Do You Need An Electric Collar To Train Your Dog For Off Leash Adventures?

[@StonnieDennis]

Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!

[@Cassandrabb]

Your horrible the fact that you agree with electric collars their painful your the worst kind of trainer you don’t love dogs or respect them you just use them for your videos

[@ShamanicSavant]

I believe in the right tool for the job, regardless of what it might be. My current Lab pup could walk thru a flock of screaming geese unphased, and ignore bunnies or squirrels running right in front of her at 6 months... off leash and without an e-collar. Getting thru a minefield of goose poo without snacking was where the e-collar came in. She wouldn't touch it on a leash or long line, but off leash she'd hit the snack bar and just parade around with it mocking me in a game of keep away. She was already well versed in "leave it" and deliberately blowing me off. I have one inflexible rule for being off leash in public parks... "your off leash freedom depends on you listening to me whether you like it or not. The one thing you'll never get away with is blowing me off." She thought she was getting away with it and that I had no way stop her. Out comes the Hand of God, and the lesson she learned that day wasn't "don't eat goose crap" but that there will always be consequences for not listening to me. It didn't take much with the e-collar, just knowing I had a way to enforce the law was enough to bring her around. I don't have the luxury of owning my own farm where I control the environment, we train in public parks where the only thing I can control is my dog. Not only that, being a SDiT we HAVE to train in public areas. It was a valuable lesson for her and prepared her for public access training in grocery stores where she's surrounded by food. There's nothing in Whole Foods that's more tantalizing to a Lab than a steaming fresh pile of goose poop. The only other thing we've used it for is proofing recall at a distance under high distraction, and for that there's no better tool. Many years ago when I got my first Lab and was training her on birds, I became friends with a kennel owner and trainer who'd been in the business for years. It was the first time I'd ever seen an e-collar and back then they actually were shock collars. He was trying to sell me on the virtues of it and when he saw that I was hesitant he informed me of the method they used to use to get a high drive dog's attention at a distance. Before e-collars, the old school tool they used was a marble and a slingshot. I opted for the e-collar and he showed me how to use it. Until a better tool comes along, I'll continue to use it in situations where there really is no better tool for the job. I fully agree with you that it's not a replacement for proper training and building a working relationship with your dog. If you ask me, the most misused tool of all is a dog crate... not an e-collar :)

[@TerryUrquhart-v4w]

That was a Masterclass with the little dog … best dog training channel on here by miles ! Hats off to you Stonnie!

[@joefish6546]

It was like watching a mini cooper spend a weekend off-roading with a bunch of Jeep Wranglers. I hope he survives his stay... tenacious little creatures those jack russels though.

[@StonnieDennis]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@justdawndb]

I loved seeing Stone work through his "terrierness" to join the rest of the gang! I love the suggestion about approaching others for help of a mentor dog...you couldn't be more right about people wanting to make friends in the world today ... What a great video on this cool fall day. Thank You! Btw you have helped me show my grandsons "be the change you want to see" - INVALUABLE 💞

[@jessafarrisfraser1880]

Stone, I so appreciate that you are very clear in your communication and address to whom this advice is warranted. It has helped me so much to watch your videos and learn how to support my parents who just got a puppy. They are in their 70’s and many of your other videos about how to train for specific needs have given me ideas on how to help this puppy with his owners. Thank you so much for all the time you have put into this channel over the years.

[@StonnieDennis]

Thank you for watching!

[@jamesquinn5650]

Here in Florida electric collars have saved my energetic GSPointers lives. Bears, gators, snakes,hogs, coyotes, bobcats etc have injured and killed many of my neighbors dogs. Despite good training enthusiastic young hunting dogs lose their minds sometimes when they see what they perceive as possible prey. The ability to get their attention at those times is invaluable. Thanks for all your great training videos.

[@caramarie2818]

I get this as a fellow Floridian! Teaching your dog to re-call to you is one of the most important lessons they can learn. I am about 4 months into being an assistant dog trainer and one of the best things I’ve seen the trainer do was use a dogs food outside to get them to come to him. Basically you use a long leash and have kibble in your hand when you call them and they come, they get the kibble and you slowly ween off of that. The best lesson in this for the dog is that no matter what’s going on out there, when they come to you they will always get something better! So when the see a gator or snake or etc. you call them and they will know you even if it’s not right now you will have something in store for them : )

[@jamesquinn5650]

Great point! My dogs are all well trained to come but still when they are young and going through the training process they are vulnerable to their own enthusiasm. I do not have training collars on my mature dogs and I train them to come with a long rope and treats, not the collar.

[@rayr4320]

Electric collar on a case by case basis. I prefer pointers for overland hunting. There is no better canine, but dominant pointer trainees often start freelance scouting. Collar is effective in curbing that. Had a pointer x bcollie that was a hellacious point dog for levee destroying hogs with male and female catahoula bring up the rear. But pointer cross needed a collar. I prefer not to use on labrador, because I think they make better partners without the use of negative reinforcement. For instance, I dont think it is useful to zap a lab who doesn't want to get in the water on a cold day to get a bird or decoy drifting away. They understand what you want and will learn to do it by positive reinforcement. I learned from this channel that Rome wasn't built in a day and to integrate training with other dogs and have the young trainee observe. I think they were working up a Chesapeake in that video.

