E-Collar Training

Over the last decade, E-Collar Training has grown in popularity and methods of use. This is a service we offer upon request for clients who have signed up for our Private Lesson or Day Train Program, or for clients whose dogs have some prerequisite skills.

Why E-Collar Training

E-collars are probably the most controversial dog training tool on the market today. Like any controversy, there is a vast amount of misinformation circulating in the media. The truth is, there are several different training methods that can employ e-collars. Further, we do not use e-collars to train every dog that goes through our programs. The decision to use an e-collar is based on a dog’s individual needs and owner preferences.

When most people think of e-collar training, they immediately think of “shock” training. “Shock” training is the use of sudden high-level stimulation to punish a dog that does not perform a wanted behavior or if the dog does an undesired behavior. Therefore, the dog’s training becomes very reliable because the dog will work to avoid the painful “shock” and do what the handler asks.

However, there are a number of other fair and humane methods that can create reliable behaviors and happy dogs using e-collars. Truthfully, e-collars and training methods have come a long way since the old school “shock” training broke into sporting and hunting dog training in the 1970s.

We now have an intuitive tool that can be used to communicate with our dogs what to do and how to receive a valued reward. So why choose E-Collar Training?

E-Collars Turn Good Training Into Great Training

One simple reason to use an e-collar is to make good training better. One of my most knowledgeable mentors has said e-collars make good dog training better and bad dog training worse. This could not be more true! Moving too fast through the training process, with poor timing and only punishment in mind, creates sloppy, unreliable training and is not a positive experience for the dog. Adding an e-collar to a poor training system can be a disaster. But if we add an e-collar to well-timed motivational training, we can build behaviors through rewards and consistent communication.

E-Collars Are Consistent

Unlike other training tools, electronic stimulation is always consistent and will not change no matter how hard you push a button. When we use manual leash pressure, it is very challenging to give the same amount of pressure to the leash every time. Especially if we are tired, thinking of other things, frustrated, or overwhelmed.

What if your dog could feel the correct amount of pressure no matter how hard or soft you pulled on the leash? That is what e-collars can do for us and our dogs.

Off-Leash Freedom

Probably the number one benefit to training with an e-collar is off-leash reliability. Owners want to go walking, hiking, camping, and enjoy the outdoors with their dogs without fear of them running away. They want to go out to an open field and let their dogs run. They want to let their dogs enjoy socializing at the dog park, confident they will come back when called.

Not only does off-leash training allow owners to spend more quality time with their dogs, but it also provides dogs with much needed biological fulfillment. Dogs are built for movement and wired to search. They need to run and enrich their brains by exploring outdoor environments. They need to engage in activities that satisfy their instinctual drives.

Dogs that can spend time off-leash live more enriching lives. They require less exercise, experience less frustration and fear. They have fewer behavioral problems in the home and have stronger bonds with their owners.

Dogs Decoded is a Dealer for E-Collar Technologies. If you are interested in learning more about training with e-collars, please contact us HERE!