| Akeisha wrote to me with some very good | | | | if you start expecting to work the dog around |
| questions. Ive included her letter (and my | | | | new distractions that it's never been proofed |
| responses) below: | | | | around, such as chickens if the dog has never |
| [Akeisha] Hi its Akeisha again. I do see what you | | | | seen chickens. |
| mean if it is on all the time the dog will soon | | | | Look, I don't make the rules. The dog is not a |
| forget it is on and then will behave regardless. Ok, | | | | robot that you can suddenly say, "He's done" and |
| so the dog never wears a buckle collar again? | | | | expect him to act consistently for the rest of his |
| This is what irks me. I want to be able to control | | | | life. Like any relationship you have with another |
| the dog regardless of what collar is on not just | | | | person, boundaries need to be established and |
| the pinch or it could be no collar at all and the dog | | | | maintained. The dog is like your wife or husband |
| still behaves. What if the owner for some reason | | | | they will eventually test you. :) |
| takes off the collar then they put the buckle collar | | | | [Akeisha] Last question, how can the dog not |
| on for ID but then forget the pinch collar? Then | | | | realize the don't have it on since it feels a lot |
| there is no control. | | | | different than the buckle? Its like my id around |
| [Adam] WRONG! The dog gets conditioned. Take | | | | my neck at school I have gotten used to it but I |
| off the collar for awhile. Doesn't matter. | | | | do realize when it is off? Just for the record I |
| [Akeisha] Do you ever in the training go back to | | | | have no problem with pinches, many members in |
| the buckle collar after months of what you | | | | my 4-H club use them and they work great on |
| recommend with a dog that is happy with doing | | | | the right dog. |
| the commands? | | | | [ Adam: ] Because the way you should be using |
| [ Adam: ] Yes, the dog does the command | | | | the pinch collar is that the dog (since he has |
| because he is happy and he likes it. But eventually, | | | | limited reason and logic) does not KNOW that it is |
| there will be something that tempts him. This is | | | | the pinch collar that allows you to give him good |
| where conditioning comes in. | | | | corrections. But it's more than the pinch collar. If I |
| Think of it like this: Youve lived in the same house | | | | put the dog in a number of small yards, with no |
| for 10 years, right? You get up in the middle of | | | | collar on ... and I'm able to chase him down and |
| the night and you reach for the light switch that is | | | | make him come back to me, if he doesn't come |
| to the LEFT of the door. Pretty soon, you get | | | | when I call... then the dog will learn THE |
| conditioned to reach out to the LEFT of the door. | | | | UNDERLYING PREMISE that I can make him do it, |
| One day you travel and stay in a hotel. You wake | | | | if he doesn't. So, the pinch collar and the long line |
| up in the middle of the night and reach out to the | | | | make my job easier, but ultimately, the dog |
| LEFT of the door for the switch... even though | | | | knows (or he thinks at least) that I am a man of |
| you cognitively saw that the switch is on the | | | | my word and when I tell him to do something: If |
| RIGHT. | | | | he doesn't do it, I'm going to make him do it. And |
| In fact, you may wake up for several nights-- | | | | his life will be a lot more fun if he does it willingly. |
| perhaps even weeks or months-- and still reach | | | | So the dog starts to extrapolate this principle to |
| out to the LEFT, even though the switch is now | | | | other commands, too. |
| on the right. Some people will continue reaching to | | | | [Akeisha] Hope I am not being irritating I just like |
| the LEFT for the rest of their lives. Some will | | | | to know why certain trainers value certain |
| begin reaching to the right. | | | | methods over others since I love competing in |
| Those people need to be reinforced. Get it? | | | | obedience with my dog. |
| [Akeisha] Motivational corrections if on the right | | | | [Adam:] Keep training. -Adam. |
| dog won't frighten them or make them hate you | | | | Do you want to be able to take your dog |
| I know but aren't there other ways except using | | | | anywhere, and KNOW that he'll listen to you... |
| the collar that will eventually be established | | | | even if tempted by another dog, a cat, or even a |
| thought training that will allow you to take the | | | | piece of food??? Then check out: "Secrets of a |
| collar off and have control? | | | | Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To |
| [ Adam: ] Yeah, this way you can take the collar | | | | The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets |
| off and have control, ONCE THE DOG IS | | | | In History!" By Adam G. Katz, Owner of South |
| CONDITIONED. But eventually you'll have to go | | | | Bay K-9 Academy. |
| back and reinforce, for most dogs. And definitely | | | | |