Measurement Guide
Pay close attention to your dog’s attitude during this
routine. If momentum fades, use fewer nicks and more
play time. Increase the reward by adding a few extra
shoulder strokes along with a happy tone of voice. Don’t
be afraid to skip a day if your dog shows repeated signs
of too much pressure. This is not likely to occur if you
are careful, but understand how to overcome it just in
case.
“SIT”
Next, it is 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. As before, move around so you do
not stimulate your dog at any spot more than once. Use
a positive reward after each successful nick.
“STAY”
When your dog is comfortably accepting e-collar
pressure while remaining seated, you can start to use
the e-collar for correction on the “Stay” command.
After successfully seating your dog, command “Stay,”
deliver a nick and command “Stay” again. Watch for
the acceptance response and do not move ahead until
you get it. Call your dog to you and repeat the process
several times without e-collar stimulation. Repeat the
“Stay”-Nick-”Stay” at other locations and repeat this
process until your dog is the picture of perfection,
remaining seated even when distractions tempt it to get
up and move.
“HEEL”
Your dog learned to heel beside you earlier in the
program, and transferring this command to e-collar
correction is simple. Walk your dog on-leash and
change directions. As the leash tightens, command
“Heel,” nick with the collar and command “Heel” again.
It is important to apply the nick at the same time the
leash is tight instead of when the dog is coming to you.
Reward with verbal praise and a stroke on the shoulder
until you see the acceptance swallow. Repeat this
routine as you walk together in various locations until
your dog is comfortable.
Your dog is now conditioned to accept the e-collar while
coming, heeling, or sitting on command. It is time to
mix the commands into a full “Here”-“Heel”-“Sit” drill.
Use your nick at varying times as your dog allows and
as before, avoid successive nicks or multiple nicks in
the same area. You can increase the number of nicks as
long as you pay close attention to your dog’s attitude.
Toss a few bumpers to chase when necessary to relieve
pressure and pour on the positive rewards as needed.
“DOWN”
Your dog understands the “Down” command and can
perform it without any trouble by now if you did your
homework. Now you can easily add the e-collar to this
routine in the same fashion as before. Place your dog in
the “Down” position with a verbal command. Command
“Down” again, nick with the e-collar and repeat “Down.”
Watch how your dog reacts looking for the acceptance
signals. Praise with a stroke on the shoulder and
verbally. As before, you need to condition this with
repetition.
What About Continuous Stimulation?
So far you have
used nothing but the
momentary button and
nicks from the e-collar.
There will likely be times
when your dog requires
continuous stimulation
because its instincts
are overriding your
commands in spite of your
best efforts. This usually
occurs when your dog
wants to chase something
but you want it to remain
under your control. If your
dog takes off after the neighbor’s cat and is running
toward the street, its life is in danger and you need
to intervene quickly. A strong “No”-“Here” may not
be enough and even a “No”-Nick-“Here” may not get
the desired response. In this case, “No” followed by
continuous stimulation until your dog turns toward you
and then “Here” should be used. You are now using
direct pressure from the e-collar to make your dog
do something whereas before you used the nick as
indirect pressure to reinforce the command. In your
initial work with direct pressure, it is imperative that
you have your dog on a long leash to prevent bolting.
Your dog’s instincts are telling it to move away from the
25-26
Obedience can be
overdone in some dogs.
Those dogs become stale
in their performance and
have little energy when
it comes time to play.
They are trying to avoid
correction and appear to
be walking on eggs.
If you see this in your dog,
decrease the number and
duration of obedience
drills while spending extra
time playing together.
Strict obedience and a
good attitude are two
things that can be difficult
to keep in balance. Too
much work leads to a bad
attitude, while too much
playing leads to poor
obedience. Juggle your
obedience sessions and
play times so that you
keep your dog’s life in
balance.
DON’T OVERDO IT
APPLICATION
OF THE
ELECTRONIC
COLLAR
400-1131.indd 28-29 9/14/09 11:10:06 AM