More E-collar training

I recently switched up my training method when training a retriever. My old training method was to start off with the come command. First by vocal and then with the collar. I recently switched to “kennel up” being the first thing taught. Since kenneling up is a big part of training, be it for sleeping, housebreaking ect. I needed to make it part of my formal training program. teaching the come command first worked but The results are quicker starting with the kennel command.

Getting started with an E-collar. This was talked about before but I think is worth looking at again and maybe a little more detail. training my own dog, I had the time to try different methods. I found the following to be quick and get the best response from the dog with minamal stimualtion.

Ok getting started, I break down each training phase into 3 parts. the introduction, the vocal, and the stimulation. On the introduction, what I want to accomplish is to make sure the dog knows what I want it to do. With the dog on a leash, I will say “kennel” and lead it into the kennel. I will do this over and over until the pup knows what “kennel means”. Next I will add low level stimulation. I turn on the stimulation, say kennel and turn off the stimulation when the pup goes in the kennel. After repeating this, the pup will go into the kennel to turn off the stimulation, even before hearing the vocal command. What this does is teach the pup that he is actually in control of the stimulation. Once the pup has learned that by going in the kennel will stop the stimulation, I will swtich to vocal command first followed by stimulation. This may sound confusing but the idea is to get the pup to understand that vocal and stimulation are the same thing. Again after a few times of success, drop the stimulation and just give the vocal command. This is where you can lay on the praise and reward for getting the job done. The goal here is to get the pup to kennel on the first command every time.

If you are just starting out with E-collar training, give this method a try.

thanks for the tip, I just got a new lab pup, at what age do you start this at? She is 8 weeks old now.

thanks for the tip, I just got a new lab pup, at what age do you start this at? She is 8 weeks old now.

Good question, I usually do not start any type of training with a choke or e-collar until around 8 months old and the dog has been introduced to birds and guns. At 8 weeks old the pup has alot of world to explore. Everything will be new to him. At this age we are placing him in the kennel for sleeping and house breaking purposes. He is going to be getting used to his new home so we want everything positive.

Good question, I usually do not start any type of training with a choke or e-collar until around 8 months old and the dog has been introduced to birds and guns. At 8 weeks old the pup has alot of world to explore. Everything will be new to him. At this age we are placing him in the kennel for sleeping and house breaking purposes. He is going to be getting used to his new home so we want everything positive.

I know I had written about this being the first command that some people use the training collar on. It works great with a check cord strung though the crate, wire crates work best but the crate really just needs a hole in the back, leading to a pulley on a tree / post / bumper, etc. You never lay your hands on the dog, yet it has to succeed and learns that it CAN control IF it well recieve LOW LEVEL stimulation by obeying.

I know I had written about this being the first command that some people use the training collar on. It works great with a check cord strung though the crate, wire crates work best but the crate really just needs a hole in the back, leading to a pulley on a tree / post / bumper, etc. You never lay your hands on the dog, yet it has to succeed and learns that it CAN control IF it well recieve LOW LEVEL stimulation by obeying.