In a period of high-speed Access to the internet, mobile phones, and palm pilot organizers, it had been merely a few time before dog trainer would adopt the electronic dog collar being an acceptable and humane method of training dogs. Notice I didnt make use of the term "shock collar". The main reason will end up clear following a brief check out the evolution of "The Dog Training Collar".
More than 3 decades ago, electronic collars made their distance to the dog-training scene. However, since the first generation of dog training collars were only able to delivering one degree of stimulation towards the dog, they where appropriately nicknamed shock collars. These collars required the trainer to pick the amount of correction by inserting an "intensity plug" in to the collar (before putting the collar on the dog for training, when the collar was on the dog they might not alter the the degree of intensity ). This plug would then make the collar to emit exactly the same degree of stimulation for those corrections issued throughout the session, it doesnt matter how big or small the infraction - hence the nickname - shock collars.
The term shock collar were built with a very negative connotation that dramatically decreased their widespread acceptance within the dog-training arena. It had been commonly stated that, "Only hard headed dogs that may t be trained by traditional means where run with shock collars". Consequently, not many professional trainers were public about their utilization of electronic dog collars fearing that clients wouldnt entrust dogs for their care. However, some professionals, including legendary Rex Carr, where up-front about their utilization of electronic collars and worked diligently at creating a training course that utilized the collar in ways dogs could understand. Rex quickly became termed as a pioneer of coaching retrievers with electronic collars. Actually, most if not completely training techniques used today with retrievers are derivate from Rexs original work.
Recognizing the constraints from the first generation of electronic dog training collars, manufacturers worked to refine their design. It had been only before discharge of the 2nd generation of electronic collars that allowed the trainer to alter the amount of intensity in the hand-held transmitter. The trainer could now pick from among three amounts of intensity for the "intensity plug": high, medium and low. This design still had its shortcomings. The trainer still only had 3 amounts of stimulation to select from and also the minimum of stimulation was typically inappropriate for straightforward corrections.
While the 2nd generation of electronic collars would be a great advancement in dog training collars, fraxel treatments was replaced within the last decade by collars that gave the trainer a chance to select multiple amounts of intensity in the transmitter. This single advancement coupled with customer education has been doing more for that widespread acceptance from the electronic collar than every other advancement within the collars history.
Manufacturers quickly recognized that the great design alone wasnt likely to give their product the acceptance required to support their newfound industry; it had been only through education that new clients would learn how to begin using these training devices to succeed their dog inside a proper manner. The most important type of education came when Tri-Tronics released a magazine compiled by Jim and Phyllis Dobbs and Alice Woodward, Tri-Tronics Training Retrievers. This book centered on incorporating electronic collars in most phases of coaching retrievers and walked your reader via a number of detailed steps, bringing your dog from the to Z.
As due to the technological advancements and also the educational support supplied by manufacturers, the era of the "shock collar" have died, giving method to the remote training collars. Today, like mobile phones, its increasingly difficult to get somebody that trains with no electronic collar.
The all this information will focus on the technology present in most of the collars manufactured through the industry leaders and explain how are all applicable in training gundogs as well as your choice of a digital collar.
Types of Stimulation - Continuous Stimulation vs. Momentary Stimulation
Lets begin by defining both types of stimulation available on the market today. First, theres continuous stimulation; this process of stimulation delivers a digital correction towards the dog as long as the trainer presses the button on the transmitter. When the trainer supports the button down for five seconds your dog will get five seconds price of stimulation. However, most models on the market today will timeout after seven to 10 seconds of stimulation continues to be put on your dog.
The second type of stimulation on some collars is momentary stimulation. Momentary stimulation, sometimes call a "nick", differs from continuous stimulation in a single simple way; regardless of how long the trainer depresses the button, your dog is only going to get a short electronic correction, the amount of that is measured inside a fraction of the second.
When might you utilize continuous or momentary stimulation?
Continuous type of stimulation may be used in training if you want to increase a meaningful correction for your dog and re-establish charge of an exercise situation. An excellent illustration of an exercise scenario in which you may need to use continuous stimulation happens when you have to gain treatments for your pet on the runner. Within this situation, an easy "nick" or short burst of stimulation may do nothing at all to prevent him on that illusive cock pheasant. Often, your dog could tell you a brief burst of electronic stimulation while he is simply too looking forward to the chance of fresh scent to hear your sit or "hup" whistle. The continuous degree of stimulation is exactly what is needed to stop him in the tracks. Since the correction is put on your dog provided you possess the button down the result towards the dog is really a stronger type of correction. Another illustration of when continuous stimulation will be a valuable training tool could be when teaching a flushing dog to show on the "come around" whistle. Here you would employ a significantly lower degree of stimulation and apply the stimulation with the "come around" command/whistle, only releasing pressure when he complies together with your command. Both in training scenarios, your dog needs to be taught the way in which from the pressure (or even the correct response) before employing a collar.
