The Collar Wise Dog

So we all think we have the smartest dog, but how smart are they actually?

Smart enough to tell the difference between the sound of your engine and your neighbors? Yep.

Smart enough to have you trained to give them food when they do cute things? You bet.

Smart enough to memorize the way to the vet? Sure thing.

So it would only make sense that they would be smart enough to know when the collar (whether prong or e-collar) is on, it means that a certain set of rules apply, right? We would be fools if we said no.

They definitely know. There is no “maybe” about it. They know.

And it’s annoying.
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So what do we do? How do we stop our dog who is a perfect angel with the collar on from becoming a total goof-on-the-loose when we take the collar off? ​

​The trick is pretty simple: keep the collar on as long as you can within reasonable limits*.

So that means:

• Wake up time: collar goes on
• Morning walk or yard time: it stays on
• Breakfast time: it’s still on
• Humans go to work/school: collar comes off
• Humans return: collar goes on
• Dinner time: collar is still on
• Bedtime: collar comes off

Of course, these aren’t the only times when the collar goes on and off, but you get the idea.

The point is, the more the collar is on, the more it becomes a part of life, and the better behavior you will see, in general.

To risk sounding like a broken record, EVERY MOMENT YOU SPEND WITH YOUR DOG IS A MOMENT SPENT TRAINING.

Don’t miss opportunities or let things slide because it isn’t training time and the prong is on the hook.

Our dogs are smart, but I would like to believe that *most* humans are smarter.

Consistency is key in training, so don’t let being lazy be your (and your dogs) downfall.

*reasonable limits should include but are not limited to:

• When your dog is in the crate for more than 5 minutes for prong, two hours for e-collar
• When the responsible members of the household are gone or are sleeping (prong only, for e-collar, more than two hours it should be removed )
• An e-collar shouldn’t be left in the same place for more than 4 hours, if being worn all day by necessity, rotate sides of neck
• Prong doesn’t need to be worn without a leash or training tab. If you can’t communicate with it, it is pointless.