ( with muzzle ) met cows, ducks, rivers, geese etc.
We walk her 3 times a day on a extending lead, she is very good and heels sits on command, but I would like for her to get more exercise.
Now it is lovely having her run about off the leash but she has fear aggression to other dogs ( has no interest in them unless they run up and try and sniff her ar8e ) what I would like to do is be able to exercise her properly, ie of the leash with a muzzle but also not have to worry about the occasional dogs running up out of the blue. She couldn;t bite them but i just want her to snap out of the state of mind.
We have a Alsatian at GF parents house we walk her with and after hours of walking with no contact, then slowly bringing them closer they can walk side by side, but when they sit the can sit next to each other but no interaction ( no sniffing playing etc ).
Ideally we would want to let her of the leash in the fields we walk in in dorset wirth the other dog and have the chance of breaking up a scrap 80metres away with the press of a button.
Just wondered if anyone here has used one and any recommendations ?
So fart we taken her to the sea, beach, fields let her off the leash ( with muzzle ) met cows, ducks, rivers, geese etc.
We walk her 3 times a day on a extending lead, she is very good and heels sits on command, but I would like for her to get more exercise.
Now it is lovely having her run about off the leash but she has fear aggression to other dogs ( has no interest in them unless they run up and try and sniff her ar8e ) what I would like to do is be able to exercise her properly, ie of the leash with a muzzle but also not have to worry about the occasional dogs running up out of the blue. She couldn;t bite them but i just want her to snap out of the state of mind.
We have a Alsatian at GF parents house we walk her with and after hours of walking with no contact, then slowly bringing them closer they can walk side by side, but when they sit the can sit next to each other but no interaction ( no sniffing playing etc ).
Ideally we would want to let her of the leash in the fields we walk in in dorset wirth the other dog and have the chance of breaking up a scrap 80metres away with the press of a button.
Just wondered if anyone here has used one and any recommendations ?
According to Cesar Milan, it sounds like your dog needs more 'energy'. An electric collar would supply that. Or something.
Moving on to some vaguely more useful comments, girlfriend's gran's Labrador used to run off very often. She used a shock collar connected to an underground perimiter wire. Dog now wont go outside the perimiter unless he's in a car.
Sounds like the dog just needs a bit more exposure to other animals though
Moving on to some vaguely more useful comments, girlfriend's gran's Labrador used to run off very often. She used a shock collar connected to an underground perimiter wire. Dog now wont go outside the perimiter unless he's in a car.
Sounds like the dog just needs a bit more exposure to other animals though
The Wookie said:
According to Cesar Milan, it sounds like your dog needs more 'energy'. An electric collar would supply that. Or something.
Moving on to some vaguely more useful comments, girlfriend's gran's Labrador used to run off very often. She used a shock collar connected to an underground perimiter wire. Dog now wont go outside the perimiter unless he's in a car.
Sounds like the dog just needs a bit more exposure to other animals though
We are trying but the breed has a nature aversion to other dogs even when exposed from a young age ( ours hasn;t ) and it is hard to let her round other dogs when she literally tries to take there heads of with one bite, she is the most docile thing with humans but another dog she turns into this very scary strong aggressive dog. there is no inbtween, no growling, no barking, no interest, just SNAP and she is off somewhere else.Moving on to some vaguely more useful comments, girlfriend's gran's Labrador used to run off very often. She used a shock collar connected to an underground perimiter wire. Dog now wont go outside the perimiter unless he's in a car.
Sounds like the dog just needs a bit more exposure to other animals though
I've used one on both our dogs and would offer the following advice. DO NOT USE THEM TO STOP FIGHTING.
I bought them to stop our first Lab chasing sheep and pheasants. Dog approaches sheep, one short blip. I only had to do this three times on a low setting and he never bothered the sheep again - just ignores them now.
The problem with using it around other dogs is that the dog is likely to see it as an attack from the other dog and make them more aggressive.
They're great for breaking a dog out of habbits that could harm it or get it killed, but that is all IMO.
You dog needs socialising rather than shocking in this case. The only way is the long hard route of ignoring them when you first see it in a morning, after you've been out, etc. Waiting until it is calm and then calling it to you to recieve a pat or a tickle. You should always go through doors first, especially when leaving for a walk. You should always eat first and then feed the dog and never give it treats from your plate. It needs to be told in no uncertain terms that it is the lowest of the low. Greeting them when you first come in, down stairs in a morning, letting them go through doors before you, letting them trot ahead on the lead, etc. reinforces the fact that you are it's b
h. Once it understands that you are the Alpha dog, then you can introduce it to other dogs slowly, correcting any aggressive tendencies.
