Testimonials
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What follows are letters from Ecollar users, many of them complete novices with the tool, who have trained their dogs with the help of my articles. Some of them have tried +R methods and found them wanting. Some of them have used conventional methods and had trouble when they tried to transition to off-leash work. Some of them have used conventional methods with a large degree of success. All of them are happy with their success with the Ecollar.
Some are from people who have been to one of my seminars. Some are from people who read the articles and then trained their dogs from them. Some of them were sent to me privately and some were published on email lists.
I've placed most of them here in the hopes that some of their fears and nervousness about using the Ecollar are the same as yours and to show you that you can do this by yourself, without a trainer at your side every second, giving you instructions.
(Note: Everyone who's contributed to this page has given me permission to use their posts and most of them have also given permission to use their names and allow those with questions to contact them. If you have any questions for these folks or doubt any of these letters, Click Here to contact me and, if it's OK with the authors of these letters I'll put you in touch with them).
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David wrote me an email
The advice and techniques offered by you on your website have already been most helpful to me. Now that I have seen first-hand just how humane and easy training can be with the e-collar, I'd like to help to spread the word to the uneducated of which there seems to be NO shortage.
In fact, it seems to me that every single time that "thing" around the dog's neck comes up in conversation, I find myself getting into an hour-long discussion to try to get people to understand that it's not there to "shock the dog when he doesn't obey". It's staggering to me just how many people think this is the purpose of the e-collar.
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Dave D. sent me an email
I didn't like ecollars for years. We had Lou come and give a class. I tried his methods and I can honestly say it is the best money I ever spent on my dog. My dog loves the thing. He gets excited when it comes out because he knows fun follows. Honestly, rarely ever have to stim him now...maybe once every 2 weeks and he wears it almost daily.
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Dede wrote me an email asking for advice on Ecollar training. I referred her to my website. A couple of months later she wrote this email. (NOTE: English is Dede's second language and she asked me to clean up her spelling and syntax a little).
Two words: THANK YOU!!!!!
I have tried all kinds of training, which most of the time worked really well. It just didn't have any effect on the biting, nipping, crittering, etc. Sam was bred for police work and biting/nipping was her reaction to all kinds of excitement. including happiness.
I'm a hobby dog trainer myself, but not a behaviour specialist (working on it). I know how dogs learn and their brains work and I can solve small problems. I know about a lot of dog behaviour but with this dog I needed a professional. My professional said to me that I had done things right and she could not help me further. I used at that time a spray controller. a choke chain (hate those things ) and it didn't had any effect on Sam, (she did not even react to a correction with the choke collar). but it only treated the symptoms not the cause of it. So I looked further.
An e-collar is really taboo around here. And I understand that because a lot of morons just set the level really high and push the button every time the dog did something they don't like. But that is not the e-collar that is wrong, it is the person. You see that with every tool, choke chains, kicking, hitting, or making the dog very confused because there is no consistent guidance. it's the human who causing it, not the tool.
My parents advised me to roll the dog on his back and sit on it. I refused. Because I have the same feeling as you, you are just letting him know that you are stronger. In a pack a dog lays down out of free will not because the other dog is rolling him on his side and not because he's forcing the dog. They always said to me, "You are to soft. teach him who is boss." My father even said, "Give the dog for a week to me. I will fix it." I knew she was not acting like this because she did not know her place, she was really submissive. She rolled on her back If I walked toward her and looked at her. She moved away if she was in the way (or I just acted). She looked the other way, or bowed her head if I petted her. It was just her temperament; the way she reacts to things as if she was programmed. She acted like this when she was just 8 weeks old.
The day I got her she bit my arm and wouldn't let go. Later I heard that she was a working dog not a pet, and that she was biting more than the average puppy. They even warned me about her biting behaviour because that was why they gave her away (I'm the third owner). So I did give her strictness and discipline, I changed my body language and give her a lot of exercise and emotional stimulation.
When I was almost going crazy I found your method. She had bitten people and chased after almost everything. She was biting people who were passing by and attacking me. I searched for a humane method that was not based on punishment. I knew that I needed a little forcing in a soft way. I wanted "Sam to stay Sam," not a dog who was extremely submissive and was always waiting for a command. After getting your email back I started the training. SPECTACULAR!! she learned really quickly and she is still Sam, but without the chasing or biting. I didn't even had to do the crittering training. All problems are gone! She is on strict command and listens great. I can bike with her, go to the park with her, go to child play yards,. and all without a leash. Just amazing! She is happier too because we are going out a lot more. She can be loose in places I hadn't even dreamt of. And I'm relaxed and enjoying the walk or bike ride.
I don't know why I'm typing the whole story. a simple thank you is enough. But I'm so happy that I wanna scream and let everybody know how great it is.
So Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me the dog I hoped for. She still is a handful but those things I can handle and I'm happy I have taken her into my home thanks to the help you gave to me. Otherwise I think she would have been dead by now.
Take care, Dédé
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Andre wrote on a forum
I thought I'd write account of the training of our dog aggressive dog and the switch to an eCollar and the progress made.
A Brief History.
Pickle is two and half years old. We got her from a rescue group 6 months ago. She is smart. People friendly. Dominant. High energy. Unsocialized. Dog aggressive. Beautiful.
On day one we noticed her dog aggression. We emailed the rescue group and they recommended a Gentle Leader. For two months we used the Gentle Leader. It really helped to control her lunging. But we felt it wasn't helping to address the issue and so we switched to the prong. The prong helped us to successfully teach her the basics - heel, sit, stay, down, come. We also increased her exercise to 2-3 hours per day to help with her 'high energy'. And from day one she was put on a 'nothing in life is free' to help with her 'dominance' and 'excitement'. We also added a backpack to many of our walks in the hope of 'keep them tired and the aggression will decrease'. The aggression did not decrease. And on many occasions the prong correction seemed to increase her drive. After 4 months, I found myself worrying that I may be making things worse and so we went to a trainer. He also used the prong and firm correction method. At this point we decided to switch to the eCollar.
eCollar training week one.
I began at the beginning using Lou's recall method. Pickle understood it very quickly. We then worked on sit. Then heel. Then down.
The first thing we noticed was our dogs tail. Until now, it had always been high in a dominant position when we went outside. Now, after 2 or 3 training sessions it was always in a relaxed position. The second thing we noticed was her calmness in the house. She slept more. Relaxed more. Respected our space. Chilled.
Unfortunately we don't have a 'decoy dog' to help with her 'critter training'. But I did find a lovely old boxer dog near our home that just sits behind a chain link fence and watches the world. He hardly ever moves and so he has become our 'little critter'. On day 4 we began 'critter training'. It worked like a dream. And in the space of half an hour I was able to walk my dog slowly backwards and forwards past the dog who sat 5-10 feet away. Pickle did not even look at him. This also lead to Pickle on many occasions not looking at other dogs that are sitting behind a fence.
We still have a long long way to go. She still goes mad when she sees a moving dog/target. But I can honestly say I have seen more improvement in 7 days with the eCollar than I have in the 5 months previous using the prong.