[@beastinblack4055]

In other words you are using a band aid because you are unable to communicate with them - put in the work!!!

[@jamesquinn5650]

@ Wow, I don’t think you understand my comment. I don’t use the collar to train the dogs but to protect them while they are being introduced to new experiences. I have trained bird dogs for forty years and believe me I put in the work.

[@logun24x7]

Some excellent examples of premack dog training this is often the way we did it years ago before we gave things fancy names. The e-collar today just adds a seat belt, in 70's we did a lot of things without seat belts, today we understand the benefits of wearing a seatbelt.

[@beastinblack4055]

Actually a leash would be a better comparison to a seatbelt - pretty much doing the same thing. An e collar is a shortcut for lazy people

[@logun24x7]

@@beastinblack4055 Well then call me lazy, because that's like saying a horse & buggy is the same as a car, cars are for lazy people. If there is a path that takes me to reliable verble control faster, better and more reliable because its given me clear and precise communications why not take it and get the dog to a place of freedom and making good choices on it own. In my opinion tools are training wheels not management tools.

[@jh8111]

I have a 12 week old GSP, and have your voice running through my head, we need to be “calm, attentive and polite” we’re not quite there yet, but thanks to your videos I feel so much more prepared for what’s to come

[@Smitch2909]

I'm a first time GSP owner- mine is 2 yrs now and we still train every day- mostly gundog stuff with dummies etc. but obedience too. I would say only now is she close to a standard I'm proud of and I know we still have work to do. Stonnie's videos have helped me so, so much- the one with the lab and gsp pointing out the differences is really worth watching. One of my close friends has a black lab a similar age and I was tearing my hair out but seeing the two side by side with Stonnie's commentary made me realise why I needed to kerb my expectations. Have the most fantastic journey with yours- the first year to year and a half was really tough for me and I stressed so much that I missed out a bit on enjoying my pup. Happy training!- wouldn't, and couldn't be without mine now- smashes everything she does from canicross to cuddling!

[@jh8111]

⁠​⁠@@Smitch2909thank you, Ive only owned labs before, and watched those Lab/GSP comparisons, and so thankful I have, your 100% right, without them I think my expectations on me and the puppy would be completely out of sync, we’re working on basic obedience and recall and it’s going pretty good atm, I’m in Australia an plan to take him deer and bird hunting eventually.

[@Smitch2909]

@@jh8111 I'm sure you'll absolutely smash it :-) especially with having had labs. They are such a fun dog to have around so athletic but very sweet in the house. To watch my girl run sometimes almost makes me cry it's so beautiful. We had a lovely boxer before her who was a great dog but just almost like a different species by comparison. best of luck from the UK!

[@joefish6546]

Our guy is a GSP poodle mix. I read "...12 weeks..." and thought "oh boy that's a long road they're starting on and they are just tying their laces!". Puppy was hectic but ours guy really turned a corner at about 9-12 months - a bad one known as adolescence - and reemerged from that crazy phase at around 30 months as a mature and sensible boy (somewhat)... I'm sure everyone's experience is different, but it's a tough breed if you are a first time GSP owner. The number of folks even that say "I've raised several XXXs but this GSP is like nothing I've ever owned". They can really be the supercar of high-drive dogs. Good luck with your little bullet, they're an incredibly rewarding breed. Pressure makes diamonds, nothing worth doing is easy, and all the other phrases that are painfully true.

[@jh8111]

Hahaha, yeah, it’s a little daunting how much exercise/play he’s wants and needs at 12 weeks, I fortunately live in the country so plenty of mountains, rivers and fields to exercise, play and train in.

[@brianlocal3]

my life is not complete untill we see a full video of that little jack russell!!! lol

[@StonnieDennis]

What would you like to see?

[@brianlocal3]

Mainly a breed overview video like you have done for the various other breeds, A “is this breed right for you “ style, and from your small obstacle course, to the adventure area, but trying to focus on the JRT, and what realistic expectations people should have. My wire fox terriers are definitely different to take out to the woods than my old lab was for sure Lots of your videos you touch on this but one tailored to this breed (and really it would hold true for WFT, Welsh, lakelands) Thank you for the informative and entertaining videos

[@RatdogDRB]

That chubby can come hang out with me on my couch any day, all day. What good dogs, all. God bless you, Stonnie in your efforts.

[@karenm2162]

Really helpful to see you manage an off-leash situation where the dog isn’t doing what is expected. Cool to see how Stone did make the choice to follow you given some time. 😊

[@jfrankcarr]

Watching your farm adventure makes me miss our family farm that we sold several years ago.

[@jimh3588]

Always good info and timely.

[@StonnieDennis]

Glad you think so!

