How To Use An E-Collar To Train Your Dog? 7 Simple Tips

Having a dog as your pet is a fun and exciting journey. However, you must ensure that your dog is well-trained and does not become destructive, especially in public places. 

Getting a dog to behave as you want is not as easy as getting a human to do it. You cannot converse with your dog and expect it to understand what you expect.

It is where dog collars come into use, especially during early training. There are so many types of collars that suit different purposes.

An ‘e-collar,’ short for ‘electronic collar,’ is a common type of collar used for training dogs. Read on to learn how to use an e-collar to train your dog.

What Is An E-Collar?

An e-collar is a type of dog collar that is designed in a manner in which it delivers electric stimulation to a dog’s neck.

Contrary to popular belief, e-collars do not hurt dogs. The electric shock is mild and set to a level just enough for your dog to feel.

It depends on which level you set the e-collar. It is recommended to always start at a low level instead of using higher levels. 

Using an e-collar is advisable, along with positive reinforcement, to train your dog and stop unwanted behavior.

Why Does A Dog Need An E-Collar?

The main reason to use an e-collar is to enforce positive behavior in your dog. It works in a way that signals your dog whenever it tends to be involved in unwanted behavior. It allows you to fix behavioral problems from a distance.

E-collars are also helpful in getting your dog’s attention whenever it’s not close to you. You would have encountered many times when your dog went running off while taking it for a walk outside. 

You would have gone searching for him to no avail. It is when an e-collar comes to you. You can call your dog while stimulating the collar. It will get your dog’s attention and make it come back to you.

Special e-collars called bark collars also help control your dog from excessive barking. 

An e-collar is more affordable than getting a professional trainer for your dog.

How Do E-Collars Work?

An e-collar works by sending an electric shock to your dog’s neck. This shock activates your dog’s skin receptors, which are called nociceptors. The nociceptors detect the tingling discomfort when the collar vibrates.

There are two ways in which an e-collar delivers the stimulus. One is automatic, and the other is through a remote that you can control.

An example of an automatic collar is the bark collar which works via a small microphone. The microphone detects the sound of barking and administers a shock.

In remote collars, you control when to send the electric stimulus. You could do this whenever you detect unwanted behavior in your dog. Always use the lowest possible setting that is just enough to alert your dog of what it’s doing.

How To Use An E-Collar To Train Your Dog

Using an e-collar does not mean your dog will get along well with training. Using these devices in the correct way is crucial in ensuring that proper training is done.

Using an e-collar in an inappropriate manner could make matters worse. Your dog might display more unwanted behavior when you don’t use the collar correctly or in a way that hurts it.

Therefore, you must know how to conduct e-collar training correctly. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use an e-collar to train your dog.

Step 1: Choose The Right Type Of E-Collar

There are different types of e-collars, so you must select one that suits your purpose.

Some collars come with a beep option associated with negative behavior. Hence, you won’t need to deliver the shock stimulus if your dog responds to the beep sound.

Here is an outline of the different types of e-collars available.

• Bark collars: Bark collars come in different sizes and features. These collars are rechargeable and have adjustable stimulation levels. Bark collars deliver stimulus automatically whenever your dog engages in unwanted behavior.

• Containment systems: Containment systems are also called wireless fences. They deliver stimulus when your dog does something you don’t want it to do. Contain systems work automatically and don’t require interference from you.

• Obedience collars: When using obedience collars, you control when and how to send the stimulus to your dog. You can control this with the use of a remote. Some of the most popular remote trainers are Dogtra shock collars, Educator collars, particularly the Mini Educator ET-300, and SportDog Brand e-collars.

You mustn’t let your dog see you holding the remote as this could make it aggressive towards the divide or even you.

Step 2: Teach Your Dog The Basic Commands

Before you start e-collar training, you must ensure that your dog is familiar with the basic commands such as ‘come,’ ‘sit,’ and ‘heel. 

If your dog is familiar with these commands, it will obey you without a second thought once you say them once or twice. 

However, if your dog doesn’t obey you once you repeat a commands more than thrice, this means that it isn’t ready for e-collar training.

Teach your dog the basic commands, ensure that they are familiar with them, and then start e-collar training.