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Weber wrote,
I purposely trained my high drive 2 yr. old Dobe not using the remote collar for two weeks. I was using treat and a pinch collar. Went back to the ecollar last night and it reaffirmed that the ecollar gets much better results and is clearer to the dog.
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Andy wrote on an Internet Forum
I finally had an opportunity to try out an E-Collar last week, and the results were stunning.
Two weeks ago I inherited a 9 month old Lab mix "puppy" that had been severely neglected at his previous home. He had been tied up on someones porch for several months, and was very thin and emaciated. He had been tied up with a piece of twine that had grown into the skin of his neck. My sister adopted him on a whim, and quickly found out that he was too much to handle for her two young kids. He's not agressive at all, just very hyper, and a bit behind the behavioral learning curve for his age....and obviously very thankful to be off that rope!
I reluctantly took him (as we already have a mother and daughter Border Collie duo that have the place to themselves) so he didn't have to go back to the shelter and be euthanized. It was obvious from day one he has a TON of misdirected energy and has never had any direction or leadership...he was just a hyper mess and very mouthy....chews on everything.
After having him for 3 days I implemented Lou's recall and sit protocol, and in three 30 minute sessions, he was a completely different dog....walks great on a leash, doesnt lunge at deer, doesn't bite and chew the remote control or any other off limits objects, sits on command, and is overall much more relaxed in the house.
However, the most impressive thing happened yesterday afternoon. I had him and my two collies off leash in a 3 acre wooded area adjacent to our house. The mama collie spotted a feral cat and took off like a bolt of lightning...the other two followed suit, full speed. I let them get about 75 yards away, out of sight in the woods mind you. I yelled "Come" and hit the stim....Gus came hauling butt over the hill, and stood about 10 feet from me.... it took me another five minutes to get the two collies back.....obviously they are next in line for E-collar training.
I am REALLY looking forward to working with these dogs now..... Gus indeed has a permanent home with us because of this collar.
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Nancy wrote (on an email list devoted to scent work) about the uncontrolled barking of her dogs.
Lou, I am one of those that has done backflips every which way to stop it. After years of struggling with a snarky little female - {and doing a LOT of due diligence) bark collar worked wonders - she still has to "test" it sometimes to make sure it "works." But Lou, you are right, it actually calms her down. She is not silently spinning or charging in her crate with that collar on, she is silently and peacefully watching the world go by.
...I just ordered a Dogtra bark collar for my 2nd dog, a male. My female barks at other dogs and my male at people, the issue is only in the crate.
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Danette writes,
Hi Lou. We have been successfully using the ecollar! I now go for walks and use no lead! Unbelievable!! I am confident with being able to call Ruby back from any situation... at least any that I have been faced with...I cannot imagine that there would be any reason that I couldn't call her back.
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Ochino wrote,
I've been to Lou's website before I knew anything about e-collars and their use. Like most people, I was really apprehensive about this type of training tool. But after doing some reading on the net, both good and bad, I realized with proper training (handler as well as dog), the e-collar can be quite beneficial and safe at the same time.
Jazz is a 16 month old male, has an excellent temperament, great with people and loves other dogs. I hoped that the e-collar would not destroy his thirst for knowledge and love of training with me. His eyes light up when I put my backpack, full of his toys on. Or his goofy, happy go-lucky personality. I am happy to say that by following the instructions given on Lou's website, staying calm and guiding him and working him at the lowest level he can perceive, He Did GREAT!!!
Not once was his tail tucked or head down. I would describe his initial reaction, as Carlos Mencia would say, "Ti-Ti Tee". But overall, he was just as good as if we were training with treats or toys. The only problem was that it didn't take 15 or so leash tugs to get him to come close to me. I would say, about 5 or 6.
I'm using the SportDog SD-800 and his working level was at 1 from 1-8. We were at a park with mild to medium distractions. I can tell he felt it and it was just a bit nagging to him more than anything. Like he was at boot camp in Parris Island and had a sand flea biting him. He would stand close to me, I would walk a way, he would follow, and the cycle continued. I went on with walkaways and he was starting to stick like glue.
My point, other then sharing my experience with you all, is that I saw a significant improvement in his awareness for one. Not just the fact that he was more aware of me and my movements, but more so that he was still aware of his surroundings as well. He kept me in his peripheral vision, no matter what else he was focusing on. If I even much as shifted my weight, he would move toward me.
To make a long story short, my fears of my dog turning in to a zombie are null and void. If you use them properly and humanely, they can be a great asset to you and your best friend. Make sure you find YOUR own working level before you find your dogs also. This helped ME to be aware of the sensation my dog is feeling when I press that button. You won't be as eager to raise the level and you'll question your own performance and teaching. Kinda like a quick "Nick" to your subconscious saying, "check yourself before you wreck yourself and your dog".
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Brooke wrote to an Ecollar Email list
I am mainly a lurker and learner but wanted to share with you all that Ben my 4yo GSD has been training on an e-collar consistently since the beginning of this year … [about five months]. His obedience is wonderful and although we have a few minor issues to work on still (we are both still learning) he is a far more balanced dog and a joy to live and work with.
Yesterday we were passed up to the top class at our GSD Obedience Training Club but we also won a place in the German Shepherd Demonstration Team which performs at school, old folks homes, fairs etc. I am so proud of my dog and just wanted to thank all of you (especially Dan, Lou and Alice) for their generous sharing of experience and encouragement!
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A UK Pet Owner wrote this to an Ecollar training list.
My Dane Dobe x, Zack, lunges and barks at other dogs when he is on his lead. This, amongst other things, was a major reason for him being continually returned to rescue before he came to me. Today was day one of the anti crittering protocol using a stooge dog.
I have spent the time since getting the collar teaching him how to respond and conditioning the heel and come responses etc. He was doing these perfectly without major distractions. Today, for the first time ever, I managed to have him calmly sitting next to another dog while I gave them both treats. I followed Lou's anti crittering protocol to the letter and we had a big time success. I am so happy. It took about half an hour to get him to the other dog calmly, but we did it. He sniffed at the other dog and was sniffed back very politely.
About ten days later this same UK pet owner sent this post to the list
Yesterday I was taking my dog out scootering and it finally happened, we saw another dog on the other side of the road.
My immediate reaction was my heart sinking. This situation has always resulted in the scooter being dragged across the road, me flat on my face and my dog going nuts trying to get to the other dog. We have been working the anti crittering protocol to resolve the issues but this was the first cold test where I was not in control of the environment.
We got closer up behind the other dog and I will admit I was really worried about what was going to happen and fully expecting him to behave as he normally would have done. Instead, he glanced at the other dog to check it out (literally a micro second glance) and carried on past without breaking stride. No barking, no lunging, no twirling NOTHING!!!!!
I am sooooo happy!!!
Yay!
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Here's the first post I got from Camille.
