Shock Collars

[Mickbear76]

What is everybody's opions on shock collars??

[Outdoors Junkie]

They hurt when you are holding the electrodes and someone pushes the button!

I think it depends on the dogs temperment.  If it is a high strung dog, it can help to have more control.  I have heard iff it is a mello dog (like a Golden Retriever) it can cause more fear in the dog.  No matter the case the controls need to be in a responsible persons hand.

[labs4me]

Introduced to the dog correctly and used correctly they will NEVER cause fear in any dog.  Soft or not.  The only way that will happen is if they are used to punish a dog.  In fact the opposite is true with many soft dogs.  Using an e-collar will make them bolder and more confident as there is no emotion in the correction.  Dogs cannot understand what is causing the shock, only that what they are doing at that time caused a negative stimuli... thus they want to stop it from happening again...

Burning a dog with the e-collar for them doing something other than what you intended, is not correcting a dog, put cruelly punishing it.  You will gain nothing from such tactics and at that point save the money of the cost of the collar and beat it silly with a log. ::hittingself:: (i'm being sarcastic)

If you have no experience with using an e-collar in training applications, read the book 'Tri-Tronics Retriever Training' by Jim and Phyllis Dobbs.  It goes into  step by step detail on training a dog using the e-collar.  Make sure you understand thoroughly each step before implementing it on your dog. 

Used correctly it is the most humane and quickest way to finish off training your gun dog.  USed indiscrimenently it will potentially leave your dog cowering and confused.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Woody]

What is everybody's opions on shock collars??

My wife thinks I'd be easy to live with if I had one on-I do think so!  :ROTFLMAO:

I too would like to know what people think about these.  I have a Beagle that doesn't respond well-and although I hate to resort to using a shock collar-sometimes I wonder if this wouldn't be the better choice.

[jigglestick]

when used at the right moment , for the right reasons, they are extremely effective in stopping undesireable behavior.
when my short hair took off after a jack rabbit, after no response from vocal commands, I stood her right up on her back legs and the chase ceased. good thing cause that jack is probably still running.

the next rabbit we encountered, a vocal command was more than enough.

my choice is innotek.
I have had very good experiences with their customer service too.

my 2c

[Woody]

Thanks for the reply Jigglestick!  Innotek was the brand I've been looking at-I think they sell them at Mills Fleet Farm.  I'll have to put some more thought into it. 

[Benny]

I have to agree with Labs and Jiggle, the collars are a great tool when used properly.
I like to look at mine as a 300 yard invisable leash, many times I see dogs run across a road or as Jiggle stated chase a rabbit and the voice commands just won't stop them.

I use my Dogtra collar only as a last resort and mostly as a leash to get the dog to stay on task and not run free!

If she doesn't stop on the whistle then she gets a tickle at 20%, then if that doesn't stop her she gets a bolt at 50%.
I never go to 75 or 100 % because the collar is to powerful and I am afraid it would zap her to hard.

Although the trainer zapped her at 75% when I picked her up, he said it was the first time he had to nick her in a while and felt that a harder jolt was the one way to asure she would mind the voice commands after that.

Benny

[The General]

I wouldn't own a dog without one!

[thunderpout]

I always said id never use one on my dogs,  but my buddy turned a good bird dog into a great dog.  I finaly gave in and got one for my latest setter,  I got a dogtra because it has a "page" button that lets the pooch get a warning buzz/tone before it gets a zap.  Most of the time thats all that is needed, especially with the softer breeds, but its the best feature of any of the e-collars out there.      -thunderpout 8)

[Spinach]

I'm also using a Dogtra e-collar, the page option is a great tool.

An e-collar is an absolutely must for any hunting dogs, they provide safety and obedience.

I've been using an e-collar on my dog for about 6 years now with no problems, about once a year she'll be stubborn and I'll give her a soft nick just to remind her who the boss is.

Great tool!

[huntr42]

there should be a law that anyone who uses a shock collar must use it the first season without batteries,actually I think used with descretion it may be one of the best training tools made,but,hand one to someone who just wants results without caring about the dog and you have a recipe for t*r*o*u*b*l*e,I have seen several trainers that should have the collars on themselves,remember that you are using this to correct not to punish,sorry to blab on but I feel strongly about this

[Merimac]

I would get a last years modle of the dogtra T&B.

