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Trainers Andrea Holsinger (l) and Kass Goulding with 3 personal dogs Retriever Field Training Seminars Bertschire Flat-coated Retrievers Pet Care Products, Non-Toxic Cleaning Products and more
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Why (and How!) Remote Training Works Most people fear electricity as dangerous and painful. So one reaction to learning that dogs are trained using electric collars can be apprehension - is it painful? Why would I want to "shock" my dog? Modern remote training is best described as a system of touching the dog without physically touching him. When introduced properly, your dog will understand the stimulation as a sensation that requires attention back to the handler. Think about the stimulation as a form of pressure, just like when someone takes your arm to guide you somewhere. Just as pushing on your arm, even very gently, can cause you to move in that direction, so can applying the "pressure" turn your dog back to the handler - voluntarily and willingly. Just as increasing the pressure on your arm can signal urgency, we can adjust the pressure using the collar's selection dial and indicate a greater level of response is needed in certain situations, such as when a strong distraction is nearby. As your dog continues through his training life, the need to use the remote touch will decrease. Your dog begins to habituate his responses; he begins to respond to the verbal cue without need of the tactile cue. Today's remote collars operate by using an electronic stimulation to create a tactile sensation against a dog's skin (neck). Since remote collars are all operated by batteries, there is zero chance of using too high a voltage in dog training! The user is able to completely select the appropriate intensity level. Using the TriTronics Sport Basic as an example, the dial allows for 1/2 increments from level 1/2 up through 5. At the lower levels, the intensity is either indistinguishable, or so mild as to be described as a vibration. As one moves up through the levels, the sensation increases and at the highest level feels like a very sharp pinch. Painful? Yes, a bit, but more startling than anything. All living creatures seek to be physically comfortable. If you are standing in the baking sun, you will move to a shady area, remove some clothing, drink something cold or otherwise try to find your comfort zone. Remote training is based on a similar premise - once your dog understands that his maximum comfort is achieved by responding appropriately to commands, he will comply when cued to do so. Using positive reward techniques combined with the tactile signal of a remote collar, we can increase your dog's responses to the point that he is eagerly responding under all circumstances. And while it is possible to "shock" your dog, such a strong aversive is best reserved for life-saving situations (snake-proofing, breaking door-busting behavior, car-chasing, etc) where the alternative is death or severe injury to the dog. A good dog trainer will only use aversive techniques after the dog understands the correct responses and is working willingly and eagerly at low stimulation levels, and only to correct serious problems. We are always happy to demonstrate our training program; call (706-742-5743) or email for an appointment. |
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