My advice is to find a good dog trainer.
I bought them to stop our first Lab chasing sheep and pheasants. Dog approaches sheep, one short blip. I only had to do this three times on a low setting and he never bothered the sheep again - just ignores them now.
The problem with using it around other dogs is that the dog is likely to see it as an attack from the other dog and make them more aggressive.
They're great for breaking a dog out of habbits that could harm it or get it killed, but that is all IMO.
You dog needs socialising rather than shocking in this case. The only way is the long hard route of ignoring them when you first see it in a morning, after you've been out, etc. Waiting until it is calm and then calling it to you to recieve a pat or a tickle. You should always go through doors first, especially when leaving for a walk. You should always eat first and then feed the dog and never give it treats from your plate. It needs to be told in no uncertain terms that it is the lowest of the low. Greeting them when you first come in, down stairs in a morning, letting them go through doors before you, letting them trot ahead on the lead, etc. reinforces the fact that you are it's b
h. Once it understands that you are the Alpha dog, then you can introduce it to other dogs slowly, correcting any aggressive tendencies.My advice is to find a good dog trainer.
Edited by rhinochopig on Thursday 15th October 15:18
If it's a fear aggression I don't think an electric collar would work, it may add to the fear based problem. Have you been to a behaviourist, this may be the better approach (Make sure they have a good reputation.)
Personally I disagree with the use of shock as a training tool, I don't think it's necessary, it'll be more rewarding for both parties if you can train your dog with positive treat rewards.
You may have to face facts that she'll never be sociable with other dogs, it almost sounds like she has a history where she was trained to fight with other dogs.
Personally I disagree with the use of shock as a training tool, I don't think it's necessary, it'll be more rewarding for both parties if you can train your dog with positive treat rewards.
You may have to face facts that she'll never be sociable with other dogs, it almost sounds like she has a history where she was trained to fight with other dogs.
Edited by becksW on Thursday 15th October 15:21
My sister used them to keep her two small dogs from running off into the neighbouring field and from running out the front. Seems to have worked and not that bad. Not something that I would do though and the cable needs to be close so burying deep isn't an option and amazingly the Blackbirds and Thrushes seem to find it and dig it up all the time.
Not great, but an avenue of last resort I guess.
Not great, but an avenue of last resort I guess.
I've been thinking about getting a dog fence/shock collar thing. We've got a 3-acre field where we let the dog out on her own sometimes and she will sometimes disappear for half an hour or so.
I always go out with her in the morning and at night but it's not always practical for my wife to go out with her during the day. I assume it's just boredom that makes her wander but if she gets into a field near us with animals, a farmer will take a shot at her. Either that or she'll get down onto the road and be tractor-fodder.
I always go out with her in the morning and at night but it's not always practical for my wife to go out with her during the day. I assume it's just boredom that makes her wander but if she gets into a field near us with animals, a farmer will take a shot at her. Either that or she'll get down onto the road and be tractor-fodder.
becksW said:
If it's a fear aggression I don't think an electric collar would work, it may add to the fear based problem. Have you been to a behaviourist, this may be the better approach (Make sure they have a good reputation.)
Personally I disagree with the use of shock as a training tool, I don't think it's necessary, it'll be more rewarding for both parties if you can train your dog with positive treat rewards.
You may have to face facts that she'll never be sociable with other dogs, it almost sounds like she has a history where she was trained to fight with other dogs.
I'd respectfully disagree. The trainer we used failed to stop our dog chasing sheep despite her being one of the best in her field - she trains dogs for the Army and Police forces, and some SAR dogs - she was asked to take her dogs out to the twin towers. We tried everything - long lines, whistles, food reward - you name it over the course of four months.Personally I disagree with the use of shock as a training tool, I don't think it's necessary, it'll be more rewarding for both parties if you can train your dog with positive treat rewards.
You may have to face facts that she'll never be sociable with other dogs, it almost sounds like she has a history where she was trained to fight with other dogs.
Edited by becksW on Thursday 15th October 15:21
The e-collar, despite my reservations about using it as I thought they were cruel, worked like a dream. As I said in my post above, I only had to shock him on three occasions (at a level that I was happy to hold the electrodes against my skin - it feels more like a uncomfortable buzzing sensation and not like the cattle fence jolt I was expecting), which combined with the whistle now means he recalls to the whistle EVERY time. Previously he would ignore you if there were sheep to play with and chase them. Given the choice was to either keep him on a lead so he never got the chance to run about, or to use the collar and give him the freedom to run wherever he wants now I feel the collar was the best option. Even Cesar Milan has used it in the past to stop dogs going after Rattle Snakes.
rhinochopig said:
becksW said:
Personally I disagree with the use of shock as a training tool, I don't think it's necessary, it'll be more rewarding for both parties if you can train your dog with positive treat rewards.