I just read your article on using training collars that you have on-line. My dog is a 10 month old chocolate lab. She knows what come means and does it perfectly in the house, but as soon as we are outside at a park and I call her she runs the other way. She knows what it means here too, she just associates it with leaving the park so she refuses to come, and I have tried everything the 'kinder' training methods advocate. From rattling bags of food, to walking away and ignoring her, nothing works. Not only does this lead to never being able to let her run offleash to get the excersise she needs, due to 40 minutes sessions of trying to recapture her, I am also terrified she might well be hit by a car as there's a street nearby with traffic. Anyway, so I would now like to try using a training collar to train her to come, having exhausted all other methods. Do you have any steps or suggestions for teaching a dog like this to come with a training collar?
Thank you and best regards,
Camille
I referred Camille to the articles on this site. A few days later she wrote again.
I recently purchased a training collar and today was the first day I tried using it following your instructions from with webpage. I could not believe how fast and effective the results were. Within 5 minutes of walking on the leash, Meg was transformed from the pulling monster she had been (she actually threw my back out when I took her for a run last month) into the most obedient dog you could imagine, attentive to where I was, walking right next to me, in fact, by the end of the walk we didn't even need to use the leash! Similarly, when we went out to the park and I let her loose to run, she learned immediately to come when she was called, and did so, even if she was all the way across the field splashing through puddles and chasing birds, as soon as I called she'd come running and even do a perfect sit right in front of me. Far from being 'psychologically damaged' or anything like it, she is now an extremely happy dog who can finally get the excersise she needs to have each day, now that I can take her for runs and walks without her damaging my back, and let her run in the parks without fear that she won't come back.
I just wanted to say, thank you so much for the instruction. I am very happy to finally have a happy dog and only with I'd tried this method months ago!
Camille
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Just wanted to give you an update on Kaiser. I've been working on his recall command and enforcing it with the e-collar. He has been responding really well and obeying the commands without delay. He is doing so well that I've taken him to dog beach in Huntington Beach and he has been responding well even with dogs around. He is doing so much better that we've been able to go up to dogs and greet them without all the aggression. It really is an amazing change in his reaction to dogs. Thanks for the great advice.
Kamal
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I can say that Uncl Lou saved two GSD from being PTS thru his kindness in helping me correct their habits......They didn't belong me but I ask for help in training them , he offered me help which turned them around...
Marlene
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I can't thank you enough for your protocol on crittering. After just a couple of weeks, my 15 month old lab not only doesn't chase the things that she used to chase, but now she will just look at them and then go on about her business. It really didn't take but a few trips outside working with your protocol to get her this way, but as you said in the protocol, she did need a "reminder" about a week or so later. The protocol works great and I can't thank you enough for it.
Rob
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Hi Lou,
I just want to say Thank you for all the help in getting the Ecollar and the lesson last Monday. I really appreciate all your time, great advise and training you gave us. Your lesson on using the Ecollar taught me the correct way to use it and you gave me the confidence I needed to use it, plus I know you did all the initial training with Spanner. And that I am grateful for. I'm really glad that I came down to meet with you, I learned so much from that training and Spanner is catching on so fast.
I've been reading your web site and continuing the training along with the advise you give, she is responding very well. She wears the Ecollar very day, does not seem to be stressed and happy to go out and train. Over the weekend we even went out in the cold wind, rain and "snow" to train, I was cold but she loved it.
The Ecollar is definitely a beneficial tool in our training and will become a big part of our success in the future. Thank you so much for all you have done in the world of dog training and the use of Ecollars, I am sure its better place because of you!!
Thanks again,
Ingrid and Spanner
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I have to agree that Lou Castle is an awesome trainer , he certainly knows his stuff and is always accommodating to us dumb humans.
Lou helped me when I needed it most. When I was on the brink of washing out an incredible little dog due to her crittering issues and the fact that when she was on a critter trail, no way could I get her back. I was done with this 9 month old pup that I spent a lot of $$ on.
I talked with Lou at LENGTH and even recorded his words. I still didn't feel comfortable putting an e collar on my dog. I ended up taking her to a fairly local (3 `1/2 hours away) field dog trainer. I watched the trainer work other dogs and decided I would leave Charley there for a week of "boot camp".
When I returned after a week, I spent some quality time with the trainer and my dog. He showed me how to work the dog in a collar and that it was NOT a punishment tool, but a training tool
I do work my dog in an e collar when I feel that it would benefit her. I worked her last year in a collar when our search assignment was bordered by a busy road. I utilized the collar as a long lead. I use the paging button and with the proper training, my dog knows what that means. I use it most always in training
I don't think its a crutch.......but if it is, it is a lifesaving crutch in my opinion
Laura, CARDA #xxx
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Tommy from Ireland here, hope you’re well and happy. Lou your’re a star. We have used your training methods on two very different dogs with GREAT success and the amazing thing with both these dogs is their confidence has improved and neither was lacking in confidence. I will never train a dog without an e-collar and the Lou Castle system again!
Tommy continued in a later post.
We started training about three months ago on two very different high drive working line GSD's,
Case one was a female that was a bit scatter brained and out of control because her owner wasn't quick enough for her. When pressure was put on her with a pronger (slang for a prong collar) she became handler sensitive and that finished training for that session. This female was not lacking in confidence but was all over the place; but now is very accurate in her work with a massive degree of confidence,
Case two; a young very dominant male handled by a young slight girl who is a very good trainer but this young male was going to come up the line someday (slang for the dog biting the handler) and do damage; as he became more stubborn a major crisis was looming and thanks to the Ecollar training he is under control and a delight to train and watch work. This young dog has the potential to go places.
Lou this is thanks to your system and the Ecollar. I really believe without your advice these two dogs were destined for the scrap heap. I can not thank you enough and I will never train another dog without an Ecollar and the Lou Castle system.
Remember if you’re ever in Ireland there’s always a place set at our table for you.
I'll have to take Tommy up on that one of these days.
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Nancy, who is in the UK, where there are few Ecollar trainers to help her, adopted a dog who had had tried to attack two other dogs in that family. As a result they put her in a rescue operation.
When Nancy got Rosie, she pulled hard on the leash. Nancy used the "so called positive methods" to help with that problem and had some success, but could not impact the aggression towards other dogs or stop the pulling problem with other family members.
The response to her obedience commands was spotty. If there was a distraction around, the dog obeyed "sometimes." She sent me this Email.
Dear Lou,
When we first got her, she pulled on the leash, walked all over the handler and in the front she went .. now (provided there are no other dogs) she does not pull and is kept walking behind or next to the handler (still always trying to go in front though). If my husband or kids holds the leash, she goes back to her old habits.
I feel that I have achieved something as she was notorious for pulling but I feel something is still missing even in her relationship with me. On our walks, I have to keep her "under the microscope".
Needless to say she does not go off leash outside ever. She definitely does not like other dogs and she will square up to them, pull and even sometimes bark. It makes the walk uncomfortable, besides I don't know what I will do if someone's dog gets loose, I am constantly scanning the horizon.
Nancy got herself an Ecollar and using my articles worked on the recall, the sit and the down.
