Tips for ecollar training hunting dog

[bigbassfish]

Any advice on starting my lab with an ecollar?
He has basic obedience down, but most work has been with a check cord. I would really love to start bird hunting with him, he’s 4 and while training him to hunt has been the goal from the beginning, the opportunities to hunt have been limited until now. A strong recall would be first and foremost as I would like him to be able to enjoy a little more freedom off leash in places with more distraction.

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

Get a copy of Evan Graham's smartworks, will help you take it as far as you want.

 

[KurtR]

this is also a very good program

E-Collar Conditioning Course with Pat Nolan

If you think the e-collar is the tool you need, and you want to understand how to use it correctly, this course is for you!

www.patnolan.com

 

[displacedtexan]

Train on a check cord, overlay ecollar.

It's a half mile long leash.

 

[bozeman]

My tip....Dont. You dont need an e-collar to train a dog. Spend the time, don't shortcut it. Yes, I trained my lab with NO e-collar. She was an awesome hunting companion. Positive reinforcement and denials of retrieves.

 

[Braaap]

Train on a check cord, overlay ecollar.

It's a half mile long leash.

This. The training is done with the check cord. The only use for the ecollar is when the dog doesn’t listen to your verbal recall, and then the ecollar acts as the infinitely long check cord if the dog doesn’t listen to your recall.

 

[KurtR]

An ecollar is not for training it for re enforcing known commands. There is a process that goes into it. Freddy King has a very easy program for novice people to follow. Can you do it with out on sure but it takes alot longer and when you get a cast refusal on a 300 yard blind what will you do or he is running to a road chasing a bird and you cant get him off it and watch the dog get hit by a car. Makes the need for a collar very apparent.

 

[BCDJR]

I’ve trained labs before e collars and they are biddable. I used a whistle for all the commands and hand signals. However on my big running pointers I have always used the e collars. If you go that route there are several recommendations here on the thread you can check out. Also lots of videos on line. My advice is to study carefully your options for the collar as well as the different transmitters that go with the collar. Then proceed…..slowly!

 

[Kleos]

Make sure you know every bit of e-collar training before you even begin. I have seen dogs ruined by improper e-collar training.

I remember Dog bone hunter and standing stone kennels had some really good info. I can't remember what other resources I used.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Start at lowest setting, work them out front and see how they react to it, If you get no reaction go up 1/2 half setting, if the control is graduated that way, keep going up until you get a reaction, stop there. that should be all you need. When I got to the setting they reacted at, I put the contacts on my leg just to see what it felt like, it was a very mild tingle. If your device has vibrate, use that at the same time. After a while vibrate should be all you need. I trained 8 GSP's that way. I never had to go up to the point of drawing a yelp from any of my dogs. After a while of hunting or training when your dogs are getting tiered they may stop listening to commands, that's the time to give it a rest. Always end on a positive note, like a good retrieve. Someone mentioned a check cord, I 100% agree.

 

[Macintosh]

Ecollar really forces you to up your game. You cant steer the dog into a task the way you can with physical contact (checkcord) so you have to teach the commands well, extrapolate those commands to different places, and only after dog knows the command start layering in the collar for reinforcement. If the dog isnt complying you have to back up and re-teach or show dog it has to comply everywhere. And its as easy to use too little pressure and condition the dog to ignore it, as it is too much and create other problems. Labs tend to be fairly forgiving, but its worth getting help.

Hunting is not where you introduce the collar btw.

 

[CodyAK]

Use Evan Grahams Smartworks. I have with a handful of dogs, works great and is easy to follow. An ecollar is good insurance in the field. Just follow a program, you’ll read a lot of comments for those for and against, you won’t ruin a dog if you follow the instructions in the program.

 

[willtim]

Be very, very careful. If you get angry or frustrated during a training session the very first thing you do is take off the collar. I've seen collars ruin dogs.

 

[bigbassfish]

Got a copy of the complete volume of Smartworks on order, now the fun part begins. One a side note, what are you favorite upland birds to hunt? Are there some species that are better for a starting dog than others? I’ve heard pheasants are easier, but as far as I know opportunities are somewhat limited compared to other options here.

 

[KurtR]

Got a copy of the complete volume of Smartworks on order, now the fun part begins. One a side note, what are you favorite upland birds to hunt? Are there some species that are better for a starting dog than others? I’ve heard pheasants are easier, but as far as I know opportunities are somewhat limited compared to other options here.

Smart works is going to help you with obedience and all that but it is designed for training a retriever n field trial work with very little to no upland training just so you know up front. Teaching a lab to quarter and flush then steady to shot and fall if you choose is more about time and using that obedience you put on them.

Want to really learn join the local HRC club and have the guys that run upland tests help you if upland is the main focus.

 

[Tilzbow]

I’ve trained several dogs with e-collars. The most important things I remember from the many books I read.

1) The dog must know the command and have it engrained before reinforcing it with the e-collar.
2) The trainer/owner should’ve already established the neck as a control point. You can reference the Delmar Smith method for tips on doing this.
3) You’ve got to teach the dog how to turn the stimulation off. Do this by starting with a command the dog does well (sit is a good one) and the e-collar adjusted to the lowest setting that gets a reaction as previously described in an earlier post. Give the dog the command and at the same time start the stimulation. As soon as the dog begins to obey the command immediately stop the stimulation. Praise the dog however you normally do when training. Repeat this a few times over the course of several days. The dog must understand that compliance results in stimulation ending and that’s the goal of this part.

 

[bigbassfish]

We have practiced quartering somewhat on farm birds and flushing rabbits, is this the same way one would go about grouse or other mountain birds? This is a whole new world for us!

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Got a copy of the complete volume of Smartworks on order, now the fun part begins. One a side note, what are you favorite upland birds to hunt? Are there some species that are better for a starting dog than others? I’ve heard pheasants are easier, but as far as I know opportunities are somewhat limited compared to other options here.

I always work my dogs on pigeons or bobwhite quail. Get a release cage, either rope release or remote. Work dog in field until he goes on point, and hold until you release the bird. He will likely jump when the birds is release, that is something you need to work on. You can work on steady to flush then go to steady on shot until you give fetch command. Some guys on fine with just steady to flush. That way you won't accidentally shoot the dog if he jumps on release, which he will likely do.

 

[KurtR]

We have practiced quartering somewhat on farm birds and flushing rabbits, is this the same way one would go about grouse or other mountain birds? This is a whole new world for us!

I never want my dog chasing rabbits next thing you know they are blowing the whole field up.

 

[bigbassfish]

Would I be required to get a bird dog training license in Montana? How does this differ from just having an upland license and taking my dog out?