HELLO TO EVERYONE FROM JOHN:
Whether we choose to call it an E-collar, shock collar, remote trainer, or tickle collar, many of us have them but few of us get maximum use and value from them. Although some novice trainers use these wonderful and helpful gizmos too often, too harshly, too inconsistently, and set on too high an intensity, many other trainers are needlessly frightened of pushing the button. With some helpful coaching and information sharing, it’s a sure bet we could ALL improve our dogs and become more correct and confident in our training ventures.
Each month I’ll offer some food for thought designed to help you confidently move forward with your training efforts and ensure that owning your TRI-TRONICS’ equipment is a wise investment which will pay for itself over and over.
If you wish to discuss a topic further, you’re welcome to call me any day from noon until dark Central Standard Time at 573-564-6146 or 573-564-3028. About two-thirds of that time I’ll be available. The rest I’m Gone Dawgin’!
Think Like Your Dog For Better Results
Why do different people get such drastically opposite results from the same product? There are several answers to that question.
Most people easily achieve their desired E-collar goals, but others don’t. Probably the main causes of remote trainer failures are that people either don’t think enough, or that they think too much. There are some folks that get a transmitter in their hands and go crazy with it. Every time a dog does something they think is wrong they stim him. They ignore some of the most basic common sense things to do, or not do. What it boils down to is that a remote trainer doesn’t have a brain; and it doesn’t have any hands. Therefore, the person holding the transmitter must act as the brain, and must also be the finger that pushes the button. If the remote trainer doesn’t achieve the desired results it’s not because it failed; it’s because the operator failed. In one way or another, the operator failed.
Some folks have the terrible dog training handicap of thinking like a human being. For a dog trainer, that’s probably a far worse handicap than being blind or confined to a wheelchair. You see, successful dog trainers don’t think like people; instead they think like dogs. Thinking like people often results in a strategy that’s too complicated, or too out of balance and unpredictable for a dog to completely and thoroughly understand.
One small, simple step at a time is how a dog thinks and learns. Successful dog trainers know and understand that. They know you must look at the world through a dog’s eyes, and think of the world with a dog’s brain. They know you must keep it simple and uncomplicated. Sometimes it’s hard, but they always remember that!
Before you move on to another step, be sure you’re completely certain that the dog understands the step you’re working on now. Even after the dog understands, you must occasionally give it a gentle reminder of past lessons. Its brain is like a muscle, and it must be exercised in order for you to get the most out of it, or put the most into it. But always remember: YOUR DOG IS WILLING TO LEARN, IF YOU’RE WILLING TO TEACH!
It’s also super important to remember that even the smartest dog’s thinking ability is at the same level as a small child’s. Anything a two year old child cannot learn or understand will often be beyond the comprehension of a dog. Lasting dog training of any sort is best accomplished by using very small, simple, one-step-at-a-time techniques, and then repeating them as frequently as is necessary.
Lots of consistent repetition is necessary to make a lasting impression. While you’re doing all that repetition you must always have a plan in the back of your mind as to how to enforce your demands when the dog tries you. They’ll all try you now and then. Even after they know for sure what you want and expect, they’ll occasionally see what you’re going to do about it if they choose to disobey. That’s probably the toughest part of dog training. You must always have a plan in mind that will sensibly convince your dog in no uncertain terms that, “Yes, the boss sure can enforce his or her wishes.”
This is where a good remote trainer is worth its weight in gold. A correctly used remote trainer can help you prove to any dog that your arm is half-a-mile long. You can instantly and humanely correct your dog. Yes, a remote trainer is a wonderful and valuable dog training tool—regardless what kind of dog owns you. Smiles.
Let’s meet again right here next month for more practical E-collar tips.
John Wick
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