I have registered on the mailing list .. [Nancy is referring to my Ecollar list on Yahoo] some serious dog trainers with loooong experience in ecollar training .. wish there were people like that here in the UK .. it could have been much help .. but hey .. this is England .. change takes time.
I have been practicing with my ecollar and my dog Rosie. . . we've been practicing for just under three weeks. We've had Rosie for just over three months.
I thought I will give you an update on our progress . . .
I followed the steps on your website and are now doing very well on the recall,sit, down and wait. My dog knew all these before but just ignored all of them.
In fact, things have progressed so much that we have been able to go to fields and walk off leash (there were no other dogs around) and recall was excellent .. recalled away from scents, things in a stream and from inside bushes.
... I will just have to accept that leash walking on the streets is the only way for us (and extraction of arms out of their sockets when a dog appears is a necessary evil). My dreams of long hill walking in the fantastic English country side is just not going to happen (sob sob!!)
Especially that I have been reading people's stories about their dogs being attacked and it is not a joke.
Nancy asked some questions specific to her issues and I gave her some tips. A few days later she sent me this Email.
Dear Lou,
I did all you said and even though my timing was not perfect, there was an instantaneous change in Rosie's attitude. It is like she was still with me whilst going for the other dog. Very different to the blind rage she got herself into normally. She then calmed down quickly and continued with the walk as if nothing has happened. It is as if what she wants to do no longer takes first priority over what she is told to do. This is a complete change in attitude.
There are other things that she is offering: for example she goes down when stopping to cross the road, she waits before going out of the door and wants eye contact (all without asking). It seems that she is genuinely thinking before acting and seeking my instructions. I am over the moon. She is even calmer in the house and enjoys munching on her bone whilst stretching out on the floor like a mop.
I could not have done it without your help. I am really grateful to you. Thank you very much.
Nancy
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Hi Lou
I have a 5 month old German Shepherd I named Sherlock. [NOTE: I prefer to wait until a dog is six months old to start him on the Ecollar.] A couple of weeks ago I started reading your site and decided to use an ecollar as my primary training device. I ordered a Dogtra 1900. After letting Sherlock get used to the collar I started the training this past Saturday. He did not have any type of obedience training at all, so he's always been on the stubborn side.
After finding his working level, the results have been amazing. By the end of the session he was "velcro'd" to my leg, almost to the point where I could not walk straight without tripping over him. I even had my kids come out as distractions, he normally runs right up to the kids. He tried to run up to them one time, until I turned on the stim and called "here". He never tried it again.
The amazing thing is that he looks really happy learning it, almost like he's eager to learn more.
Thanks for your time Lou, and thanks for providing great information to the public about ecollars, it's already made a big difference between the relationship we have with our GSD.
Sal
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NOTE: This is an AMAZING story!
As you know I have been training Guapo with the e-collar at low stim and he has responded wonderfully. In the past week, I have been able to let him run off lead every day, something he hasn't been able to do in the past 4 years due to his very strong prey drive (has killed a cat and one other wild animal). Every evening we walk through an area with ducks and other critters, and although I have had to use a slightly higher level of stim to get him back, he comes right back to me, and doesn't chase again.
Tonight, we got through the area without incident, but when we got to the other side, I saw a coyote which my dogs could not yet see. I called Guapo and he came to me immediately. I called Herbie (my 23# rat terrier, one of those dogs who comes when called, except when its really needed) and he started to come and then saw the coyote. I received Herbie's e-collar in the mail last week, but have been using it as a dummy collar up until now, to get him used to it and because I am focusing on Guapo right now.
Herbie took off after the coyote. After a few episodes of Herbie chasing (and obviously not coming back to us, despite us telling him to!), then the coyote chasing, then Herbie chasing, the coyote caught up to Herbie and started nudging him (we assume trying to knock him over) and nipping at his back and back legs. At this point, I let Gaupo go and he chased the coyote at full speed, about a 1/4 mile. I called Guapo back (because I was worried he would kill the coyote or get injured), and.... he came back. And the coyote followed.... Herbie came back halfway, and then took off again!!! Meanwhile, Guapo got a HUGE amount of praise, and then I sent him off again (because the coyote was once again chasing Herbie, and Herbie was trying to get back to us). He was reluctant to leave me, but when I told him to go he did. He chased the coyote, and this time Herbie also came back when I called Guapo back.
Luckily, Herbie escaped with only a deep puncture wound and swollen back leg. I am certain he would be seriously maimed or dead if it weren't for Guapo. So, thank you for your guidance through the process of introducing Guapo to the e-collar. I would not have been confident letting him go without its presence (but likely would have anyway, and I don't want to know what would have happened if I couldn't get Guapo to come back to me...). It has taken me a LONG time to get to the point where i was willing to use the collar with my dogs, but my goodness, what a clear demonstration of its purpose, seeing how the dog without the collar was almost maimed and the dog with the collar saved him!!!
Sheila
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The articles on your site and your answers to my emails were the nucleus of the dog's training. He's great, beyond expectations. Thanks very much, and know that there's one more person and dog in the world that you helped.
Matt
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Here's a story about a deaf dog that was trained mostly with the pager function on the Dogtra Ecollars.
I have a 3 year old deaf border collie. He was hit by a quad at six weeks of age (head injury) and has been deaf ever since. The breeder couldn't use him for herding so I said I'd take him work with him. I got him at 10 weeks of age, 8 weeks would have been better. I've always had dogs ( a border and 2 samoyeds) that I had trained so I figured I could handle it , with a bit of advice from Lou!
As soon as I got him I tethered him to my belt loop, where ever I went he joined me. I spent a lot of time working hand signals with him. After week two he could sit, down and stay with hand signals! Now I must admit that it does help to have a very smart pupil and myself being a special needs teacher, I have the patience. He continued to learn hand signals at an alarming rate, it was so incredible. By his first birthday he knew 25 hand signals. he has learned to watch our hands and to focus on our eyes and facial expressions. I have always talked to him as this way my true emotions help him 'read' me. By the time he was 2 he was ready for level 3 agility and he could fly around the course better than any other dog in all the classes. He is just so focused on watching me, the handler and following my body language. He also has the advantage of being deaf because he is not distracted by all the other barking dogs!!! He has also taken a set of fly ball lessons.
As you can see his deafness has not held him back in any way, however, there are a few things that still concern me and I have to be careful. This is mainly for his own safety as he is obsessed with herding automobiles. He can not be out of the backyard on his own.
For his second birthday I bought him a Dogtra NCP which has the pager feature. The main reason why I wanted this is so that I could communicate with him at a distance and let him off lead at parks and on hiking trails where I don't have to worry about cars.
