Dogtra E Collar How to Use for Beginners and Advanced Trainers

Using a Dogtra e collar can be a bit overwhelming, especially for beginners. The Dogtra e collar has multiple modes, including Nick, Continuous, and Tone, each serving a specific purpose.

The Nick mode is used for correcting bad behavior, delivering a brief, intense stimulus. This mode is ideal for situations where you need to get your dog's attention quickly.

Understanding the different modes is crucial to using the Dogtra e collar effectively. Familiarize yourself with the collar's settings and features to ensure you're using it correctly.

Start by setting the collar to the desired mode and intensity level, then gradually increase or decrease as needed.

For another approach, see: Dogtra E Collar Manual

To get your dog comfortable with wearing an electronic collar, it's essential to make it a habit. Every time your dog goes out to train or for a walk, put the collar on them, even if it's not turned on.

Consistency is key to avoiding a collar-wise dog, which only listens when the collar is on and can become timid when wearing it. By putting the collar on your dog every time, you'll help them associate it with fun and training.

You can start by using a dummy collar or a working collar turned off, and just let your dog get used to having the collar on while training. This will help them become comfortable with the feeling of wearing the collar.

To avoid a collar-wise dog, consistency is key. You must put the electronic collar on your dog every time they go out to train, or out for a walk or outside, even if it's not turned on.

The goal is to make the collar a habit, so your dog associates it with fun and training, not discipline. At Otter Tail Kennels, retrievers start wearing electronic collars on day-one of training, and they can't wait to get them on.

The first step in introducing an electronic collar is to have your dog wear it during training every day for several weeks with no stimulation or correction. This allows your dog to get used to having the collar on while training.

You can use a dummy collar, which is an inactive collar that can't give a shock, but I prefer to use a working collar turned off. This way, there's no risk of correcting your dog by mistake.

By following these steps, you can help your dog avoid becoming collar-wise and make training a positive experience.

Your dog's size is a crucial factor to consider when choosing an e-collar.

Some e-collars are small and compact, but they can control dogs ranging in size from small to large.

Dogtra has the all-new CUE or the very popular Dogtra 200C for toy breeds to small-sized canines.

Intriguing read: How to Size a Martingale Collar

Proper Placement is key to a successful training experience for you and your dog. The e-collar should be nice and snug, right against the dog's skin.

The receiver should be placed on either side of the neck, not on the spine or the throat. This is a crucial guideline to follow.

Having the e-collar on the correct side of the neck will help prevent any discomfort or irritation for your dog. I've seen some owners make this mistake and it can be quite uncomfortable for the dog.

By following these simple guidelines, you'll be well on your way to a successful training experience with your e-collar.

As you start introducing the room to your dog, you want to make it fun by using lots of praise, such as "good come" and "good dog". This positive reinforcement will help your dog associate the room with good things.

You should start by associating the e-collar stimulation with the command to come, and then shut it off when your dog comes to you. This is a classic form of escape training that gets your dog's attention from a distance.

Make sure your dog is mobile while introducing the room, walking around, sniffing, investigating, and doing their thing. This will help them feel more comfortable and engaged.

Eventually, you should be able to increase the distance, even getting your dog to come when you are not in their line of sight.

Training with a remote training collar is the fastest and easiest path to gaining off-leash reliability. A dog properly trained with a remote collar can safely enjoy all the freedom that running off-leash has to offer.

Discover more: K9 off Leash Training E Collar

To start training with an e-collar, you should begin by conditioning your dog to wear the collar with no corrections for a few weeks. This allows your dog to get used to the feeling of wearing the collar without associating it with any discomfort.

When giving corrections, start with the lowest setting possible and work up from there, as each dog is different and may respond to different levels of pressure. Some dogs will respond to Level 1 while others may take a 4 or 5.

The Dogtra Arc remote is a versatile tool for training your dog.

You can control the remote's three main functions: a Pager or vibration and two shock modes: Nic and Constant.

The Nic mode delivers a brief shock, while the Constant mode applies current continuously until you release the button, with a built-in safety feature to prevent accidental prolonged shock.

A different take: Training with a Remote Collar

The remote's grey button on the side controls both the Nic and Constant modes, and a toggle on the front of the remote lets you switch between the two modes.

The other grey button on the front of the remote is for the Pager or vibration function.

You can adjust the intensity of the shock using the dial on the top of the remote, and the LCD screen at the bottom of the remote displays the current setting.

Some Dogtra Arc remotes come with two orange buttons, indicating that you can purchase a second collar for another dog and control both with the same remote.

Discover more: E Collar Remote

Using a remote training collar can be the fastest path to gaining off-leash reliability.

With a remote collar, you can safely enjoy the freedom of running off-leash with your dog.

Pressing the pager button and giving your dog a vibration when calling them to you helps teach the dog that the vibration means to come back to you.

Discover more: Vibration vs Shock Collar

This is especially important if your dog ever gets into a situation where they cannot hear you.

A dog properly trained with a remote collar can enjoy all the freedom of running off-leash while staying safe.

Feeling confident in your ability to call your dog to come to you means you can easily call them back in the house or allow them to run freely while hiking or at the beach.

Using an electronic collar can actually be a less stressful way to train your dog compared to conventional methods. This may seem counterintuitive, but it's true.

A pressure and release system of communicating results in a compliant and HAPPY dog, as explained in Example 8, "3. Reduced Stress During Training". This is because using a tactile cue to convey wrong from right is so black and white for a dog to understand that it simplifies the learning process.

Making it easy for a dog to understand what is expected makes learning faster and less stressful, as mentioned in Example 8. This is a key advantage of using an electronic collar.

Electronic collars can be thought of as an insurance policy or even a hearing aid, as they correct the dog the instant they choose to disobey, greatly increasing the understanding of the correction and why, as explained in Example 9, "Why e collars are great training aids".

A correction timed closely to an offense helps the dog make the connection and associate the correction to the offense, resulting in a more responsive and obedient retriever, as mentioned in Example 9.

For another approach, see: Dog Collars

The e-collar should be nice and snug, right against the dog's skin. The receiver should be on either side of the neck, not on the spine or the throat.

You want to make sure the collar is secure, but not too tight. Some dogs may get uncomfortable if the collar is too loose.

The key is to find that sweet spot where the collar is snug but not constricting. This will help your dog get used to wearing the e-collar without any issues.

Remember, proper placement is crucial for effective training and your dog's comfort.

Using an e-collar can be a powerful training aid for retrievers, helping them learn more quickly and effectively when used correctly.

You can think of an e-collar as an insurance policy or a hearing aid, correcting your dog the instant they disobey and increasing their understanding of the correction.

A correction timed closely to an offense is key, helping the dog associate the correction with the offense and become more responsive and obedient.

Using an e-collar can dramatically speed up the learning curve for your retriever, allowing them to thrive and become better adjusted mentally.

A dog trained with an e-collar will learn to make the connection between the correction and the offense, leading to a more obedient retriever.