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While we cannot possibly
address on this website the vast variety of
tools used for training, we believe that
it's in your best interest to at least know
a bit about some of the more common and
popular dog training equipment, tools, and
accessories. Below are a few examples of
commonly available tools typically used in
some form of dog training. Keep in mind that
we do not advocate the use of all these
tools in all situations, as not all these
tools will help every dog in every
situation. We believe that the careful
selection of the proper tools based on you
and your dog's needs and personalities is
the best avenue to help you achieve the best
results. But, remember this -
regardless of which training
tool is being used at any given time, that
tool should NEVER be used to punish a dog. A
training tool should be used simply to get a
dog's attention. Once you have his/her
attention, it is then up to YOU to clearly
communicate to the dog in a way it clearly
understands what it is you are asking of it.
Leash
Some might say that a
leash, also referred to as a "lead", is the single
most important tool for training your dog. Leashes
vary greatly in size, color, the material of which
they're made, and some are specially designed for
specific applications. Some dog owners buy a leash
based on color and/or style, whereas it may make
more sense to consider the particular application of a leash
before acquiring one.
For example, when
choosing a leash to use to walk a dog, a
leather leash with a fancy design may be attractive,
but it
may make more sense to acquire a leash constructed of
a more weather resistant material if you live in an area where inclement
weather is common, or you often take your dog to a
lake or beach. On the other hand, while water will
soften, discolor, or even prematurely weather the
appearance of leather, some people find a leather lead
to be more comfortable in their hand. Keep
in mind that leather also
stretches a bit when pulled tight.
Another important factor is
the length of the leash, as some lengths, while
satisfactory for walking a dog in the Heel position, are
not well-suited for training. An example of
this is the common 4 foot leash which provides ample length
for the average-sized dog to walk close to you. On the other hand, a 4 foot
leash is really not long
enough to be used for basic obedience training, and
is surely not long enough for training that requires your dog to be
some distance from you. In fact, a 4 foot leash
might not even be long enough to allow your buddy to
do his or her "business" while casually out and about.
Distance-training
leads up to 30 feet in length are commonly
available, however, it is worth mentioning that
because each dog is different, it may not be
cost-effective to initially assume that you will
definitely need a lengthy leash. Whether or not you
need a lead of such length is dependent upon
what it is you want to teach your dog.
So, while you may
ultimately end up with several different leashes,
the best all-around leash to own first is a 6 foot
leash with a secure clasp, as a 6 foot leash will
give you some room
to work with, yet can quickly and easily be held
short when you need to keep your dog close to you,
such as when walking through a crowd.
As your training
progresses you can eventually move to a leash of
minimal length, as well as decide on more advanced
types of clasps. In fact, our
exclusive, custom PowerLead leash, shown at right,
is super-strong, adjustable, offers different clasp
options, and is a beautiful leash that's comfortable
in your hand. Best of all, it's made
right here in the USA at Dog Training For Owners.
Collar
Like a leash, a collar
of some sort should be worn by your dog during
training. Many types of collars are available, and
similar to leashes, several types of collars are
designed for specific purposes.
Most flat
collars are adjustable, and once fitted, do not
change in size without you specifically doing so. A
flat collar is typically worn when a training collar
is not needed. Many dog owners affix ID tags onto
flat collars, and keep a flat collar on their dog at
all times. While some dogs respond very well to
training using a flat collar, some dogs learn faster
with the use of a dedicated training collar.
The most widely used
training collars are the choke and prong
(or pinch) collars. We don't necessarily
advocate the use of these collars for all dogs in
all circumstances; our aim
here is to simply provide you with their specific
applications, which can help prevent improper use
should you already have, or are considering
acquiring, one.
The typical choke
collar is constructed of a length of small-link chain, although
it is also available in nylon webbing. A choke
collar is fitted onto the dog in such a manner that
when the loose end is pulled, the collar constricts
around the dog's neck, thus the term "choke". Used
properly, a choke collar is designed to get a dog's
attention upon issuing a command, without inflicting harm. As with all training tools, it is important
to first teach a dog what you want him to do when
the tool is applied. If used improperly, a choke
collar is highly ineffective and results only in
restricting a dog's airway.