Basically I followed Lou's suggestions on his website and through his personal emails. Now my dog, Skye, is very sensitive and I was able to train him using the vibration/pager mode with out any stronger stimulation. Lou did suggest that at some point I will likely have to go back and retrain him with using more stim but I haven't had to. He responds to the vib. Basically the vib tells him that he needs to look for me and then if he sees me I give him a command-- come, sit, down or stay. He knows that if he cannot see me then he needs to find me and then wait for a hand/body command. I know Lou has said that this is a pretty expensive long leash, but, it has given him much more freedom to run and roam and I am confident that I will always get my dog back! One time we did "lose each other" and I was getting anxious. I finally went back to the last spot we were together and guess what, there he was sitting in that exact spot waiting for me!!!! How incredible and smart is that!!!!!!
Sorry I'm kinda jumping around here. He quickly learned the language of the collar by simply buzz-treat, buzz treat. Then I added a leash and a buzz- tug on leash toward me then I took off the leash and buzzed and added a hand signal for come (which he already knew) then I stood further and further away and buzzed him and he'd look for me. In no time at all, I'd hide in the house and buzz him and he'd look for me then I'd give him a hand/body command. It worked like a dream. After working indoors for a bout a month and I knew he had the idea 10/10 trials, I took it outside where there are more distractions. No problems!!!!! This dog LOVES his ecollar and I need to keep it hidden as he sees it and he gets all wound up as he knows that it means fun fun fun!!!
Now there are times when I have used the stim as he is a car stalker/herder. As soon as I see him start to hunker down to herd, I give him a bit of a stim at level 15 and he smartens up, until the next car drives by! I don't know if I'll ever get this quirk ironed out, it's part of who he is, I really do believe it is hard wired into him.
Having a deaf dog has been a wonderful experience for our family. People are always amazed at what this dog can do. Yes I am very proud of him! I Talk to people on our many walks/runs and show them the collar and let them feel what Skye feels when I Buzz him. When we're out in the park and I see another dog approaching or a child eating a big ice cream cone, I simply buzz him and he turns on a dime. It is so automatic, he has NEVER ignored the vib. I think it has given him more confidence.
I haven't used or needed to use the collar in agility as he is pretty focused on his job there. Besides, I don't want him to rely on it too much in agility as I don't think you can compete with any electronic devices. I just use hand signals for the A Frame, the tunnel and the teeter. The other obstacles I just point to or position my body towards. Oh I hold out my hand with fingers separated and pointed down for the weave poles.
One point to keep in mind is that everyone in the family (I have two boys 15 & 16 yrs old) NEEDS to be CONSISTENT with their hand signals and body language.
Skye continues to learn new things everyday. He just learnt how to give kisses!!! My biggest problem is that he still wants to learn new things and I'm running out of hand signals!!!!
Joanne
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After I did a seminar in Duluth, MN one person who attended wrote,
"I learned a ton during the class. If you aren't a believer in ecollars you should at least attend one of Lou's classes and see what he does first hand before making up your mind."
"The bite work we did at the end impressed me a lot. Not once did the handler or anyone else have to raise their voice or give anything even close to a hard correction to the dog."
Dave
Minnesota
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I just wanted to thank you personally for your help and information about the E collars. … As you may recall you suggested the (Dogtra) 2302NCP for me . It is perfect . The full range of intensity is probably not needed as I find at 35, he scratches …
I have my 8 month old Norwegian Elkhound puppy fully trained to the collar . and he is enjoying quite the time of it. WE went up to the Upper Peninsula to visit a friend last weekend . … I took my time and trained him to the collar probably in a week before letting him loose. I wanted to be sure he knew what was happening as he is sensitive...
They had a blast running out in the snowstorm.... and on the 14 acre wooded lot, it is bordered on 3 sides by State lands, just beautiful. I think on the weekend he mostly followed the lead of the bitches, but yesterday, my brother in law came over with his dog to plow.
I used the collar 4 times to recall him back from trying to follow the dog or go near the plow. What a wonderful invention.
It was so much fun for the dogs this weekend, that my friend and I have decided to write an article for an Elkhound publication on the use of the E collars for elkhounds . Its time to get rid of the bad rap. And most people who have elkhounds have fully fenced yards... and dont think this breed can ever be loose.
Kari
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I was at the Las Vegas seminar a few months back and wanted to thank you for the great class.
Pete Caruso
Trainer, Canine Unit
San Diego Police Department
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After ordering an Ecollar from me John DeKruyff wrote:
"I just got the 1700 from you and I found my own working level like you said on your website and I think that was great advice because it takes the fear out of the tool knowing when the stim starts. I first felt the stim at level 14 on the Dogtra 1700 NCP. I could go up into the 20's before I didn't like it anymore. My two year old daughter did it also and she was giggling on level 15."
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Lyne Peterson brought her cat to a seminar so that it could be used as the "prey animal" to work the Crittering Protocol. She wrote,
"My prey kitty seemed to enjoy the attention and now walks on a lead. Pretty cool. Maybe I will go in the "business" of supplying prey animals for ecollar seminars. ^_^ What kind of lead can I put on my chicken?"
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"It is because of you and your website that my dog enjoys off-leash hiking with me and more freedom in general. The e-collar came into my life late, but I'm very happy to have this tool and so is my best friend, Gunther."
Jennie Kanters
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"I would like to add a support of e-collar training done through Lou Castle. I believe e-collars can be an effective and appropriate additional tool in some training cases. I have a pet dog in my home who responds to a level of stimulus that I cannot even feel. Lou got this dog working without s and the dog weighs 165 pounds. She is an English Mastiff.
We had been through multiple levels of obedience from the time she was a puppy on with other professional trainers and behaviorists. She had overall good obedience in many circumstances. She had and has never pulled me off my feet or pushed me inappropriately in treacherous hiking areas, but one time she pulled me off my feet when a cat jumped out in front of her. It caught us both of guard and as soon as she realized what she was doing she stopped.
But the moments in between convinced me that I needed additional training and Lou had been talking to me for over a year at that point about trying an e-collar on her. I will never regret the use of it or the training we received. I only get worried about the use of e-collars when they are being used by someone not trained by Lou."
Heidi, CARDA #xxx
(Addition to above letter). Heidi told me during a phone call when I was getting permission to use her post that her Mastiff had been on a Gentle Leader when she pulled her off her feet.)
By the way, Heidi is an experienced vet.
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"To the List,
I did use Lou's technique for a little monster dog who was an awful game chaser at 6 months. She ran through and got zapped by a cattle fence in pursuit of a goat and kept on chasing. We rescued a rooster from her jaws as she would not let go even as he was spurring her mouth.
We (and now I know how stupid it is and how it could of backfired) had we tried on our own to solve the problem by putting a collar on her and zapped her on high while in pursuit and it did not phase her. This was after having her run full speed into the prong. She figured out the prong very quickly.
Anyway his technique uses such a small amount of stim it is less than what you feel if you have ever had a chiropractor put the tingly majobbers on your back. It is all in the control of the situation and the timing. I do not keep an ecollar on her full time (I know Lou recommends this but I did not want to do that) yet she would still correct herself when the urge struck her to chase game. You could see her thinking about it, I swear it sounds silly but there was a pause and a decision not to chase on her part.
I did have to do a refresher 2 years after the first time we did it but not until then and not since then."
