Does your dog have a medical condition?

If your dog has a medical condition, such as a heart problem. It is essential that you seek the advice from your veterinary specialist, before starting any training with the active collar.

Does your dog have a nervous disposition?

If your dog is of a nervous disposition be sure to check the effect of the stimulation while the dog is on a secure line or in a safe area. Training should cease if there are any signs of trauma.

How old is your dog?

Do not use a remote trainer on a dog less than six months of age for any reason. Never use it on a dog younger than about ten months old for obedience training, since it must first understand completely the command that you give before you make any attempt to correct using the stimulus.

Ensure Successful Dog Training System Use. Read On.

The Dummy Familiarisation Period

It is very important that your dog does not associate the correction with the collar. Otherwise you will have lost some of your advantage, since it will soon realise that when it is wearing the collar it will have to behave. And when the dog is not … it can do just what they jolly well please! As a result it will very likely have to wear the collar most of the time when it is out; and the system starts to be used as a deterrent, rather than a training tool. To avoid this realisation, you will need to familiarise your dog with the collar by fitting the Collar on the dog, turned off, for at least 10 – 14 days, before you enter the active training phase The main aim of the “dummy phase” Is to condition your dog to the shape, weight and feel of this strange, new collar. To ensure a good result, the dog should be made to wear the collar more or less continuously (but no more than 12 hours a day) for the first two or three days … and certainly always when taken out for exercise. Indeed, to make sure that the dog treats the new collar with complete indifference, take the collar off, at home and during walks, count till, 10, and then put the collar back on. Do this several times, every day, almost ad nauseam. But during the first week, fit the collar loosely (make sure collar is still turned off at this stage) so that it flops around and make its presence felt, deliberately making the dog aware that it is there. The dog then gets used to it; soon ignores it and forgets about it. Thereafter, for the next few days, whenever you take the god out, fit the collar just a little bit tighter each time. Positioned centrally on the front of the dogs neck, you can just get each of two fingers under the two probes*. If the dog’s neck tapers, position the collar at the narrowest section (nearest its head). Most dogs will eventually associate the fitting of the collar with good fun and after several days you should have achieved this objective. The ideal position of the contact probes is at the front centre point of the neck.

Progression To Live Training

If your dog needs to be taken out on a lead, or to be attached to a line, it should also wear a normal collar at the same time. Never attach a line to the collar, as this might damage it. If you feel you might need to use a line during training with the collar, give the dog complete freedom of the line. Do not be in too much of a hurry to introduce your dog to a live situation. Ideally you should only do this after you have firmly established an appropriate intensity setting – for your dog – and that you are getting a positive response. Despite all the subterfuge with the “dummy” process, there have been instances where some dogs also get to associate the correction with the presence of the handset. It is our strong recommendation, therefore, that you are very discreet when handling it (the handset}. Ideally it should be kept out of sight – under your jacket – or perhaps in a top jacket-pocket. If your dog were to suspect the handset had something to do with the corrections, they would start to regard it as the ‘thing’ rather than ‘you as top dog’ with miraculous power; possibly diminishing some of your advantage. BUT, just In case you are unable to hide it, carry the handset with you (using the lanyard around your neck) during the “dummy” training period to disguise and enhance the effect. One of the most popular and reliable systems on the market would be the nDXT+ Medium/Large Training System. Not only ECMA approved but offers everything from Vibrate to Stimulus.

How To Avoid Irritation

Be careful not to over tighten the E-collar: and remember always (at least daily) to check for soreness before fitting the collar. Avoid leaving the collar on for over 12 hours per day and wash the dog’s neck area weekly. In the event of any sign of irritation, leave the collar off for a day or two, before progressing with your training programme. If longer sessions are necessary (e.g. on a long walk), make more frequent checks for soreness or irritation – especially if you are using the smaller radius probes (for thicker coated breeds). Just as it is unwise to leave a car unattended with its engine running, it is safer, and therefore preferable, not to leave an active collar on an unattended dog for long periods of time, particularly since the prolonged wearing of a ‘snug-fitting’ collar is likely to become uncomfortable. Also, by the same token, although faults on active collars are extremely rare, this precautionary measure will avoid any chance of inadvertent accidental or even malicious actuation.

Give your Pet Safety and Freedom