Training collar recommendations ?

[PA Hunter]

My mut got me in trouble last week with some aggitated greedy hunter cause my dog went up to his dogs to play and wouldnt come back to me quick enough.

Well anyway I have a large lab and I use him for pheasant hunting fields and fencelines/woods in PA,NJ for Pheasants.

I dont know much about the collars and it was the dogs first year hunting he does pretty good but will go to other dogs to sniff and play. I need something to correct him when he starts on his run off when he ignores me other than that he does not go far away always in eye sight within 30 40 yards away.

Any good or bad training collar experiences I should be aware of ?

Thanks Steve,

[fabsroman]

If you are going to use a collar, you need to get a book and read it first. You also have to make sure that your dog knows the command thoroughly before you zap him with the collar for breaking/disobeying/ignoring the command. I have a 105 lb. yellow lab and he acts completely different when that collar is on and we are out hunting. However, he is still pretty good without the collar on. He is going on 6 years now and this is the first year we really have not hunted much.

If you need some recommendations on books, I think the one I liked the best was Top Dog. I have several others that I have on the bookshelf that I have not had time to read yet. The one thing I never got to was training my dog for blind retrieves. Such is life.

[Nulle]

There are some good tapes out there that will show you the proper use in them also.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

If you are going to use a collar, you need to get a book and read it first. You also have to make sure that your dog knows the command thoroughly before you zap him with the collar for breaking/disobeying/ignoring the command.

I agree 100% with Fabs' statement.....a lot of good dogs have been ruined by the use of electricty & a short sighted understanding.

.....but let's face it; hunting season is almost over, and E collars are expensive. You say "he does pretty good, but he goes to other dogs to sniff and play".....sounds like he 1.) might still have some puppy in him and 2.) doesn't really understand what the commands "come" and "stay" mean.......they mean "come....right now!" and "Stay....don't move!", not "come....when you feel like it" or "stay.....if you feel like it".
These sound like simple problems to fix, esp. since the off season is near, and you can focus on the behavior while not hunting. Take him to a dog park on a long lead and when he shows interest in other dogs, tell him "Stay" or "come", and if he doesn't obey immediately, give him a pop on the lead and repeat the command louder and sterner. I really think that if you do this, you can correct the behavior w/o having to invest in a collar.
....don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against a collar; I just think that they need to be used judiciously by someone who knows what they are doing.

[fabsroman]

My sister just asked to borrow one of my e-collars, so I loaned her one yesterday. She is going to try to use it on her Vizla, and I have been trying to give her some advice on how to use it. Who knows how this one is going to turn out. We are planning on going upland hunting in January and/or February and she wants to bring the dog along. That will be an experience too.

[Nulle]

I am from the old school of starting with a long check cord and working from there on most of my training. I do have a Sportdog collar that has worked very well for the money and I have also tried several other brands including Tritronics and the one I have is by far the best for the money.
I had a rabbit chasing problem and got it for that which took care of the problem the first day and now all I have to use is the tone mode if anything needs corrected.