Nancy
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Dear Lou,
A few weeks ago you gave me some pointers on selecting and using an electronic training collar for my Aussie, Darby. I want to thank you for your time and thoughtful guidance.
I've been working with her using this collar since shortly after corresponding with you, and I am seeing a tremendous amount of difference in her behavior and in her respect for me as her master. I truly appreciate your help. We still have work to do, but she's much more manageable since the introduction of this collar, and is now able to focus on her agility lessons without succumbing to every distraction for a mile around. She has also stopped her incessant barking in the car, as well as in class, and no longer shows any interest in stool eating.
Many, many, thanks!
Yours, Susan
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Dear Lou,
After months of struggling with the OUT command, I was amazed at how non-confrontational using the e collar ended up being.
Thanks. Paula
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While out training or searching my GSD sometimes took off after deer, for the most part I was not very successful in turning her around once she took flight. I would say 99% of the time I have her undivided attention and have a solid recall, drop, send out etc. What I wanted was 100% reliability and now I have it.
After finding the right threshold for her I have to say it has been amazing. I haven't had to use the e collar very often (although I keep it on her at all times when out of the house) for everyday obedience but when I am out searching or perhaps a cat running across our path it has made my dog 100% reliable. Thanks for introducing me to the e collar. People shouldn't knock something before they try it. I would rather see my dog alive than shot by a hunter because it is illegal to run deer.
Karen
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Thank you Lou for coming back a second year and helping to make the symposium the success that it was! We were fortunate to have some wonderful SAR people in attendance and it appears that everyone learned a lot, and had a good time.
To the list: I would highly recommend that if you have not had Lou come to do a class for you, that you consider it in the future. He is an excellent instructor and I think that some of you will be surprised at what a REALLY NICE GUY he is! (Sorry Lou, the cat is out of the bag - your e-mail just doesn't do your true personality justice) ;-) Everyone who took either his e-collar or his Urban Building Class just couldn't say enough good things about Lou or what they got out of it.
Sincerely, Sharon
K-9 Search and Rescue Teams of Florida, Inc.
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Lou,
It has been amazing! Krieger has had dog aggression issues since I got him at 17 weeks old. I had searched for a long time for a remedy. The only suggestions I had received was to find a good obedience class with clicker training or just keep him home and accept that is how he will be. I had read the Crittering article but wasn't sure how to set it up. Every other dog I know would have been barking at my dog, which obviously isn't part of the protocol.
The e-collar has worked so well with the Here command that I don't think I'll even need to do the Crittering process. Even with other dogs in sight he immediately returns to me. I'm very excited to see the progress we have made in only about 10 days. He was already well aware of what the sit and stay commands mean but he was very sloppy on heeling because he was always distracted. Now he's heeling well and giving good eye contact. I can walk him from my house to the end of the block. This doesn't seem like a big deal but there are 12 houses counting both on our side of the street and across the street. In those 12 houses there are a total of 16 dogs- everything from Pomeranians and Poodles to Labs and Bull Mastiffs. Previously I would not have dared to take him out in the front. I can't thank you enough for your detailed instructions.
Pamela in MN
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Having a dog from a pup surely does make things, or at least a lot of things, easier. Ceili, my current dog, was adopted as an adult, the first time I've done that. It won't be the last, but there are a lot of pros and cons to both ages to consider.
There were two main behaviours that I was despairing of changing. The first was her "boisterousness" around my kids. It was NOT an aggressive behaviour at all - Ceili was, and is, so friendly and happy to be with them and to play with them that she would quickly get out of hand. My husband called her the velociraptor! She had a particularly unwanted move of "boxing" with her front paws, which could and did leave pretty bad scratches. The more she was corrected, the harder she tried to "play".
I tried the usual route of substituting a wanted behaviour for the unwanted - i.e. sit and then you get attention, but something wasn't clicking. Correction for the jumping was difficult as well, since she didn't jump ON you, just AROUND you and AT you. It was the paws that were deadly! I also had the additional concern of making sure that Ceili didn't associate Brianna with the "bad" things, i.e. corrections. Having an animal that size wary of or nervous toward a child is asking for trouble.
Ceili was also VERY leash and collar wise, and if she'd get loose, slip her collar, whatever - she was gone. Loved "keep away", refused to return on the recall - which she was perfect on when using even the lightest weight check cord. She knew I couldn't reach her, and therefore all bets were off.
So - I needed to redirect the boisterous energy around the kids, and make that recall 100% solid. I started from step one with Lou's advice, teaching her the "language" of the collar. I also made sure that collars were changed several times a day, so that putting it on and taking it off meant absolutely nothing to her at first. Soon, the obedience work was very, very solid (and I mean very soon - she turned into Velcro dog!). Then I had Brianna, my oldest, begin working obedience with her, again using the methods Lou taught us, with me or my husband supervising and "backing up" with the collar when needed. When Ceili began to see that the "pecking order" was changed, and Bri wasn't a litter mate but a superior, it became very easy to redirect the unwanted behaviours in play.
We also went to a "nothing in life is free" sort of lifestyle, to cement the pack order - food, affection, etc. is all earned, not demanded, by the dog.
We're not done with the ecollar, nor will be ever be, because it simply seems to facilitate communication far better than slip or prong, or anything else - Haltis were a joke! Correction comes only after we're sure that Ceili knows exactly what is required of her. The stim level is VERY low - on my own hand the working level simply tickles or itches, and I have a low pain threshold (ask my midwife. It's almost as if it's a "switch" that turns her brain into working mode and says "ok, look here - this is something you need to know and do, so listen up and get it in there!" I don't know that I'd call it a negative per se - just different? Maybe BECAUSE it's different, the brain re-wires so that that particular stimulus becomes instantly associated with learning and receptivity - then when the stim might have become accustomed to, the new circuit is already in place?
I'm guessing on the last, because there's a lot about the ecollar that I'm not sure WHY it works - I just know that it does. I can also say that Ceili is excited about training sessions and likes to have her ecollar put on (she wears it all the time when not unsupervised in her run, even if I don't TURN it on. It's quite small and light). Collar on means that she can play with the kids, have the run of the house, maybe we'll go outside and train or go for a run, etc. Collar = good things (which I'm pretty sure is an extension of a Pavlovian response, but hey, it works!).
Anyway, I hope that answered some questions, and helped a little. I'm still very, very new to this, but I'm excited about training again in a way that I haven't been for a long, long time.
Amber
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Here's a note that Amber sent me a few months later.
I just responded to a comment on the ecollar list, and thought I'd drop you a line and say hello. (You're probably going "who the heck is the person...you helped me out with the GSD Ceili). Ceili is a fantastic pet now.
I guess I just wanted to thank you again for all the info you provide . It's made my relationships with my dogs, and my family's relationships with with, so much richer. :)
Amber
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Lou
Just wanted to say thank you for giving me a little confidence boost yesterday. I got started today and it went fine.
