Dog pics

[ArlyA]

Curious about the comment about "shock collars."

We don't used them. We don't used any remote, battery ones of any sort. We simply train them to mind our commands.

 

[sixdogs]

Let me give you an instance of where a "vibrate" that can also shock, collar is necessary. We have Springer Spaniels and when they flush a bird in the yard or really anywhere, it's off to the races. For the first months after we get them, we walk with them and are with them almost every minute they are outside so they can learn how to behave. For the early part of those months, they wear a collar and if they start to go where they shouldn't, they get a "vibrate" which is enough to make them stop and adhere to their borders and our command.
Our command includes the word "STOP" or a whistle blown a certain way for an emergency situation. They learn in a few days and test it every now and then but after a couple months it's set in stone.

Last week while out, the one-year-old puppy took off in pursuit of a bird and was heading straight for a pond with maybe 1/4" of ice on it. She would have broken through and drowned while we watched from shore. No collar was on.

I yelled "STOP" and the dog hit the brakes and stopped just shy of the bank. Conditioned response of that training saved her life. There is no doubt that had she not been trained and learned the conditioned response drill that next was a vibrate on the collar that she did not like, and imminent. You could say that my training with that collar saved the dog's life.



You don't have to train this way and in a low risk environment it's easier to keep the dogs in check. For people with their dogs 24/7 and lesser risks, it can work. It almost works for us except when the dog can get in a situation bigger than they are. A combine too close or truck in the yard is outside their normal experience, and backup training is important to keep them from harm.





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[DieselBound]

We don't used them. We don't used any remote, battery ones of any sort. We simply train them to mind our commands.

Leaves me wondering, then, why you mentioned them? I don't use any clubs

sixdogs, the e-collar that I have has an audible function- a "locator" function. I'd used it to locate my dog (enough brush and trees on my property that it's easy to get out of sight) and from the get-go when I'd use that function my dog would come running to me! Wasn't needing her to recall, just wanting to know which direction she is from me. She didn't know what that noise was- she settled down to it a bit (and it wasn't something that I really had to use much). But just like the 'nick" function the audible function was used very few times. E-collars were pretty much developed with/for hunting dogs: used all the time out in the field- I can totally appreciate this use.

Kisha spent over two and a half years of being on-leash (dragging one of us around- and sometimes literally dragging my poor wife!) INSIDE OUR FENCED AREA (6 acres out of 40). I couldn't obtain the services of a professional trainer (who would have used an e-collar) so I had to become the "professional" trainer: easier money for the "professionals" than training a BIG, YOUNG dog -and a terrier breed at that- to leave chickens and ducks alone! Took ME one month (I'm not retired, either); my only regret is that I didn't look to do that training a LOT sooner. I ONLY approach things with SUCCESS as my goal (otherwise what's the point of undertaking in the first place?). Anyway, dog picture is required.... Here's Kisha on recall (zoom in and you can see her literally giving her all to reach me as fast as she can- this is pure power):

 

[DieselBound]

Please note that I'm not pushing e-collars here; I am merely pointing out that they're a useful tool and are sometimes the only tool for the job: I did a ton of research; I'd consulted with the rescue group on e-collar use and the founder said that she'd had a professional use an e-collar to train her Lab to leave her chickens alone. Here's a picture of what life was like BEFORE I broke down and used an e-collar for training. I'd have to hook Kisha + leash up when I did chores: if you back a few months you'll find a picture of her today eating from one of our feeders with chickens and such all around- FREE to do as she wishes/wants.

No way was life going to continue in this manner. I'd spent a lot of time training on-leash for being around critters; it just didn't work as there was no way to approximate a more natural co-existence (fowl ranging about and her wandering about): same goes for training for LGD duties (have now done it with two dogs- two rescues that are not "pedigreed" LGDs). If we'd have had to get rid of her I'm very doubtful she'd have anywhere near the great life she now enjoys: how many dogs have their own dog park?

 

[DieselBound]

More Dog on a Log... Was busy today culling blackberries (and rescuing more Maple saplings) and unsure where she was at and I look up and over to find her perched on this stump. It's always a challenge to get my phone out so I can snap a picture. She's always a bit annoyed to have her picture taken!

 

[Calgaryglenn]

...Lets see your mutts...!
This is my 18 month old retreiver...doing what he does best...!

This is 12 yr old Sunni doing what she does best. Guarding the couch.

 

[DieselBound]

^^^ I'd so much wished that my previous dog could have lived to such an age (she wasn't quite 8; she'd be 12 now had she not lost the battle with cancer). I figure our current dog will terrorize us for 50 years! (I know I'll be OK with it!)

 

[kenmbz]

She is resting up for Valentine's day

 

[Jstpssng]

 

[ArlyA]

Socialized dogs, swimming in snow and getting some exercise. Which is it?

He was instructed to go down into this canyon and get on top of that downed tree. He did protest!

On our way out, we run into another pup.