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IMPORTANT CONTENTS DON’T USE YOUR COLLAR BEFORE READING THIS MANUAL. DOING SO COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS THAT WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO TRAIN YOUR DOG. YOU’LL NEED TO CHARGE THE COLLAR AND TRANSMITTER BEFORE FIRST USE. WE RECOMMEND READING THIS MANUAL DURING THE CHARGING TIME.
will become more challenging. No matter what phase of training you’re in, attitude should always be top of mind. This is one of the most important words I will mention. First, your attitude toward your dog should be very positive and direct without a lot of unnecessary chatter. Straightforward, one-word, simple commands will make your dog’s job easier. As important as your attitude is, your dog’s attitude requires the most attention.
LEARNING TO TRAIN needs. We could spend a lot of time discussing how dogs communicate, and while that would be helpful, your main focus in listening to your dog will be to understand when your dog accepts what is offered. This acceptance could be for reward (doing a good job) or correction (making repeated mistakes on a command that has been conditioned). Dr. Ivan Petrovic Pavlov taught us a lot about dog behavior.
LEARNING TO TRAIN Your dog will likely exhibit some other behavior during training that you need to understand. All dogs attempt to displace themselves from training at one time or another by telling you: “Hold on, I’ll get back to you and your commands in a minute.” If you have children, this is easy to understand.
THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR neck so it stays in place directly behind your dog’s ears. Pull the strap until it’s tight, back off one hole in the strap and fasten the collar. You should be able to slip one finger under the strap without any trouble if it’s properly tightened. The collar should remain in place without your dog struggling to breathe. If the collar slides down your dog’s neck or spins out of its original position, you need to tighten it.
TRAINING YOUR DOG always work for you, because you are the most important relationship in its life, and pleasing you should be at the top of its priority list. The positive reward any dog appreciates most from a trainer is a thank you in the form of a loving shoulder stroke, affectionate eye contact, and a sincere, “Good dog.” If your dog doesn't light up on any of those three, you need to reevaluate your relationship.
TRAINING YOUR DOG not walk on its leash. This means the dog feels like it’s alpha and should lead its owner where it pleases. Every dog will learn proper heel position on its first day of training with proper leash usage. Place the leash in its proper position behind your dog’s ears and begin walking forward. If your dog attempts to lead you by moving ahead, simply change direction. The leash will tighten around its neck and it will follow your new direction.
TRAINING YOUR DOG What should you do if your dog decides it does not want to enter? You know it will give to the pressure of a leash, so lead it into the proper area and command “Kennel.” Once in the correct place, stroke pup on the shoulder until you see acceptance via the swallow response. Repeat this routine until you start to develop a conditioned response to your command. Some dogs fight this entry with a great deal of vigor.
TRAINING YOUR DOG A FINAL OBEDIENCE COMMAND: DOWN The next command in your obedience program will be “Down,” which tells your dog to lie down and remain in this position until it receives another command. This command is most often used around the home. For this reason, the easiest time to work on “Down” is at night while watching television. Command your dog to “Sit” and stroke its shoulder when it obeys. Face the dog, grab its front paws and pull them toward you.
UNDERSTANDING CORRECTION After you have commanded “Sit” and walk away from your dog, you have the option of going forward or backward. Try to create balance by going in both directions an equal number of times. This drill should be performed in every direction until the conditioning process is well established.
PRESENTING NEW TRAINING CHALLENGES Training should also occur at random times during the day. If you have the opportunity to be around your dog throughout the day, never miss an opportunity to train. When you decide to go on a walk, take your dog along on your leash and do some drill work along the way. After the mailman has filled your box with catalogs, have your dog walk with you on leash to the mailbox. Practice some “Here”-“Heel”-“Sit” skills along the way.
APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR conditioned responses, verbal correction, and positive reward. Your dog is capable of squarely facing severe distractions in unfamiliar areas while still giving you control. Your dog is now a good citizen and a pleasure to live with. You have come a long way in training your dog but you still have some goals to reach. APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR E-collar use has come a long way.
APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR Your long-term goal is to have your dog remain under total control while receiving correction from the e-collar and understand why the correction occurred. “Remain under total control” is the key phrase in that sentence. If your dog is jumping around or can't focus on you because it’s vocalizing, then it’s not under control. If your dog reacts in either of these ways, back off. Either you are progressing too fast or the stimulation intensity is too high.
APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR “SIT” Next, it’s time to condition your dog to sit and accept a correction while maintaining control in the seated position. Have your dog do a quick obedience drill and command “Sit.” While the dog is seated, nick with the collar and immediately command “Sit” again. If it moves around or gets up, return the dog to the seated position by using the leash. Reward on the shoulder and verbally. Repeat the “Sit”-Nick-“Sit” three to five times per session.
APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR the leash and call the dog out of the comfort zone with “Here.” A tug on the leash may be necessary. Stroke your dog on the shoulder, showing that coming to you is better than bolting away. Allow your dog to go back into its comfort zone and then call it out with “Here”-Nick-“Here” this time. Repeat this routine a few times until your dog is hesitant to go back into its comfort zone. Then command “Kennel” back into that area and call it out with “Here”-Nick-“Here.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS CHARLIE JURNEY Charlie Jurney of Terrell, North Carolina, is a professional retriever trainer and owner of Beaverdam Kennels, producer of more Grand Master Hunting Retrievers and Master Hunting Retrievers than any other facility. Charlie is also the author of “Finished Dog,” which has become a favorite read for the amateur trainer. TOM DOKKEN Tom Dokken has more than 30 years of training experience and owns Dokken’s Oak Ridge Kennels in Northfield, Minnesota.
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