I had done a lot of fiddling with the collar testing it on myself, just having it around where I could see it. I’d gone through the mechanical skills for the recall with the collar ‘on’ my husband (g-d he’s great!) and that was extremely valuable. I had also been putting the collar on my dog when we go out to play so I can see how tight it needs to be so that it doesn't move around etc. Basically, I just had to kind of have it around, pick it up and play with it (not on the dog), get used to seeing it on her etc. I had a lot of anxiety about the thing but the more I messed with it the less afraid I was.
I had pretty much memorized your protocol and just went out this morning and did it. I had visualized the whole thing in my mind, ‘what will I do when …’ etc. I proceeded with confidence and we did not have any trouble. I decided to go with the (Brand name removed). I was so afraid that my lowest setting wouldn't be low enough, that she would yelp and be freaked out and Oh the Horror. I ended up working on a low 2. At first I thought it wasn't working. So I turned it up and still nothing. She is fairly sensitive emotionally so I am very accustomed to what her ‘calming signals’ look like and there was nothing – no lip licking, no blinking, no ear twitching or lowering, no eye squinting. I finally got a reaction at 2 high, she cocked her head like ‘hey, what was that?’. I had planned on working in the back yard but don’t you know that I put her Flexi leash on and she wouldn't wander … (this is before I’d done any ‘work’) but what can I say, she’s a good kid!
We live in a quiet cul-de-sac so I went out into the street and worked there. We progressed fairly quickly. I did not add any cue yet, just worked on a rough heel – and we had that in maybe 2-3 minutes doing walk-aways, she moved with me but not so much that she was under my feet etc. I gave her lots of happy praise when she was in position, which was familiar to her, and when I stopped she came to my side and sat – which we’d been working on already, pre-collar – and I gave the usual ‘Yes!’ & treat. Her body language was a little different, but then again, I did completely change the rules today. I have faith that if I follow through and don’t let her just think that she can never leave my side because ‘out there is bad’ that this will work out fine. I realize this was only the 1st step and it may very well have been just as stressful (if not more so) to me than it was to her.
We came back in the yard, I unhooked her leash, left the collar on, we played for 20 minutes or so, came back inside and that was that. No big deal. While we were playing I brought my other dog out and they were tugging on their toys and frapping and having a fine time and I was just looking at her, thinking “ok, you don’t look broken emotionally, you don’t look like you’re entire world view has been shattered, you look like nothing happened” … and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I took the plunge, and to say thanks for being so helpful on the list and in person …. answering all the same questions over and over and over again!
Regards, Deborah
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Lou is an incredibly knowledgeable and a very helpful individual... speaking from my own personal experience.
Brigita
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Hey Lou, I don't know if you remember me, but I sent you an email a couple of months ago about starting my k9 on an e-collar. You referred me to an article you wrote about beginning the dog on the e-collar. I followed the directions to the last letter, and had AWESOME results.
I have worked the dog on the collar for about a month, just obedience and recalls, and he is working like a pro. I can send the dog out 100 yards, on a dead run, give him a down command and he drops without moving an inch. The dog has a very high drive and before the e-collar, he would get hard to control if he was a lengthy distance away from me. NOT ANY MORE.
Thanks,
Cory Knutson and K9 Fero
Douglas Co. Sheriff's Dept.
Superior, WI
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Lou,
I help train Avalanche Dogs at Alta (a ski area in Utah) and sometimes I can just use a collar on a dog and other times I have to sell the idea to the primary handler. So I don’t have an ongoing ecollar program.
BUT I have had great success with a couple of our dogs with the valuable HERE command. One was a 6 month old pup that I couldn't walk down the street [literally 100 yds] without risking my shoulder being pulled out or his neck being broken. We were destroying “here” and the space around me as a SAFE/FUN place. Within a week the situation was resolved and the problem eliminated. WOW!
I now have our (Alta’s) next pup in training and this one isn't as hard as the last but at 6 months the positive aspects of HERE are being undermined and we need to do some work to counter this.
For background, I started the Avalanche Dog program at Alta [UT] back in 1980. At present I serve as an advisor to the Alta Ski Patrol and as circumstances have dictated I have taken a couple of our pups from selection to about 6 months and turned them over to a handler. At Alta the ski area buys the dogs and assigns a handler and after a year a secondary handler. A number of summertime situations give me the opportunity to baby sit/train as I like, and sometimes a handler will ask for help and be willing to work with an ecollar. They are the handlers and I respect &/or live with their decisions and prejudices. We try to have 3 working dogs and 1 in training.
Just starting out for a walk was like running a gauntlet [4 dogs on both side of the street in literally 100 yards] and the 6 month old pup bolting this way and that and paying no attention to me. Not only was there the ignoring any leash POPS and verbal commands, there was the physical hitting the end of the leash and meanwhile the frustration was making me angry. At that point I was not able to be a TRAINER.
Thanks again,
Dan O’Connor
Advisor, Alta Ski Patrol
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Lou,
I wanted to thank you for your ecollar articles on the internet. I belong to an email list that you're on (but don't post) and had decided that a friend's small standard poodle needed an ecollar for her zooming. I have never needed one yet except for barking (BC's). We have following your directions and in 1 week she is off leash in a yard full of agility dogs doing sequences. I just wanted to thank you for having them out there for anyone to use. I did not find anything out there on the internet or in print that compare to your articles.
Debbie
Toy Poodles--
1998, 1999 & 2000 AKC 8" National Agility Champion
MACH2 ADCH U-CDX April UD OAC NGC NJC (2xUSDAA finalist)
MACH2 ADCH Foxy Bear OAC OGC NJC(3xAKC, 2xUSDAA finalist)
Sarah CD AX AXJ (retired),CB MX MXJ AAD NAC, puppy-Raven
Border Collies- Streak MX MXJ MAD RM, Nike MX MXJ AAD
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I had the collar for almost a couple months before I dared to use it. I was so nervous even though I must have read just about everything written about e-collars and training techniques. My girl as well had gone through several OB classes without the e-collar. And I, too, had someone -- my awesome vet -- do the first introduction to the collar. I couldn't have asked for anyone better. He himself has wirehaired pointers, has a good understanding and respect for the breed, and he adores Matea. He was SO upbeat with her, and she SO adores men....it was an awesome match.
I always prefer pinch collars over chain collars, but with this girl, I've always had a feeling in my gut that would not respond well to the pinch. She's a hard-core athlete, with no sense of reason when it comes to her body; her pain threshold is high, as her hunt drive is very high. However, she is a very 'soft' dog. One harsh word can affect her for a months upon months. I've found if the 'correction' comes from me -- in the form of a word, or a leash tug, etc. -- it has a profound affect on her, that may not be immediately visible, but can show up the next day or training session. But the beauty of the e-collar -- as my experience has shown me -- is that the dog doesn't directly attribute the correction of the stim to you. The correction is not 'attached' to you in the form of a leash. Therefore, if properly introduced and taught, I find the dog takes a great deal of responsibility for the collar. It becomes a language between you more than it is connection to you.