[@LinneaVoss]

That was so awesome to watch little Stone become empowered when you gave him the change to figure out. He’s gonna be one confident little JRT😊❤

[@jasmainegrayson6730]

How do hounds perform during exercises like this? Your intensive training program is 28 days. What kind of progress can one expect with dogs that aren’t very pattern cognizant and bred to run away from a handler?

[@NielsO-t3v]

My dog is great offleash if there are no other dogs around. But he has an annoying habit of having to meet every new dog that pops up in the environment, and he'll sprint away like 200 meters to do so sometimes. Which is obviously a behavior we don't want, since not all dogs like this and since he's gotten mature he doesn't match well with every dog anymore (still great and playfull with most, but sometimes....). I've spent so much time training recall, but with other dogs the trigger is too big. We do consider doing some ecollar training to try to train some impulse control in those situations. To me there is nothing more fun than an offlead walk with him, and he agrees, but we have to respect the society around us. So to have him offlead there need to be some boundaries, so that he can have more freedom.

[@e.m.3705]

Couldn't you contact a good local trainer to look at your dog's behaviour and its motivation? So much can go wrong with using an e-collar, a dog punished for running towards another dog can become dog aggressive. Maybe there are ways of approaching your problem that you haven't thought of yet.

[@NielsO-t3v]

@e.m.3705 I mean whe have done courses with him etc ofcourse, and I have probably watched 100s of hours of dog training on youtube. The trigger is just too damn big for him. He's even gotten frustration/arousel based reactivity because of it. He's our first dog and our biggest mistake was letting him meet too many dogs on and off lead when he was young, resulting in him wanting to get to every dog and pulling on the lead towards them. I see where we messed up now, but hindsigt doesn't help now. He can loose leashe walk fine with other dogs around. Also walks along fine offlead without other dogs there. For now I do it mostly manage it with a long line when I'm at places where the chance is big we run into other dogs and only let him off lead at places where we usually don't mean many people and dogs or I have a good overview of the area I'm walking in. Ofcourse if we do E-collar training we'd do it properly. Get him used to the sensation on a low setting inna low distaction environment. And then start using it before he has made the decision to take off, so recall him when he's in the buildup phase/decision making phase before has committed to his bad behavior. Probably do it while he has a long drag lead on aswell. The plan isn't too just randomly shock my dog at a high setting without proper training. It's more to be used as a shoulder tap to get his attention just before he commits.

[@joefish6546]

@@NielsO-t3v Unfortunately, I don't think an e=collar is going to work for what you describe. What you describe is a very common behavior in dogs, especially adolescent dogs. An e collar is just a tool, and like a hammer is for driving nails, an e-collar is simply for notifying your dog of a command at a distance. If your dog does not respond to a verbal command from you at a distance because they are too excited to run up on another dog having an e collar stem the dog is not going to work either. The misconception with e-collars is that they work when everything else fails. This is simply wrong and more dangerously, leads people to stem their dogs so much that it causes the dog pain and results in negative association with something they should have a positive association with. If your dog is also showing signs of 'reactivity' to other dogs because of heightened excitement you are a good candidate for the e-collar enhancing that response and pushing your dog into aggression. I'm just one random person the internet though - you should seriously consider having an experienced trainer advise you, which I'm sure you will.

[@NielsO-t3v]

​@@joefish6546 E-collar training would indeed be done with an experienced trainer. At this point he's about 2,5 years old so the worst adolescent phase has passed and he's slightly more calm, so I have some hope he will respond to it. But we shall see. Training should be done at very low levels of stim anyways and an E-collar can be used as reinforcement for other behaviors too. There's a mental aspect to it too, where the dog knows you still have some control over him even though he's off leashe. If he doesn't respond well too the e-collar training at low stim we know enough and just have to live with keeping him on a long line under most circumstances.

[@e.m.3705]

I'm sure you wouldn't do anything which could harm your dog, and maybe the vibration from an e-collar can serve as an additional stimulus for your dog to get back to you and collect his reward. Stonnie said something extremely important: that we as dog handlers should learn how to read our dogs' intentions from their body language, and react to these intentions as they arise. In short, we have to learn to think and react faster than our dogs!;- All the best!

[@NettiieB]

I like that the puppy turned back at @06.24 to wait for Stonnie, then had a mini wipeout @27.37 😂🥰

[@C.Pachovsky]

Top notch quality content again uncle Stonnie :) Have a great weekend!

[@StonnieDennis]

Thanks, you too!

[@littlefoxnj3403]

My Question is, how do you correct a dog, who listens most of the time on the recall but not ALL THE TIME. ****Also, I just love Annie...she is absolutely beautiful in looks and temperament. Watching your two mentor dogs and how they want to be with you is fantastic. My dog is still always looking around while training...

