General Training Tips - Dogtra ARC Guide D'utilisation

GENERAL TRAINING TIPS

Getting started with your ARC
Your dog must know some very basic obedience commands
before beginning training with the ARC. A dog learns by first
being shown a command, followed by lots of repetition over
an extended period. As the dog becomes proficient at these
commands, the trainer can introduce distractions and different
locations to strengthen them. Throw in the correct amount of
positive and negative reinforcement and you should end up with
a well-mannered dog.
Obedience training on the leash
Your dog must fully understand the obedience commands
(sit, stay, here, heel and kennel) before using the e-collar
for reinforcement of these commands. A leash attached to a
standard collar is used to "teach" the dog the basic obedience
commands (here, heel, sit, and stay). A tug on the leash/collar
is used to reinforce the command. When the dog complies
with the command, use positive reinforcement/praise. Once the
dog understands these commands, the e-collar can be used to
reinforce them.
Beginning e-collar training
When you feel your dog understands the obedience commands
on the leash we can now start with the electric collar training.
With the dog on the leash wearing the electric collar continue
with your obedience drills. Light stimulation (nick or constant)
is going to be applied as a command is given, the stimulation is
removed as the dog complies. Through repetition, a dog learns
to turn off the light stimulation by performing the command.
E-collar training is another form of negative reinforcement,
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similar to the leash and standard collar training. When the
dog complies with the command, we use praise/positive
reinforcement. The final step is the avoidance phase in which
the dog learns that he can avoid the stimulation altogether by
performing your commands. When these training procedures
are complete, the electric collar is used as a reminder when
the dog does not comply with your commands at home or in
the field. Keep your initial training sessions short and positive.
Dogs have a short attention span, especially young dogs.
How much stimulation to use
Always start with low levels of stimulation and work your way
up depending on the disposition of your dog and any given
situation. By using only enough stimulation to get your point
across, you will have a more controllable environment and
a dog that is under less stress. Animals (and humans) perform
better in a less stressful environment.
For more training information, please visit our website at
www.dogtra.com.
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