For instance, when I did have a chain collar on her a long time ago, she broke her heel and lunged at a little yappy dog that was throwing a fit across the street. I gave her a big correction with the collar. She seemed unaffected. Almost two weeks later, the same scenario played out, and she lunged out again, but the instant I was about to give her a pop, she cringed dramatically and came back into position. I don't like a cringing dog. This girl has NEVER cringed or shown any signs of connecting the stim to me when using the ecollar.
So I honestly feel that if I'd used the pinch collar on this dog, because it is attached to a leash which is attached to me, it would have been too much for her. I might be wrong, but I have no need to prove this gut feeling.
Matea is high drive and a real wild child. She's about 26 months now. I do a lot of hiking with her and other pointers (GSPs and Vizslas) and she's the best in the bunch, hands down. She ranges, but checks in often. Her obedience and responsiveness in the field or when training is amazing; you'd never EVER think this was the same wild dog we took out of the rescue. She'd been there 5 weeks, trial adopted and brought back. No one would even look at her. Just too much dog. Without the e-collar, she and I would not have the wonderful relationship we have today. She'd still be on a long line; I'd be frustrated...and honestly, I'd probably not like her very much. Now I love this dog.
Illona
Several months after writing this Illona sent this video of Matea working to a list that we're both on. Remember that this is not a competition dog, just a pet. The dog is wearing the Ecollar but because Illona has her hands full with the video camera, she's not pressing any buttons.
Folks,
I've been in SAR work a long time (never mind how long) and have made a point of learning from every experience, and making experiences happen so I can learn. I've learned a lot and have a lot more to learn
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One, or several, things I've learned came from a Lou Castle seminar. My experience with an electronic collar, prior to the seminar weekend, was to observe a person 'frying' a dog because of not responding to a command, 'when he knows better.'
First, I don't believe that dogs are always seeking a dominant position in EVERY situation. In fact, I agree with Jean Donaldson (Culture Clash) that dogs are not involved in a plot to take over the world by domination
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Second, for what ever reason (I have an opinion here, but it is NOT part of this discussion - e.g. breeding, rearing, etc.), some dogs are fearful of the strangest things (I have a dog who hides from a) hammers, b) emery boards) (!?!), and security is paramount in changing the undesirable behavior arising from those fears.
Third, Lou Castle can read dogs like few people can. He is among the top three that I have seen work with dogs and 'read' their body language and use that knowledge in training. BTW, I have seen the best and the worst and I make a point to see how trainers read dogs.
Fourth, as an Operant Conditioning Trainer, I understand that 'positive punishment" (the application of something unpleasant TO the dog), has a place in humane training. I practice positive (pleasant) training where ever warranted, but like a table, training has four legs, positive reward, positive punishment, negative reward, negative punishment. The 'four legs' must be in balance, and they are NOT equal.
The combination (rarely understood by the canine) of positive punishment (application of something unpleasant) and negative punishment (removal of something unpleasant) is what we see when a dog is 'fried,' inappropriately, by an electronic collar. In this scenario the dog performs a behavior that the handler perceives as wrong and applies inappropriate stimulation via the collar. The handler releases (stops) this inappropriate stimulation after a few seconds/moments, believing she/he has 'taught the dog a lesson.' In fact, the application of the inappropriate stimulation is hardly ever at the moment the dog commits the offence, therefore the dog associates the pain with whatever is on his/her mind at the moment. For example, the dog is running after deer, the inappropriate stimulation is applied just as the dog looks at a gate. In the dogs mind (remember there is a .03 second for association) the gate caused pain. The dog turns and runs ANYWHERE away from the gate just as the inappropriate stimulation is released - therefore, running away from a gate precludes pain. I have seen so many pet owners, SAR Dog handlers, etc., apply positive punishment at the WRONG second (verbally, via the electronic collar, throwing a rock, etc.) so many times that I firmly believe that you must carefully set up the situation where positive punishment is to be used - as in Plan It Out.
What Lou Castle teaches is Observing your dog, reading what is necessary and what is confusing. He teaches Application of the MILD aversive to teach the dog to focus on the handler and what the handler is training/indicating. Past that I have seen him apply positive reward and negative reward (giving 'something good for dogs' and 'removing something good for dogs') at the proper time.
If I may use a crude example, people will often observe a rude human who can be identified with a certain region of the U.S. They then will think that all the people from that region (identified by accent or dress) with the rude person that they saw, and say "The people from XX state are all rednecks and inbreds." In fact, that state may have many unschooled but decent people, educated people, fine artists, excellent athletes, wonderful families, etc., but because of the bad example that was observed they ALL get an unfounded reputation for crudeness. Because you have seen/heard of the inappropriate application of stimulation with an electronic collar does NOT mean that is the way it should be used/was intended to be used.
Thus we come to the USE of electronic collars. There are the good and the ugly. You have probably seen or heard of the ugly. Please give AT LEAST equal time to the good. Learn, its good for you and fun!
BTW, I have one dog that has learned to love life and become HAPPY, and surges INTO the electronic collar when I go to put it on him, because I have used it in accordance with the principles that I learned from Lou Castle.
Learn a new process. Grow. It is fun!
Regards, Beth
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Thanks to your emails and your web site, I was able to train my dogs with the e-collar the right way and it has worked wonders!!!
GSDBESTK9/Blitzburg
Blossom CGC
Sam CGC, NAC, NJC, O-TN-N, TG-N
Ultro v. Johnson-Haus, CGC
Gala v. Landholz
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First time today starting the recall with the (relatively) untrained 3 year old Great Swiss Mountain Dog I rescued.
It took a total of SIX reps for the dog to figure it out. SIX. I finished a total of about 20 reps, no commands, just a quick pat on the head. I'll continue tomorrow.
I'm convinced!
Scott Z
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Sometime back I remember reading some of your articles on a UK forum regarding E Collars. Although some were very heated, the information and debates that you gave were always consistent.
I recently took some of the things you had written and put them into practice when I was asked to help train a deaf Collie x. The lady (owner) wanted to be able to take the two dogs to the horse fields when she was out riding but couldn't take the bitch due to her being deaf and quite young she had no control of her. We did some on lead training introducing hand signals and facial expressions which seemed to work very well but still couldn't get her attention whilst running around in a field.
Eventually I convinced them to try an E collar with the setting just enough to get her attention when she gets the stim she immediately will stop what she's doing and look up for her mum (owner)then she can be commanded via the hand signals. This seems to be going really well. Since then she as used the E collar to correct barking during the night and as also introduced it to the other Collie x when they are at horse shows etc and he is being a complete pain in the rear.
I was never a big lover of the E collar but thanks to reading some of your idea's and thoughts especially on the correct use etc I certainly am now.
Daz
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For those of you that are new to ECollar training, an encouraging story is that I recently trained a very good recall into a Pit Bull at a Rescue that I volunteer at. This was accomplished in 3 sessions with the sessions having a 1 week gap. The ECollar has opened up a whole new world for this dog. He absolutely loves running off leash in a dry creek bed.
Dan
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© 2007 Lou Castle
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