Momentary stimulation may be used in training if you want to use a brief, light type of correction. A vintage training scenario where wed use momentary stimulation happens when utilizing "indirect pressure" during training. With indirect pressure, you need to apply a brief, quick correction because of not compiling to some command once you have gotten treatments for him through attrition. For instance, in case your dog will not have a "right-handed angled back" command on the blind retrieve, momentary stimulation may be used after stopping him having a firm "sit" whistle, "nicking" him once hes sitting for refusing to consider the "right-handed angle back" command, then re-issuing the "angle back" command. In this instance, the momentary stimulation applies a brief lower correction that doesnt "rock the boat".
Range
Upon first consideration, you might not believe that youd need a digital collar which has a selection of one mile. However, if youre hunting on the big running pointer, within the thick backwoods of recent England, you may be better served having a collar which has a highly effective selection of a half-mile or higher than a collar with less range. Most manufacturers quote "line-of-sight" range for his or her collars. However, the effective selection of a digital collar can differ based on terrain and environmental conditions. For basic obedience and many yard work, a collar thats able to extending to 150 to 300 yards is much more than adequate. However, if youre learning the area or employed in any kind of cover, more range is required to create a reliable signal.
Intensity Levels
Maybe the most crucial advancements within the electronic collar previously 10 years continues to be the modification within the style of the electronic collar to permit a trainer to alter amounts of stimulation in the transmitter, instead of in the collar. In days gone past, a trainer could just have to change the amount of stimulation by physically changing the "intensity plug" and/or contact points on the collar itself.
Today, almost all quality dog training collars on the market permit the trainer to pick the amount of stimulation in the transmitter. That old term, shock collar is not accurate, the word "electronic training collars" has since replaced this term primarily for this reason single design change that allows a trainer to pick just the right quantity of stimulation essential to correct your dog making the electronic collar a humane method of training dogs. You can now pick a mild degree of stimulation (hardly noticeable by human touch) or perhaps a severe degree of correction that will make the toughest man take serious notice. The duty has become using the trainer to pick the right correction for that dog.
Transmitter Design
Probably the most crucial element in relation to its usability of the electronic collar rests inside the transmitter design. Most transmitters on the market today fit easily to your hand. However, differences appear in the appearance of the transmitter. Some manufacturers make transmitters which are small, lightweight and may be hung on the lanyard. Other manufacturers make transmitters which are larger but extremely simple to use. Like the majority of things in everyday life, it comes to personal preference. To ensure that any collar to become a highly effective training device it should be simple to use and then apply the correction in the exact moment its needed. The very last thing you need to do is fumbling for the transmitter, setting an the degree of intensity when you be delivering a company correction the dog will understand.
The last feature to consider when looking for the appearance of a transmitter may be the resistance from the transmitter to weather. Some transmitters are water-resistant while some are waterproof. If utilizing an electronic collar while waterfowling you might like to think about a transmitter thats waterproof and may endure a "fall within the drink".
Collar Design
The final consideration when selecting a digital collar may be the style of the collar/receiver unit itself. Some earlier types of electronic collars, meant for upland use, had external antennas that extended at night body from the collar and frequently became swept up on or became damaged by heavy brush. This design has since been substituted for antennas which are self-contained inside the body from the receiver unit.
Like the transmitter design, collars are also made of units which are water-resistant and waterproof. If you plan on making use of your dog around or in water Id recommend investing in a collar thats waterproof. These collars could be fully submerged in water whilst in the field without harming the interior electronics, essential for many hunters.
Final Note
Used correctly, the electronic collar is definitely an invaluable tool when training your gundog. There isnt any other tool that will help you effectively apply a correction for your dog than one of the numerous electronic collars on the market today. The times of chasing after your pet to use a conventional correction (have only lost the value of the timing) are gone. You can now effectively and reliably apply the correction right now when its needed. Research your options, for those who have any queries concerning the selection an dog training collars a. k. a. shock collars, do not hesitate to go to us at Gun Dogs Online.
