e-collar or not

[bowhuntinoh]

I have never owned a bird dog befoe so i have never used an e-collar i have owned beagles and plenty of other dogs on the farm we just teach the dogs to come when called i guess i might have to consider an e-collar how about some input fellas

[Rachswid]

If you use an e-collar, do your homework. Get some books and read up, on when and how much heat to use in different circumstances. ONLY use the collar AFTER all commands are taught and understood! And only on a dog on the up side of six months at the VERY least. Also get the dog used to the collar way before using it, have him wear it around a while, or you could buy a dummie collar.

Tri-tronics makes great collars and books on how to properly train with an e-collar.

[uplandchessies]

I'm sure I'll stir some comments, but I don't see an immediate need for them. Like you said, you teach them to come when called. The same can be done for sit, stay, etc.

Now I'm not against E-collars... I just think too many people jump on the electric bandwagon. I hunt over Chessies and don't use them.

[hoghunter51]

Well e-collars are very good tool but it depends on what your hunting. If your hunting birds your dog dosent bark and can hear your commands for the most part. If your hunting rabbits where there are other game anamials and the dogs run what there hunting then they make so much noise they cant hear your commands. One sure fire way to mess up a good rabbit hunt is to have your pack of beagles get on trash, You dont need to hammer the dogs but tickle them so they will stop and hear your commands.

[h2oknine]

I have taken 2 dogs the HRCH title without the use of an E-collar I did end up purchasing one for a dog that liked to find snakes. I have used it to steady my other dog on Upland since he decided he didn't want listen to my whistle on a flush. this tool is used to enforce what the dog already knows and not what they don't.

[nulle]

I have a collar and have had it on the dog very few times. I am kind of out of the old school and anytime you can't control your dog without it he is not trained in my book.

[bowhuntinoh]

i have only used an e-collar once on one of the beagles who ran deer and i had my buddy do it he runs bird dogs but most beagles will respond to a whistle really good well i took her out yesterday i put a check cord on her let her run for about 15 min then checked her to see if she would come when called well we dont need the check cord anymore so far she is the perfect dog for me she has the personallity i wanted stays within gun range most of the time she moves like she walking on air points rock solid the guy i got her from said she has only retrieved one bird but i got beagles to fetch the rabbits i guess i can get her to bring a bird shes very willing to please by the way shes an english setter im so happy i spent the last year learning and looking at dogs and how they do their job i now understand the love folks have for the sport watching her work the scent and point that bird was just amazing she probly wont ever win a trial but i wouldnt take a million bucks for her i may actualy pry the cobwebs off my wallet and take her to a hunting preserve ill have pics soon

[green01]

we have three beagles. and they all wear e-collars when we are training or hunting. we call them bowties. soon as you put them on they act like gentlemen. but if you purchase one buy only the ones that come with a warning. the warning being a vibrator in the collar or a toner. and make sure it has a ajustment for the shock treatment. it takes very little shock to stop a bad action. i set mine up on my finger so i know what the dogs are getting. make sure to always use the warning first before you shock. it will not belong before all you will need is the warning. there are many times the dogs can not hear you. this is when these collars really help. another no no is to shock the dog if you do not know which way he is going. stop and listen and give him time to react to the warning. he may be on his way in. i feel that anybody using a collar without the warning should throw them in the garbage can. they are useless and should be outlawed.

[bowhuntinoh]

that makes sense green i want to thank everyone for the help i guess ill have to get a couple videos and go watch a few dogs in training i bet dog training is a whole lot like horse training it depends on the personality of the horse as to what works in each horse i think the next thing she needs to learn is to wo in the field we have all summer for training ill keep the updates coming im lucky to have areas to do training in i have fenced areas and open public areas and access to live birds if i need them of course ill still have to go rabbit huntin with some friends i just love the sound of those beagles on a rabbit ill be uploading pics today after i get a few thing done around here by the way if any of you fellas get to highland clinton or adams county and want to do some huntin i spend a lot of time in the field i know where most of the game is deer rabbits quail pheasant ducks geese and turkeys i hunt mostly public land i havnt had the need to hunt anywhere else

[bowhuntinoh]

lets see if i remember how to do this