[@VibekeVanRijn]

🎉🎉🎉🎉 love every minute of this video- as always- we learn so much from each session- thank you for all your efforts 😊

[@StonnieDennis]

I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@stevehilliard1495]

Theo is a very good boy and I think he’s proud to be chocolate, everyone loves chocolate 😂

[@kathleenredick275]

😂😂😂

[@TomsWhip]

I'd be interested to know your take on whether or not you would let sighthounds like Greyhounds, Whippets, Saluki, Deerhounds, etc. off leash without one. In other words, dogs that have been specifically bred not just to have incredibly high prey drive, but to automatically enter into prey lock the instant some critter runs away from them. It's tough, cause these dogs were made to run and love it, but at the same time they literally don't know where they are, how they got there, or which general direction they even came from after a chase of a hare or deer

[@StonnieDennis]

My first thought would be how did the breeds develop if they won’t come back? Then I would look at the environments and training techniques that shaped the development of the breed and be honest with myself about whether or not I have a similar type of environment available. If I don’t have access to the same type of environment, I simply wouldn’t get that type of dog.

[@TomsWhip]

@@StonnieDennis Well certainly many dogs have died over the centuries from not being found after a hunt, and what have you. But in more modern times the prevailing wisdom in these communities and in some of the breed descriptions is that you simply do not let them off the leash. Period. However, if a new tool like an e-collar could offer sufficient deterrence or aversion to snap them out of a deadly chase, it could potentially grant these dogs much more freedom to explore and run about in nature

[@waynos1785]

My dog is the pup of rescue Greek hounds, she doesn't always come back the most direct route but she does always come back. The trick is to understand their drive and make yourself really interesting with plenty of exercise

[@Izamota-q5v]

I'm hunting for resources on the origonal way they trained and hunted with them myself. Closest i've found is people who still run rabbits and coyotes with them.

[@TomsWhip]

@@waynos1785 Unfortunately that is not the trick to reliably call them off a live hare chase in the Woods, or a stray cat or squirrel across a road, No. My own dog is the daughter of a world championship competing lure courser, and i don't think you can fairly compare a random mix breed or street dog to a purebred one when it comes to drives

[@terrystarr2617]

Electric collars can result in some bad things. Especially in the hands of my stupid neighbor whose chocolate Lab used to break through their electric fence and come visit me regularly. They put an electric collar on him, he came to see me and nearly chewed my face off. Why? His owner's wife was driving up and down the street shocking him to find him, and he was close to me when she zapped him good. He bared his teeth and lunged but missed me. They eventually gave the dog away, but that is a perfect example of the mis-use of those collars and how you can't fix stupid.

[@kathleenredick275]

😢😢😢

[@joefish6546]

Why they are banned in many European countries. Forks don't make you fat...

[@spacechicken527]

I like them for off leash training not for the shocking part. I like the noise, so you can get your dog's attention from far away. Like a long distance recall-ampliphier. If you train it not as a punishment, but as a "Look at me" just like another command, you can then give your dog a hand signal to stay or come from there.

[@kathleenredick275]

@spacechicken527 We whistled then called the dog's name. I doubt they had e-collars back then. ;^)

[@suzannebrady6201]

That looks like so much fun!!

[@ssmith5086]

I’ve been watching for about 3 maybe 4 years; I haven’t owned a dog in 50 years. I tune in because I love listening to calm common sense and sanity. And I DO enjoy dogs.

[@StonnieDennis]

Crazy, but there’s not much of a market for my kind of videos anymore… Thanks for sticking with me!

[@mihsst803]

My 7 month old male can’t be trusted to not pick stuff up and eat it when roaming off leash (acorns, leaves, etc.) so I’ve been thinking about implementing an electric collar to mitigate those impulses after conditioning it properly.

[@Leverquin]

great video. i even like that pixel compression around moving parts :)

[@StonnieDennis]

What do you mean about pixel compression? Is it not clear for you?

[@Leverquin]

@@StonnieDennis youtube compress quality of videos by chopping quality of sounds and sometimes video. it usually do with reducing quality of static things in point of view. but in your video (this video) if you notice watching in 1080p you can see like "aura" of pixels. example: 6:40 - around your hand while you pointing, 22:57 - 22:59 you can notice around your head while you are in boat. So was clear to me? instructions were pretty clear, must say loved the video :) its just observation not criticism. never stop making videos and be friend with dogs. thank you :)

[@wmickinley]

Very Helpful

[@DebH-hg5wl]

Excellent, yet again.

[@Katieandcabot]

14:03 are you worried about Cyanobacteria (blue green algae) in the pond? When I see a pond with that algae cover, that’s my worry. It’s a big problem where I live (New England)

[@StonnieDennis]

Do you know any dogs who have had issues with it, personally?

[@fidiusjwhoopie]

great wisdom

[@tocinoamericano]

Excellent video

[@StonnieDennis]

Thank you!

[@jennifereason1884]

Wonder what the conversion factor is for Lab miles to Jack Russell miles? Enjoyed this video so much and, once again, everything you say about dogs applies to rearing well-grounded children (especially boys) as well!

[@louisr.386]

Top video as usual! I learned so much with your video and applied those technique with my soon to be 2 years old lab. Didn't expect I would reach that perfect point on the feaching game, wait for release, come back to heel position and deliver to hand. (for that part, I used the technique to make him carry object while walking in the little obstacle course I did in my backyard and he catched it in no time), But here we are, so I'm now doing hand direction pattern now, left, right and back and it start to be pretty good but I would like to watch again the video you made about that. I try so search for it with no sucess, do you have the link or keyword for my research? Also I don't know if you made a video already of whistle stop but I would be really interessing. Thank you for all you do, your video are amazing, beautifull dog, fun training! It's alway relaxing to watch and learn some pretty common sense approach to raise well rounded great 4 legged compagnions with your technique.

