How Do I Train My Dog Using the Training Collar?
Despite the image that the training collar can convey, this does not prevent it from being one of the equipments most appreciated by some owners in the education of their faithful companions.
The important thing is to find the one that will not only suit your dog’s needs but also yours. Then, follow these tips for the successful training of your pet.
Identify the Right Equipment:
Like human beings, dogs have their own personality like their character. One training technique may then work very well on one animal and may not have a positive effect on another. However, the masters who have applied themselves to the use of such a device (wisely) have found themselves satisfied with the results.
This material should not be used as a means of torture under any circumstances, which will cause your pet even more frustration. But also, there are various types among which you will find the best suited for you.
They have different features that you can adapt to depending on your dog’s attitude that you need to manage. In general, there are mainly two categories of equipment which are: anti-bark models and recall devices.
The former, as the name suggests, is meant to reduce your best friend’s unwanted yelling and yapping. The second will serve as an anti-runaway tool that will call your canine companion to order when he tries to cross a certain perimeter.
One of the best anti-dog collars dog owners can invest in is BarxBuddy. The device prevents dogs from barking by emitting high-pitched frequencies that these animals are sensitive towards. To know more about this contraption, read more here about BarxBuddy.
Things to Check Before Getting Them
There are a few factors that should be kept in mind when purchasing a dog collar for training. Here, we do not mention the traditional models on which we attach a pendant to engrave their name.
We are mainly talking about electrical equipment powered by batteries, to be controlled via remote control and with various other options depending on the range.
However, here are the criteria you are doing well to focus on:
- Weight: In trade, you will inevitably come across items of various sizes. They can range from less than 100g to over 500g. You will then have to select it according to the size of your animal because you will not put a device for a Yorkshire on your Labrador for example.
- The coverage area: This type of material often emits up to a range of ten meters up to about 500 m depending on the product range and the breed for which it is intended. As a result, it is not impossible to find devices capable of identifying a territory with a radius of 1 km with the specimens dedicated to hunting dogs.
What Mode of Stimulation?
Here you are dealing with many possibilities. You can choose equipment that emits only sound, vibrations, or electric shocks. The most advanced models are able to deliver these three functions that you will manage via an intensity adjuster. If your dog doesn’t listen to the directions, you can level up each time. If you have a rather docile animal, sound and vibration devices will suffice.
There are also materials in sprays. They look like a spray that diffuses lemongrass splashes that act as a repellant. They are harmless, but only cause unpleasant sensations which dissipate quite quickly.
Start a Familiarization Phase
During the first use of your equipment, it is essential that your animal does not make the link between the correction phase and the collar. Otherwise, he will understand that the device is punishing him for his bad behavior. It will stop, but it will start again once you remove it from it. This is why the familiarization period takes on all its importance.
It lasts about a fortnight. The dog wears the device constantly and especially during outings. Make sure the tightening is a little loose to prevent him from feeling its presence. Over the days, gradually tighten it during your getaways.
After a week, tie the collar as it should. Slide a finger between it and your companion’s neck to make sure he doesn’t choke on it. As your pooch begins to get used to his new collar, you can begin the active education phase.
Practice education in an appropriate place and devote regular time to it
During the training period, be sure to stay away from disturbing elements that could distract your dog. It is best to apply in a calm and quiet place to optimize your concentration. Thus, he will be more attentive to the orders that you impose on him to assimilate.
But also, know that dog training does not happen in a day. It requires persistence and patience from both of you. Therefore, it is advisable to practice daily sessions of 15 to 30 minutes spaced by moments of play to relieve stress in your doggie.
Associate the collar with positive reinforcement:
These training equipment are generally based on negative reinforcement, and influence the behavior of animals by disrupting them emotionally and psychologically. This is why they are recommended for short-term use and why educators associate them with “positive” methods.
We can for example cite the rewards after the execution of a good deed or the assimilation of a given order. Note that the education of your animal must be a privileged moment between you and him to forge bonds of friendship and complicity.