As for the e-collar not being a correction, I must disagree. Many call it a "tap on the shoulder", but we all know that it is a correction. You use it when the dog does not do something right, that it already knows.
A dog that's lagging during a figure eight exercise, a lazy retrieve, a sloppy sit etc.
I don't see how anyone could say that an e-collar is not a correction. Perhaps you just feel the word is too harsh, but IMO, I'm not going to sweeten the name up any just because I've chosen this route. It is a correction, MHO of course
Spiritus, breeding Belgians, a breed I dont' know much about. But I do know from a member on this board, that it's very common for young Belgians to show "aggresivenes" during the stand for examination, growling and lip curls.
So you feel that any dog that shows these behaviours should not ever be shown?
From what I understand, over half of the Belgian population would be non-show worthy on that statement.
The reason I do believe with work that she will be reliable is the fact, on how well obedience has worked in other areas of her life. This is stretching the situation a bit, but with her age now, her obedience, focus and her respect for my commands is growing as well.
Boemy- If I would've had that attitude, ROxy would be dead right now. Allowing behaviours that CAN be changed with work and training to continue because she is "uncomfortable" or simply not happy with the situation. (Roxy is not happy with a lot of situations. Silly things, squirrels in the yard, people near the car, people by the house, Hades stealing her "spot", the water tower we have to drive past to get into town, and the list goes on, the list gets pretty ridiculous as well) Or, she would be a dog that could never leave the house, for fear of biting, anyone at anytime. As mentioned she had some pretty aggressive behaviours, that with obedience worked have ceased.
Now, if I had your attitude, chances are, somewhere along the lines, something would've happened and she would've bit someone and been put down. I'm glad that I don't have that attitude. I'm proud of myself, for taking a dog that couldn't have lived in my community continuing in the direction she was and changed her. Yes, she still has quirks, but all of which I am working on. THe old bad habits that have been replaced with good are ALWAYS reinforced. ALWAYS. Every good sit stay with a stranger nearby. Every good recall when there is a heavy distraction, such as a person on a bicycle or another dog. (FOr which she nor Hades has NEVER slipped up)
That is not a good attitude to have with a dog period. Let alone a dog with aggressive tendencies that CAN and HAVE been changed.
No one other than my stranger and close family members is examining her yet. There are other dog trainers that attend my school, that will be the next level after she's solid with my trainer.
There is a DA dog in Hades class. They do sit stays, down stays etc together. Is it irresponsible for that owner to allow this because her dog is DA?
No. We are in a safe setting, she's a responsible dog owner and if we are doing an excersise that she doesn't firmly believe her dog will behave, she sits out.
I have the same attitude. If there wasn't the people in Roxy's class that knew I could control my dog and were comfortable with us practicing the "stranger on the road" excersise, Roxy would never have gotten to where she is today.
Spiritus- The excercise you mentioned, RD, I believe has already mentioned. It is something I do plan on using combined with the watch me method.
Yes, she knows the watch me exercise and we already use it. But there is no distraction that has ever required something like the e-collar. She doesn't care for other people or dogs working in our area, so we've never had to really enforce the command. Now we do. My voice and treats were not working to keep her attention so this is the route I've thought long and hard about taking.
Spiritus, I am more than happy to share "Roxy". The things we've tried, what's worked and what hasn't. It takes a while though as you've mentioned! LOL. Hades is much easier to explain. Roxy is much more complicated. Hence why the route I've chosen I believe is not as harsh as it may seem, and why I believe eventually, it will come as normally to her as any other event.