[@kylee4395]

When I brought home my puppy (Kangal/Maremma cross), many told me that an e-collar was the only way. I wondered what you would say but you didn’t have any specific videos on that topic back then. I decided that approach was not right for me. After daily perimeter walks and patience, he now comes when called or by whistle at farther distances. So much easier than an e-collar. I really enjoyed watching your videos then and they really helped me! So glad to see you do a video on this topic. Love your channel.

[@raymudas]

As someone who owns and uses an e-collar, it depends on a lot of factors. In general though, the average dog owner does not need their hands on one of these tools because it can very very easily be used improperly and dangerously and for superfluous reasons, it is not the end-all-be-all for off-leash training and marketing it as such is a big issue in this industry. I prefer giving people information to become better owners and handlers rather than handing them a tool saying "this will fix your problems" (because it usually wont). I personally use the e-collar as long-distance communication, when my dog is far enough that he can't hear me easily or I'm giving him distance commands. My e-collar is also not a cheap one, and (having felt it on myself) it is similar to a tens unit/muscle stimulant, the actual corrective piece of it is the vibration function for my dog and I don't use that button often because of that fact. The only way I will ever condition an e-collar is when the dog knows the behavior(s) and only when I am pairing it with positive reinforcement, for me the stim function will never be used as a shock function or any corrective nature. I don't judge anyone for the breed they have even if it doesn't fit their environment, because people end up with dogs from a variety of circumstances. As long as they take steps to still give their dog breed-specific outlets and activities, even if that means someone needs to use an e-collar for management or as a safety net (with proper usage/guidance only), and whether that is for life or until they get themselves and their dog at the point in their relationship that they no longer feel they "need" the tools.

[@marrrrrrrrrrrrry279]

I just bought a very nice e collar (dogtra 1900s) for my lab because I want to give her off leash freedom and she has a decent recall that works 90% of the time but that 10% in the city can be disastrous if I cannot get her to come back. However when I introduce it it’s going to be super slow, in my house, and it’s going to be weeks before I feel comfortable using it outside and months before I feel comfortable using it off leash. I cannot really bring my dog to a place close to me that has wide open spaces to practice off leash stuff and if she makes a mistake by not listening to me she could easily get hit by a car. I love Stonnie and his attitude towards dog training but not all of his methods work for me and my dog (she is super bullheaded and stubborn for a lab). I think watching a wide variety of dog trainers and figuring out what works best for your situation is a good way to become well rounded.

[@StonnieDennis]

You have to be very careful about watching a wide variety of anything. In the social media age it’s very easy to simply become a technique collector and never actually learn to master a given approach. If we are honest, the majority of content providers are simply copy cats who take a little of this and a little of that, piece it together and then try to pawn it off as their own methodology. Choosing someone you feel you can trust and doing your best to fully understand their approach is a much better option than watching a bunch of people and trying to figure out how to piecemeal together all the different bits of competing advice. At least that’s been my experience.

[@raymudas]

@ I agree 100%, was just saying a vague “give information” - my main go-to answer when people have questions is to find a local trainer and check their results to see if they’re someone that can help them. the dog training community is a hodge podge of good and bad information that trying to piecemeal something together is recipe for disaster without guidance of a professional especially now that almost every dog account I see on social media all have some combination of prong collar, e-collar, head halter, etc. and it seems a bit out of control. I don’t deny use-cases for tools but the sheer amount they have increased is an example of this exact issue of people following any advice they get online, which makes high risk scenarios because most people unfortunately don’t dig deep into dog training information they receive.

[@joefish6546]

I am a member of several dog groups on a certain social media platform. I'm a member because I like to see recurring patterns in people that both ask questions and answer them. One of the most common posts I see is someone coming on saying "My dog won't ... What should I do?" and the answer is inevitably "Use XXX tool, it worked for us". I think the problem with this is that having a well behaved dog that can do the kind of stuff Stonnie and his viewers want to do (i.e. freely exploring the outdoors together) is nothing to do with tools, it's all about relationship building. I'm sure some of it is about the dog's temperament too, which is grossly unfair to those that just have a dog that wants to run off. I have one of those, but he likes to run off because he loves being outdoors, so we figured it out. We long lined for the first 2.5 years of his life becuase it gave me the confidence to let him go, sometimes too far, and know I could recover him if I needed to (it's infinitely easier to catch the end of a long line than the collar of dog). After a few years of learning each others patterns and expectations, he's now a great adventurer and we both live a very fulfilling life together exploring the outdoors. I quite liked Stonnie's "We always start these exercises with double fingers crossed" - I think that kind of sums it up too. Life is a risky business sometimes, be prepared for the unexpected but also take risks or you'll never know how good it can be! Modern western humans are very timid...

