Are E-Collars really necessary?

[crackerd]

Cass,
Be prepared for a little backsliding and don't over react. They rarely go straight up, there are often peaks and valleys. I have never had that great of results with any tool, I suspect the reason you have was all the ground work you have been doing, and it just came together.

No, Neil, the ground work wasn't there - the retriever trainer who's Cass' mentor was. Meaning Cass is getting shown proper e-collar usage, i.e., indirect pressure, and from which there's seldom any backsliding and it doesn't "just come together." It's programmatic, sequential, and consistent. Thus no peaks and valleys, either, because dogs learn to work with the e-collar not against it (nor carrying apprehension of same).

The absolute beauty of it is, Cass' mentor has taken time out the last week from the Canadian National Retriever Championships - in which he's competing and might even win - to give Cass a helping hand with the e-collar, and at training with it. Mighty "bleep" philanthropic of him - in addition to setting Cass up with a sweetheart deal on an e-collar - and I think Cass would agree all that is what's bringing him them miles he's come.

MG

[gonehuntin']

Are the ecollar's necessary... no, I guess not really. But Lord, it surely makes our life easier, the training of the dog faster and more precise, and life for the dog far safer and less stressful. Do we really need the ecollar; do we need smokeless powder, gps, metal arrowheads, and the computer? Life changes, life evolves. When we don't change with it, we're left behind, slogging through technologies of ages past, struggling to compete in a society that has become more efficient. So it is with the ecollar.

[birddogger]

Are the ecollar's necessary... no, I guess not really. But Lord, it surely makes our life easier, the training of the dog faster and more precise, and life for the dog far safer and less stressful. Do we really need the ecollar; do we need smokeless powder, gps, metal arrowheads, and the computer? Life changes, life evolves. When we don't change with it, we're left behind, slogging through technologies of ages past, struggling to compete in a society that has become more efficient. So it is with the ecollar.

Excellent post!!

Charlie

[GrayDawg]

I'll answer the question "Are E-Collars really necessary?" with another question-

"Are cars really necessary?" I mean, you can get where you want to go without a car,
it will just take a little more time, be a little more arduous & much less efficient.

Same thing with e-collars, you can train a hunting dog without one, but it will just
take a little more time, be a little more arduous & much less efficient.

If you don't want to use an e-collar, don't. Just don't begrudge those who choose to
responsibly use the e-collar as a tool.

Rob

[EvanG]

I'll answer the question "Are E-Collars really necessary?" with another question-

"Are cars really necessary?" I mean, you can get where you want to go without a car,
it will just take a little more time, be a little more arduous & much less efficient.

Same thing with e-collars, you can train a hunting dog without one, but it will just
take a little more time, be a little more arduous & much less efficient.

If you don't want to use an e-collar, don't. Just don't begrudge those who choose to
responsibly use the e-collar as a tool.

Rob

Exactly.

EvanG

[polmaise]

Hi all,

I am about to pick up a Brittany pup in a couple of weeks and will be training her to do a little hunting. She will be primarily a house pet and not a hard core hunter. My question is are E-Collars really necessary for adequate training? What did people do before E-Collars were around? My dad trained English Pointers and never had them so I have never seen the benefits.

What are the pros and cons?

Thanks.

I don't think the comments are against or for e-collar ?.That has been discussed in many places and can easily be found if required .
The Original post (unless I'm mistaken) is it really necessary for the Original poster?
I for one ! am not against the e-collar, but it may not be the answer for this guy?
There are other questions in the original post also?..

[EvanG]

Hi all,

I am about to pick up a Brittany pup in a couple of weeks and will be training her to do a little hunting. She will be primarily a house pet and not a hard core hunter. My question is are E-Collars really necessary for adequate training? What did people do before E-Collars were around? My dad trained English Pointers and never had them so I have never seen the benefits.

What are the pros and cons?

Thanks.