I'd respectfully disagree. The trainer we used failed to stop our dog chasing sheep despite her being one of the best in her field - she trains dogs for the Army and Police forces, and some SAR dogs - she was asked to take her dogs out to the twin towers. We tried everything - long lines, whistles, food reward - you name it over the course of four months.Edited by becksW on Thursday 15th October 15:21
The e-collar, despite my reservations about using it as I thought they were cruel, worked like a dream. As I said in my post above, I only had to shock him on three occasions (at a level that I was happy to hold the electrodes against my skin - it feels more like a uncomfortable buzzing sensation and not like the cattle fence jolt I was expecting), which combined with the whistle now means he recalls to the whistle EVERY time. Previously he would ignore you if there were sheep to play with and chase them. Given the choice was to either keep him on a lead so he never got the chance to run about, or to use the collar and give him the freedom to run wherever he wants now I feel the collar was the best option. Even Cesar Milan has used it in the past to stop dogs going after Rattle Snakes.
We used them to help break the "chase" instinct of our lurchers, and they have helped. Both dogs are so obedient now that the collars are basically redundant, and have resulted in the two dogs having far more freedom. To the point where I have taken them through fields of sheep, off the lead, and never flinched.
I'm not sure that positive reinforcement (such as treats, which one of ours ignored when on a walk anyway) is strong enough to overcome a greyhound type dog's instinct. (Which was exacerbated by humans...)
IMO, as long as they are considered a last resort, I think they have their place.
rhinochopig said:
I was happy to hold the electrodes against my skin - it feels more like a uncomfortable buzzing sensation and not like the cattle fence jolt I was expecting)
Obviously not the same type we had, it had a noticeable "shock" on low.We went through all the settings strapped to our legs to see what it was like.
Only required to shock the dog a few times, ours had a buzzer option which warned the dog after it did something before you shocked them. This was enough after a few times as it new what was coming if it didn't do what it had been told.
My friend trained his dog with a collar which offers a selection of beeps, vibrations and shocks with the shocks used as a last resort.
Having used it in anger I can confirm it's a great training aid, especially when used in conjunction with a whistle and I never had to go as far as shocking the mutt.
Having used it in anger I can confirm it's a great training aid, especially when used in conjunction with a whistle and I never had to go as far as shocking the mutt.
Dimski said:
rhinochopig said:
becksW said:
Personally I disagree with the use of shock as a training tool, I don't think it's necessary, it'll be more rewarding for both parties if you can train your dog with positive treat rewards.
I'd respectfully disagree. The trainer we used failed to stop our dog chasing sheep despite her being one of the best in her field - she trains dogs for the Army and Police forces, and some SAR dogs - she was asked to take her dogs out to the twin towers. We tried everything - long lines, whistles, food reward - you name it over the course of four months.Edited by becksW on Thursday 15th October 15:21
The e-collar, despite my reservations about using it as I thought they were cruel, worked like a dream. As I said in my post above, I only had to shock him on three occasions (at a level that I was happy to hold the electrodes against my skin - it feels more like a uncomfortable buzzing sensation and not like the cattle fence jolt I was expecting), which combined with the whistle now means he recalls to the whistle EVERY time. Previously he would ignore you if there were sheep to play with and chase them. Given the choice was to either keep him on a lead so he never got the chance to run about, or to use the collar and give him the freedom to run wherever he wants now I feel the collar was the best option. Even Cesar Milan has used it in the past to stop dogs going after Rattle Snakes.
We used them to help break the "chase" instinct of our lurchers, and they have helped. Both dogs are so obedient now that the collars are basically redundant, and have resulted in the two dogs having far more freedom. To the point where I have taken them through fields of sheep, off the lead, and never flinched.
I'm not sure that positive reinforcement (such as treats, which one of ours ignored when on a walk anyway) is strong enough to overcome a greyhound type dog's instinct. (Which was exacerbated by humans...)
IMO, as long as they are considered a last resort, I think they have their place.
I also agree that they should be carefully used. It's a shame they're going to ban them as used properly they are very useful kit. Sadly a lot of people use them as a punishment tool, which is utterly wrong.
May be the solution to my problem with my 4 year old GS, okay off lead with other dogs, but on lead or in car, particularly in car, when she goes absolutely pear shape. Since I retired and I take her/GS for long beach type journeys, shows goes ballistic once she sees the road sign “Beach 2 miles”. Does any one have a link to a proven dog collar.
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