The Right Tool
We’re so excited you’ve decided to E-Collar train your dog! This amazing tool gives you the ability to provide valuable, yet fair, feedback to your dog both on and off-leash, indoors and out. Timely, valuable feedback is the mechanism that opens up new behavior possibilities when naughty or limiting behaviors are resistant to change through suggestion and positive reinforcement. You can finally break through bad habits and unlock your dog’s potential.
Understanding the E-Collar
Having the right tool for the job is important, but so is knowing how to use it. You should be off to a good start after your recent session; however, now it’s time to get nice and familiar with your system’s remote.
- First, consult your manual if you are unsure about any of the buttons.
- Then practice adjusting the display level both up and down in increments of 3, 5, and 10. This will help you respond to dynamic real-world training moments by quickly adjusting up to valuable levels, or dropping down when less will do.
Mini Educator, The Boss, and Other Non-FOB Educator Users
Be sure to check that the remote is set to continuous “C” only mode. The window display shows ONLY a “C” and does not show an “M”. Use the M/C button on the back to cycle through M, MC, and C mode. When in “C” only mode the S (stim) buttons send the stim for the duration of the press. This allows you to tap or squeeze the stim button. For example, pressing the stim button for a half-second, sends the stim for exactly a half-second. In “C” only mode, you can send the exact corresponding duration of stim depending on what your dog best responds to in the situation.
FOB Educator users
Holding down the R button for one full second starts cycling through the four ramping stimulation speeds:
- “r0” (0 seconds to max, typically too fast)
- “r1” (one-second ramping speed – a good setting for both stubborn and quick to escalate dogs, as well as dogs whose max level is set below 60)
- “r2” (two-second ramping speed, best for less stubborn and more sensitive dogs)
- “r5” (five-second ramping speed – almost always too slow).
Your ramping stim (S+ mode) button (Red S on a CODT programmed remote) will now climb up over the set ramping time (R) to the set maximum. If on a two-dog system, be sure to check both. You can use the P button to change between them.
Before use, remember to check both the remote and receiver’s battery levels, they each should be blinking green (not amber or red). Unless working frequently at high levels, a fully charged set of batteries should last at least a couple of days, if not more. Your receiver tends to need charging before the remote if both started fully charged.
You should be ready to get started, but if you have further questions see the FAQs below.
E-Collar FAQs
The number displayed on the remote is there for you to learn your dog’s benchmarks; there is no wrong number. The right number (intensity setting) is the number that interrupts the misbehavior or at least places a clear and significant cost on it. The goal is to interrupt the misbehavior, clearly and fairly, with lower light levels when possible and higher heavier ones when needed. After giving feedback, level down for hard flinches or yelps, and level up if there’s no interruption or mental release. When in doubt, start low and work your way up gradually.
It is not common for dogs to be mopey or pouty while E-Collar training. However, for some dogs, giving things up that were fun or simply made them feel secure can come at an emotional cost. This could look like disinterest, pouting or sometimes less exuberance. When your dog starts to see that doing what he wants, even though what he wants isn’t good for him or you, costs more than it’s worth he may be temporarily mopey. Now, with the inappropriate behavior off the menu, appropriate behaviors have the space to grow. Your dog’s mopiness will fade as he comes to see that there are many appropriate and enjoyable behaviors still on the menu.
While misuse could create negative and improper associations, you absolutely will not create negative associations with positive things in the environment (including you, other dogs, and the E-Collar system itself) if you generally stick to the protocols and timing we advise. Refer to your skill resource guide [i.e., the content on the leave behind card] to find the proper protocol and timing.
Yes, but rarely. Dogs with bite histories or clear signals of aggression and a tendency to try to push through feedback require professional assistance for safety. Our protocols for this are designed to teach the dog to yield, rather than attempt to push through stim, so we extinguish this improper response. However, it needs to be done with an expert level of care and safety to be fair to your dog and his target for aggression.
The stim itself does not cause skin irritation. However, rubbing due to a loose fit, prolonged wear on the same side of the neck, and metal allergies can. If you see irritation and suspect an allergy or are unsure of the cause, remove the collar when in a safe situation to do so and contact your trainer at your soonest convenience.
The E-Collars we use and most modern remote stim issuing collars do not use static electricity, and therefore, do not technically shock. The device does NOT arc the stimulation current like a tazer. This is why modern E-Collars do not cause any skin irritation even with frequent or high level use, thus making them far superior to their predecessors. The stimulation current is very similar to the type of stimulation used in human physical therapy for muscle rehabilitation. Your dog will certainly feel the stimulation, but it is safe to use and highly effective. We encourage all clients working with an E-Collar to feel it firsthand at a low and moderate level to understand the stimulation.