[@juschill7]

Another awesome video! How big is your property, and how many ponds does it have? It would be awesome to see you work with a Scotty

[@nikolasjames9767]

i took guardianship of a 5.5yo intact male GSD who'd been locked in a backyard most of his life. But super super sweet demeanour. The E Collar was hugely important in our training. But without investing in learning how to use, it I would not recommend it. (how to reinforce it in a positive manner, and most importantly knowing when NOT to use it i.e if he gets into it with another dog) Timing is everything. Now 8 months later I never really need to use it. In my case it worked out well.

[@susanmckernan4644]

I enjoyed the video. Annie is a beauty.

[@backtobaking4054]

When your mentor dog is better than your actual mentor 😂❤❤

[@logannewman4532]

I have only ever used a shock collar for snake breaking with a professional snake avoidance trainer. Many of our adventure areas are heavily infested with rattlesnakes. Hank formed an association between the sight, sound, and scent of rattlesnakes and pain. Retest with the training snakes (live, muzzled rattlers) and no collar, 5 years after training still showed a strong aversion. Existential risk avoidance is the only good reason to use that tool in my opinion.

[@phubblewubbphubblewubb]

Very few humans can be trusted with an E collar, most are just too inadequate to train a dog. Recently I witnessed an elderly man torturing his old terrier with one, the dog was yelping and screaming. At the time I didn't realise what was going on....but I did notice the distinct wide, striped collar on the dog. A few days later I found the same collar on the ground near to where this man's car had been parked. I took it home and introduced it to my hammer.

[@street_preacher]

Sounds like you made this up.

[@phubblewubbphubblewubb]

@@street_preacher Why would I bother to do that? Don't judge me by your own standards.

[@ShamanicSavant]

@@phubblewubbphubblewubb Why is anyone's guess, but it definitely sounds like you made it up. Everyone judges by their own standards, it's all we know. When was the last time you judged anyone by THEIR standards?

[@mikedonovan7947]

Thoughtfully produced and insightful. You are clearly making a positive difference in the lives of countless dogs and their humans. Thank you for sharing your expertise and passion!

[@greghoffman3146]

I want to see a bigger van/bus with even more dogs

[@AgentTrust]

Thanks 👍

[@Grinding_Gears]

I don’t need an e-collar, but I feel the need for a Stone pup in my life ❤

[@jackobrien1739]

My question is what about training older dogs for off leash? I am between dogs. I am again in the process of adopting another adult dog.

[@sweetlorraine6982]

Where’s the squirrels and other dogs that’s what distracts mine

[@susanjaffe315]

I use an e collar when I am concerned of meeting wildlife….my Jack Russell behaves nicely but not sure if he might not do well coming upon coyotes….also if traffic is nearby when playing ball….not worth chance dogs will chase a ball into tne street..and the vibrate mode works quite well

[@ingafalkenstein4221]

They are illegal in Germany. But I think they are used in training police dogs.

[@myhounddog]

In my city we have this group of people who have a false understanding of what an e-collar can/should do. There's a couple people in my neighbourhood who have these out of control large breed, large PSI dogs.... And they believe that the e-collar prevents the dog from starting and getting into dog fights. As I watch these guys use the e-collar as a form of control it seems to have the opposite effect. Instead it seems to antagonize and irritate the dog causing more reactivity. Making the situation double dangerous.😢 P.S e-collars not to be confused with GPS tracking collars 😂

[@george9258]

Dose the same thing apply to older dogs

[@StonnieDennis]

Two of the dogs in the video are adults.

[@yogiyoda]

Puppies are afraid to lose their pack. You usually won't lose a puppy off-leash even if they aren't trained. Some adult dogs without enough training might take-off in the right circumstance though. Especially dogs with hunting instincts or wanderlust

[@MaximillianandRubyGrace]

Um I tried that with my Newfie puppy in the woods with adult Newfies NOPE she took off gone! Thankfully we found her Now I have an adult intact male If he’s left to his own decisions(and he is trained) He will wander

[@ecargttol5913]

Depends on the puppy

[@yogiyoda]

@@ecargttol5913 - you had a puppy that didn't follow the pack?

[@MaximillianandRubyGrace]

@@yogiyoda sure did

[@yogiyoda]

@@MaximillianandRubyGrace - maybe it depends on the breed. All of my mixed breed puppies were afraid of losing the pack and would give chase if we moved too far away

[@waynos1785]

Oh my gosh Stonnie, in the UK it is normal to exercise our dogs off leash. If the modern world demands that we use technology to make our dogs calm, confident and polite, then we are all lost.

[@l26wang]

It's expensive to own a dog. Expensive to feed good food. Expensive to go to vet visits. In the grand scheme of things, ecollar costs very little. Of course it's possible to get off leash freedom without ecollar. The real question pet owners should be asking: "is it easier to get off leash freedom with the help of a ecollar?" The steps Stonie shows in this video is honestly unrealistic for most people who own inappropriate breeds or live in urban environments. This is the exact reason ecollars are so usefu. Dogs who find themselves in those unfavourable situations can still have offleash freedom with an ecollar.