I don't think the comments are against or for e-collar ?.That has been discussed in many places and can easily be found if required .
The Original post (unless I'm mistaken) is it really necessary for the Original poster?
I for one ! am not against the e-collar, but it may not be the answer for this guy?
There are other questions in the original post also?..

I think his situation is even better qualification for e-collar use. Even a non-collar trainer may hunt extensively, as well as run Hunt Tests, and that person will train all the time to keep an edge on the dog's skills. The OP isn't likely to do that with his stated goals. A dog taken through a modern sequential e-collar program is far more apt to keep the dog sharp because of the efficiency of the system without spending copious time afield doing it.

EvanG

[kninebirddog]

Are the ecollar's necessary... no, I guess not really. But Lord, it surely makes our life easier, the training of the dog faster and more precise, and life for the dog far safer and less stressful. Do we really need the ecollar; do we need smokeless powder, gps, metal arrowheads, and the computer? Life changes, life evolves. When we don't change with it, we're left behind, slogging through technologies of ages past, struggling to compete in a society that has become more efficient. So it is with the ecollar.

Excellent

[polmaise]

Yea! But you're still allowed to have a different opinion on here though yea?

[gonehuntin']

Yup. That's the thing that makes the place go.........

[polmaise]

Hi all,

I am about to pick up a Brittany pup in a couple of weeks and will be training her to do a little hunting. She will be primarily a house pet and not a hard core hunter. My question is are E-Collars really necessary for adequate training?

What are the pros and cons?

Thanks.

Here is one of the cons ? viewtopic.php?f=89&t=44227&p=407366#p407366

Which was why I commented on your thread rather than 'as some' promoting the benefits of their wisdom . as reading from your Original post ,I presume you have no, or very little experience of the tool ?

[gonehuntin']

Thing is polmaise, the introduction has to be done CORRECTLY and this one was not. It'sa tool and you have to use it correctly like you do any tool. In that thread you posted were you able to pick out the mistakes the poste made?

[polmaise]

No mate! I was just err' ing on the side of caution
Most difficult on a forum,as we don't always have the full picture

[gonehuntin']

There is a danger in using ALL training tools when their use is not understood or misunderstood. As much damage can be done with the choke chain, leash, whip or even the clicker when the use is not understood as is done with the ecollar. Owning a dog is a huge commitment in money, time and energy, and so is the use of training tools a huge commitment in time and money. Until the tools and their correct usage is understood, repairs and maintenance should not be undertaken.

Most ecollar problems I have seen are the result of lack of education of the user or sometimes, abuser. You can't blame the ecollar for misuse through lack of education, especially in this day and age.

[kninebirddog]

There is a danger in using ALL training tools when their use is not understood or misunderstood. As much damage can be done with the choke chain, leash, whip or even the clicker when the use is not understood as is done with the ecollar. Owning a dog is a huge commitment in money, time and energy, and so is the use of training tools a huge commitment in time and money. Until the tools and their correct usage is understood, repairs and maintenance should not be undertaken.

Most ecollar problems I have seen are the result of lack of education of the user or sometimes, abuser. You can't blame the ecollar for misuse through lack of education, especially in this day and age.

I have seen dogs that the owner refused to use an e collar because e collar were inhumane and then watched him jerk his dog up and down the field grabbing by the collar and tail jerking up to stand and wondered why the dog would lay down when he came near. :roll:

[Neil]

There is a danger in using ALL training tools when their use is not understood or misunderstood. As much damage can be done with the choke chain, leash, whip or even the clicker when the use is not understood as is done with the ecollar. Owning a dog is a huge commitment in money, time and energy, and so is the use of training tools a huge commitment in time and money. Until the tools and their correct usage is understood, repairs and maintenance should not be undertaken.

Most ecollar problems I have seen are the result of lack of education of the user or sometimes, abuser. You can't blame the ecollar for misuse through lack of education, especially in this day and age.

Well said +1