Step 3: Adjust The Collar To Fit Around Your Dog’s Neck

Finding the perfect fit is essential when putting the collar around your dog’s neck. Anything too tight leads to a risk of choking. A collar that fits loosely will not serve the purpose.

To check if the collar fits perfectly, you need to be able to insert two fingers in between the collar and your dog’s neck. If you can insert only one finger, the collar is too tight. The collar is too loose if you can insert more than two fingers.

The collar’s contact points should touch your dog’s skin for the collar to work. A collar that is too tight will make your dog uncomfortable and lead to muscular strain or even choking.

Step 4: Find The Perfect Stimulation Level

Finding the perfect stimulation level is of utmost importance during e-collar training. The stimulation level should be enough to alert your dog when engaging in unwanted behavior.

It should not cause your dog to yelp in pain. It could make your dog aggressive and display a negative response towards collar training.

You can check the stimulation level by testing it on your hands. Remember that the nerve tissues on your hands are more sensitive than the ones found on your dog’s neck.

You can also test your dog by starting with the lowest setting possible. If your dog shows no response, you can increase the level slightly. A slight twitch of the ears is enough to know that your dog feels the shock.

Step 5: Familiarize Your Dog With The E-Collar

Collar conditioning is one of the first steps when starting e-collar training. It’s all about getting your dog used to wearing the collar.

Put the collar on your dog’s neck when it wakes up in the morning. This way, your dog feels the collar is associated with going for a walk or playing outside and having fun.

Let your dog wear the collar for a few days, even though you’re technically not putting the collar into use. It’s an essential part of e-collar training.

The collar should be a regular thing and a part of everyday life for your dog. It should not be associated with irritation or any discomfort.

Step 6: Begin Command Training With The E-Collar

When you start e-collar training, your dog should know the basic commands. What you’ll be doing next is to use the e-collar to reinforce the commands and teach your dog to obey you.

• Start by giving the command’ sit.’
• As your dog gets into the sitting position, activate the e-collar.
• Once it obeys your command and sits, stop using the e-collar and praise it.
• Repeat the above steps until your dog gets familiar with using the e-collar in this manner.

Always follow up successful e-collar training with positive reinforcement. Dogs love to be praised and rewarded by their owners.

Once your dog masters one command, move on to the next. Never teach more than one command at once, as it will give your dog mixed signals and might confuse it, leading to unsuccessful training sessions.

Step 7: Stop Unwanted Behavior Using The E-Collar

Now that your dog is used to obeying basic commands wearing the e-collar, you can move on to the next step. It is to stop unwanted behavior using the e-collar.

Monitor your dog to see if he engages in unwanted behavior. It could be something like digging holes in your flower beds.

• Observe your dog’s whereabouts; whenever you see it sniffing around your flower bed, activate the e-collar for 2 to 3 seconds.
• If it gets the signal, it might look around and do it again. At that point, activate the e-collar again.
• After a few times, your dog will realize that it should not be doing so and will stop this behavior.
• Praise your dog for emphasizing its positive behavior.
• Repeat this procedure as necessary.

Pros And Cons Of E-Collar Training

Here are the benefits and drawbacks of using a dog training collar.

Pros

• It’s a fast and effective training method.
• It has adjustable shock levels to suit every dog.
• The shock is not painful and is mild on your dog.
• It’s easier for dogs to get used to.

Cons

• It isn’t suitable for dogs who get aggressive when scolded.
• Negative stimuli can result in psychological harm in sensitive dogs.

Conclusion 

Using an e-collar to train your dog is simple and effective. E-collars are useful devices that can prevent dogs from showing unwanted behavior.

You must correctly use the e-collar. Ensure that the collar fits perfectly around your dog’s neck and set it to a low stimulation level that does not cause discomfort to your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Should You Use An E-Collar For A Beginner? 

When starting e-collar training, first let your dog wear the e-collar and go around as usual. Let it associate wearing the collar with routine daily tasks like going for walks and playing.

How Long Does It Take To Train A Dog With An E-Collar?

It can take six to twelve months to train a dog with an e-collar. The time depends on how well your dog adapts to this method.

What Age Should You Start E-Collar Training?

You should wait until your puppy is six months old before you start e-collar training.