[@StonnieDennis]

This comment is very telling. The premise seems to be that an e collar is necessary to help people, who own breeds not suited for their environment, manage their dogs in off leash environments. I have a couple of thoughts on that line of thinking: First, people should not have dogs not suited for their environments. Why let vanity sentence a dog to a lifetime of frustration? Second, electric collars are not a substitute for proper early socialization and basic obedience. These marketing efforts that aim to replace proper basic training and socialization with electric collar management are, ultimately, very shortsighted, in my opinion. It's very similar to kids nowadays not learning basic math because they always have a calculator in their pocket.

[@Grinding_Gears]

Here in the UK, e-collars are very rarely used. I have only seen one in over 30 years of dog walking. Nearly all the dogs I meet have good off leash manners in an urban park or country park environment. Those that don’t are on a short leash or an extendable leash. In big cities dog theft is a thing and another reason for extendable lead use 😢.

[@DadRides]

I was always an ecollar guy. I’m now on my second lab and I have a 7m choccy lab. I’m not opposed to using an ecollar but honestly, following Stoneys deal since day 1 I don’t see it as a necessity

[@StonnieDennis]

That makes me very happy!

[@DadRides]

@ your videos have made our family very happy. I still need a little help with the barking/whining, but that aside she is awesome for 7 months. I get compliments all the time and I tell everyone, it’s not me, I’m just the student. The teacher was great

[@tonybaggett1984]

Electric collars are needed for some dogs. But very very few dogs. As a matter of fact they have the potential to do more harm than good. Basically they should be used as a last resort and the handler should really take a hard honest look at their training before going to an electric collar. That’s just my experience.

[@beastinblack4055]

Were they needed before we had electric collars? Nope

[@StonnieDennis]

I would say the opposite. Instead of saying they should be used as a last resort, I believe if one wants to use an electric collar they should start off with a clear understanding of how to use the tool as their primary training methodology. Use the tool to establish proper habits, then fade away from it. That's style of training isn't my preference, but it can be employed effectively if, and it's a big if, done correctly.

[@tonybaggett1984]

@ you would know way way more than I do about dog training or could ever conceive of knowing. So I concede to your point. I have never use electric collars and don’t believe in them at all. So the ins and outs of using them I have no idea about. It just seems that there are dogs out there that are so aggressive and hard headed no other training method seems to work. I've only seen other guys with those dogs. But personally I've never trained a dog that needed an e-collar.

[@Izamota-q5v]

Ive used them on sighthounds. I would love to know how people trained them to come back in the days before cookie and e collar training. If anyone has any resources on how they originally trained their sight hounds, I'd much appreciate the information. I got sucked into treat and e collar training as a young dog trainer, and am ashamed to admit that my own dogs raised with those methods behave worse that the ones I trained the old fashioned way as a child - They had far better recall for one. I was a better trainer before I learned all the fancy modern methods.

[@kathleenredick275]

I have had some really good dogs in my life, and I used to train horses. The best thing you can do for your dogs, horses, whatever you may have, is to thoroughly train them. You will love and appreciate them more, and if anything happens to you from a life change to your demise, you'll know your animal will be welcomed and loved by someone else, not abandoned or put down.

[@MrStringpicker]

E-collars, blue green algae, flea tick collar & pills - when i was a 12 yr. old my lab mutt dog had none of these things, and he had no problems - he was a good dog and never strayed far. But he got all the exercise following me on my mini bike through the woods and fields to the lake.

[@StonnieDennis]

100%

[@beastinblack4055]

People who sell them convince us we need them….

[@MarinoK9]

No, but they help.

[@angelinacamacho8575]

I find that for me having my dog off leash (no line attached, no fence, or ecollar on which i dont use anyway) is way more stressful than having him on a flexi or any leash. he is part basenji and has a very high prey drive. I have been working with him and he is getting better but I feel like he will always be a ¨good until...¨dog. I dont mind having to constantly rely on the long line or flexi because the public can at least rest knowing that I have some kind of physical control over him that they can see (its hard to not see that leash dragging) . in the end we need to remember that while an owner sees their cute dog running up to someone that other person sees a huge GSD barreling at them.

[@StonnieDennis]

Some dogs live in environments that aren't really suited for their breed specific traits and tendencies. Unfortunately, those dogs have to be managed very carefully for their whole lives.

[@myhounddog]

Thank you for posting that. Absolutely 💯 good points and relatable ❤

[@beastinblack4055]

Exactly that stonnie spot on

[@l26wang]

Ecollar will decrease your stress and give your dog the freedom he needs. No downsides other than social stigma.

[@CooperMaMa322]

I use an E-collar like a tune up. My boy isn’t going anywhere. He stays close enough. But since we use open areas in public parks I must have a reliable and quick recall.