E collars dont ruin a dog.  Bad trainers do.  If a bad trainer didnt have an  e-collar they would shine the heck out of a whip. A shock is much less personal and the new ones have very low levels to account for a dog that needs less guidence.  They are a fantastic tool for keeping your dog safe as well.

[thunderpout]

Well said, unfortunately there are alot of ignorant people out there that shouldnt have guns, drive a car, have children and all that...but just because 7 out of 10 are idiots, dosent mean us normal common sense-type people cant have all those :ROTFLMAO: Yep, the owner of a dog that would punish an animal with a e-collar is going to ruin a dog multiple other ways eventually anyways....just as if you take guns away fromall of us, some will still kill, just with a Knife, club or whatever.... I bought a video, read multiple articles and talked to people and tried the collar on my arm before I even thought of using it on my dog.  It should be manditory that they all come with a video to "train" the trainer befor they use it!!!  I swear if I ever see someone using an e-collar on their dog because they're pissed off and/or punishing their dog for their own mistakes, (poor training, lack of patience, being a moron in general...) If I dont make the "person" eat their transmitter first, I'll make em' wear it on a lower extremity and  crank the level up to 100%!!! happy2.gif     -Thunderpout 8)

[huntr42]

I use the dogtra t+b 2000, a great collar with a beeper

[The General]

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned is range.  Make sure if you're hunting hills or thick cover you get a long range model.  One with at least 800 yards range is a min.  I'd suggest for pheasant hunting.

[nolmscheid]

Like a lot of you have said, when properly used they are VERY effective. Wether you are training a house dog, a hunting dog, or competing in field trials they are a very useful tool.

You should NEVER use an eCollar until commands are taught. Mike Lardy has an excellent video on ecollar training. His videos are geared toward the field trialer, but they are also very useful for any type of hunting dog.

I happen to have an Innotek 2 collar training system in the for sale classifieds right now. I used it for 6 months for my house dog. I am going to be using a different system although this one worked excellent. This system can and will work great for a hunting dog as well, I am just choosing to use the Tritronics Professional model 500 as I like the large size of their remote.

[Mayfly]

I have a Tri-tronics collar. The best feature it has is the tone. I have trained Luci to come around when I tone her. It usually works. That is pretty much all I use the collar for. I do light her up every once in a while but she knows why and it is few and far between.

[nolmscheid]

The Innotek that I have right now that is for sale, it has tone as well. That is all I generally have used on my Cocker Spaniel around the house just to deter barking or things like that. Anyone interested in it can make an offer and or trades.

[nolmscheid]

I thought I would just note that I sold the collars last week.

I now have the Tritronics pro 500 G2 EXP...so far I like it. Have only had my cocker on it so far. My golden puppy is far too young and early in training even to introduce it.

[Lisa]

I think they were one of the greatest inventions ever!  I use one with both of my labs and they get excited when they see it because they know something fun is going to happen!

I think as long as you're using it to correct rather than discipline, they're great!  As with anything...you can always over-do it.


~Lisa

[Mayfly]

I think they were one of the greatest inventions ever!  I use one with both of my labs and they get excited when they see it because they know something fun is going to happen!

That is the same way Luci is....as soon as she sees that collar she knows exactly where she is going......... fudd.gif

 

[DontShootMe]

What is everybody's opions on shock collars??

I use one.  I started my dog out on a citronella spray collar because my dog was sensitive.  It was effective, but has a very short range.  I now use a sportdog 1800 now, introduced at aboue 11 months.  I especially like the beep to call my dog back, but wish they had three or four tones (e.g., go left, go out, go right, come back).

I use the collar on shock setting 1 or 2 to encourage my dog to listen.  I had to increase the setting to 7 out of 8 to get her to stop chasing a deer once.  She lept up about 5 feet and let out a yelp.  She doesn't chase deer any more, just looks at them longingly.

The most important thing is to spend a lot of time with the dog as a puppy, and spend a lot of time teaching her silly tricks in a fun manner (e.g., sit, stay, roll over, find the pheasant wing).  Make learning fun when they are a puppy, and they will continue to learn when they are older.  (Good adivce for children, too).

[gveire]

as far as E-Collars go i love my Pro 500 Tri-Tronics i have 2 dogs and it make it ez to control them in the field or just obedience its like having a leash on them at all times but DO NOT USE TO PUNISH! last thing you want is a dog that scared to do anything and walk on your heals when looking for Birds use low stimulation they know what to do i use a whistle with my collar works well

Happy Hunting