It is always good to use an e-collar to train your dog, especially when it comes to teaching him to perform various commands or tricks. But before you even attempt at using the e-collar straight out of the box, there are certain things that you absolutely need to know as it can make or break the entire training session with an e-collar.
Don’t rush into using e-collar
One common mistake that most owners do is to introduce the e-collar to do the dog right from the start when they receive the e-collar. This is detrimental to the entire training session as there might be a chance that the dog might develop an aversion towards the e-collar. What you should do is to slowly ease your dog into accepting the presence of the e-collar.
To start, we will suggest that you place the e-collar next to the dog. Try to keep it at about 2 meters and watch your dog’s behavior. You can gradually reduce the distance between the e-collar and the dog. If you would like, you can give your dog some treats too. This will allow the dog to be comfortable around the e-collar.
Do not, at any time, force it on your dog as this will develop a negative impact on the training process. Instead, if the dog is rejecting the collar, you should repeat this step till the dog is comfortable.
Wear the e-collar on your dog, but do not administer the correction
Once your dog is accustomed to having the e-collar near them, you can proceed on to wear it on your dog. You should arm yourself with their favorite treat so that you can reward them with the treat once they start to wear the e-collar. This will allow the dog to feel comfortable with the e-collar on them.
To further allow the dog to be comfortable, you should let the dog wear the e-collar for some periods without you activating it at all. You should be consistent in this so that your dog will get accustomed to the e-collar at a much faster pace.
Schedule every training session
Every training session should be short and positive. But this doesn’t mean that you can start it whenever you want. Establish a routine. This will help your dog better understand what to expect and when. If you don’t know where to start, make a plan to help you get organized. Every week, choose one or two commands to work with. And always have plan B for the weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Take some toys and treats with you
Toys can motivate your dog. Do not bring all the toys with you - just one or two.
Remember to reward your dog’s good behavior and learning success with treats. Let him know when he is doing everything right. Each workout should end on a positive note.
Be patient with your dog and you will be rewarded with an obedient and happy pet!