[@sweetlorraine6982]

So your telling me if they see a rabbit or a dear they’re not going to sprint off

[@StonnieDennis]

Yes

[@yagovila7052]

I like your approach and agree with what you said about the methodology and the results. The problem arises when some training schools try to "force" their style in everybody else saying that's the ONLY way to train dogs, anything outside that is junk or is dog abuse and should be banned and punished. I don't believe in PURE styles, be it either old school compulsion trsining or PURE-POSITIVE force free because in dog's lives (and in life in general) nothing is absolutely positive or negative, there are lots of nuances that need to be taken into account and those close-rigid- pure methodologies don't have an answer for them.

[@Hope-uk6zw]

My first dog was a dachshund he was well trained and three years old. I Loved that dog. My next was a puppy and I trained him. Ok I didn't train him he pulled on the leash took off and came home when he felt like it. I Loved him too. Since then I've trained my dogs. I'm 66 now and never used a shock collar. I trained my dogs from the beginning and haven't had trouble with them. Like kids be consistent and not over bearing.

[@dbmail545]

E-collars have their uses. Most people who use them do so improperly. They are NO substitute for training. Off lead training is what I START with.

[@molnarclay]

I put an e-collar on my dog when she was younger.. Gave her a correction and nothing bumped it up and still nothing.... Bumped it up a third time and she yelped at the correction.. Took the collar and remote and put it the drawer where it still is.

[@AmericasAlgebraTeacher]

Too much common sense and calm, good advice… how do you expect to go viral without choking out your dogs or zapping them into submission? Jk You’re the best! The “rubber band” method is incredibly powerful - it works with kids as well, and builds self confidence much more than hollow platitudes.

[@c1gar]

Love your work stonnie but that looks like blue green algae, deadly to dogs!?

[@StonnieDennis]

Luckily, they made it out alive…

[@c1gar]

@@StonnieDennis if in doubt stay out for green algae!

[@Mitch_Ryder]

😂

[@c1gar]

@@Mitch_Ryder Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, has become a growing concern for dog owners. These algae blooms often occur in warm, stagnant freshwater sources such as ponds, lakes, or even backyard swimming pools. While it may appear harmless, it can be extremely toxic to dogs, leading to serious health issues and even death if not treated promptly.

[@Mitch_Ryder]

@@c1gar you’re definitely not the first safety Sally to to try to bring this to Stonnie’s attention. He knows what he’s doing and him and his dogs are in this pond all the time.

[@susanmckernan4644]

What a happy muddy mess. 😆

[@Terrierized]

A wet dog is a good dog

[@69judge27]

NO 😎🎸

[@jesseurizar7146]

Don’t shock any lab please.

[@reprobatemind6194]

Don't need one for the dogs... people - maybe.

[@kerstin.jitschin5861]

Never ever would I use that 👎👎👎

[@Mitch_Ryder]

I don’t need one

[@shell88ish]

I think if you ever want to let a pit bull, shepherd, rottweiller off leash an appropriate an e-collar would make an excellent emergency brake. I'm not comfortable letting my pit bull off leash regardless of how well his recall is. Apparently they work really well for recall if trained fairly and properly with the e-collar. I had a chocolate lab I let off leash all the time with no worries. The high prey drive dogs I'd worry about. I'm not a really experienced dog trainer but the liability just seems too great with certain types of dogs.

[@StonnieDennis]

Think about the implications of that comment…

[@shell88ish]

@@StonnieDennis Please enlighten me I'm learning and I respect your opinion a lot. My 19 month old 79 lb pit bull is well behaved. However, he does have strong prey drive that I've been working on calming. He doesn't start fights but he wont back down from one either. I suppose the e collar could get into the wrong hands. I train him in a big field and want to be able to call him back.......do you suggest to just keep working at it.

[@ej2863]

I don't see any Malinois lol

[@StonnieDennis]

I have a ton of Malinois videos

[@ej2863]

@StonnieDennis yes I've watched the Malinois videos, just pointing out not as easy with Malinois

[@marisolnnieves5424]

Absolutely NOT. any shock collar is cruel. Somebody should shock you when you least expect it. See how it turns you into a nervous mess. Shame!

[@Izamota-q5v]

Used correctly on the right setting it doesn't hurt, and the dog understands what is being asked. I don't think it's cruel when used correctly, but I also believe you should get the right dog and train it without one from the start.

[@marisolnnieves5424]

@Izamota-q5v Yeah. Sure. Let's put one on you and try it out. They can't talk so it is remarkable you can assure they don't hurt. Keep your collar. I trained my dog with positive reinforcement, and she is a champ. Time, love and patience.

[@FluffyDog303]

Why are the least informed, least educated so often the most judgmental?

[@Izamota-q5v]

@marisolnnieves5424 I used someone elses dogtra e collar on myself before I even bought one. I wasn't sure about using one on my dog, so I tested it on my own neck - It really does just feel like a tense machine. It gave my first rescue lurcher freedom he couldn't have had otherwise.

[@Izamota-q5v]

Had I been able to rescue him when he was first dumped at 5 months, I likely wouldn't have needed it. Unfortunatly, he'd been moved from shelter to shelter and never trained or socialized for almost two years before I got him off the kill list. I would have had to return him after the first 6 months had I not figured something out.