The premise behind a
prong collar is to simulate the actions of a mother
dog. Often, when a puppy gets out of hand its mother
simply grabs it by the
neck, and the pup typically stops whatever it is
doing. A mother will also pick up pups by the
scruffs of their necks and move them, such as if she
senses danger. Thus, the prongs on a prong collar
are designed to mimic the
mother's teeth. When used
properly under the right circumstances, a prong
collar can be effective without causing pain or harm. On the other hand, incorrect application
of a prong collar can be ineffective, and indeed result in
unnecessary stress to a dog's neck, and damaging to
your bond with your dog, so it would be
wise to find out how to use this tool properly.
An electronic
training collar, or e-collar, typically consists
of a remote transmitter and a collar fitted with a
receiver. When a button on the transmitter is
pressed the receiver emits electronic stimulation.
While e-collars have been around for decades, early
models were often quite strong and offered very
minimal, if any, adjustment capabilities. Today's
generation of e-collars includes models with
infinite adjustment, and stimulation levels that
start as low as zero and slowly graduate to high levels of stimulation.
When using the proper model collar, adjusted properly, an e-collar should emit a
stimulation similar to the gentle stimulation
commonly used in human physical therapy treatment, and the
highest level applied should only mimic a flea bite.
Unfortunately, most
people don't receive proper training on the use of
electronic collars, thus, end up using the wrong
model of collar and too high of a stimulation level,
hence the common misnomer, "shock collar". Used for obedience training,
an electronic
collar should NEVER be used to shock a dog!
The design of e-collars
has indeed come a long way from the days of yore.
Several models of e-collars include vibration, tone
and even voice modes. In each of these modes, the
collar receiver emits no electronic stimulation.
Instead, in vibration mode, the collar receiver
vibrates like a pager. In tone mode, a tone signal
is emitted, and in voice mode you can actually speak
to your dog even if he or she is 2 miles away.
Advocates of electronic
collars swear that e-collars are actually more
humane than even the typical choke collar,
because no physical pressure of any kind is applied.
But, as with all training tools, if the
owner/handler/trainer is not proficient at using an
e-collar, and a dog is not properly taught what the
stimulation, vibration, or tone means, an e-collar
is warranted ineffective.
If you are considering
training your dog with an electronic training
collar, please click here before making your final
decision.
Food Treats
A food treat used as a
reward for desired behavior during training can
consist of anything from the same kibble that is fed
to your dog for its regular meals, to boiled
chicken, to specialty foods specifically designed as
treats. Whatever your preference, like other
training tools, your dog needs to be taught what a
food treat means. If your pal doesn't understand
why he receives a treat, he or she will not consider
a treat as a reward. Used improperly, your best
buddy can even learn to expect to receive
food during training, which will negate everything
you try to teach during your training, and leave you
with a dog you cannot rely on to heed your commands.
Treat Bag
We recommend
treat bags be used during the "treat" stages of
training. A good treat bag should make it easy to
deliver treats to a dog in a timely manner, as well
as keep your clothes and washing machine from
potentially getting smelly.
Motivational Toys
Depending upon the prey
drive, or enthusiasm, of your dog, a simple toy can
be a great training tool. With that said, it is key
to know how to discern which toy is appropriate for
use as a training tool. Of equal importance is
knowing how to turn
a simple toy into a motivational training toy. As with all
training tools, the wrong application of a toy
during training will
only serve as a distraction, and can undermine your
training efforts.
At Dog Training For
Owners, we have the knowledge and experience to
educate you about many types of training equipment,
tools and accessories. Not only will we help you
select the appropriate training tools for your
particular dog, we will show you how to use them
effectively as educational tools, so you don't end
up using them to punish your dog!
To find out more about
how we can help you,
contact us today.
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