The American Beagler Forum

How old are your pups when you first strap the e-collar on? My little patch female is about 10 weeks now and coming along well with the "here" command...since that is all I'm working on until she gets it down pat. Its just that I always read that you shouldn't ever let the dog ignore a command, and the collar would be a great way to get her attention, since she already knows the command...she's just ignoring me at times. I've tried the check cord, but she sees it as more of a game of tug of war. I have much better luck getting her to come when she's off the lead. My concern is that her age is too young for the collar, but being inexperienced with the use of an e-collar, I need some advice. thanks

In my opinion 10 weeks is way too young for an E-collar.

I would not worry too much about making her mind perfectly at this point. Let her be a pup.

6 months. and never correct for a command they don't already know. It is easier to ruin a dog with an e collar then it is to fix them. 10 weeks is WAY too young.

I always wait until they are 6 months old and 15 lbs.

10 weeks is just a baby. Mine were still coming to the here command at 6 months old. It's the 9+ months I had trouble when you just couldn't break them down. We would only use the e-collars on real problem hounds that just won't go "down", you could certainly ruin a hound, we haven't used our set yet. I think it's the time you spend with them to learn, I'd be using positive reinforcement before the negative if at all possible. Just my opinion of course, we all have out methods of training.

I agree, at least 6 months for any shock collars (bark & invisible fence for me)

I have a 20 foot leash I let pups drag around the property when I am training them. I use it till I get a consistent response on what I want. I dont usually put on an ecollar till they go afield at 6 or so months old

B.Trull wrote:I have a 20 foot leash I let pups drag around the property when I am training them. I use it till I get a consistent response on what I want. I dont usually put on an ecollar till they go afield at 6 or so months old

I AGREE A CHECK CORD WILL DO WONDERS BUT AT THIS AGE KEEP TRAINING PERIODS SHORT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES. LET THEM PLAY AND PLAY WITH THEM THIS WILL CREATE A BOND WITH THEM BUT ALWAYS LET THEM NOW U ARE THE BOSS. I DONT PUT A SHOKE COLLAR ON TILL THEY GIVE ME A REASON TO AND I DO YARD WORK WITH IT BEFORE I TAKE THEM AFEILD WITH IT ON. THEY WILL KNOW WHAT THE WARNING TONE IS BEFORE I TAKE THEM AFEILD WITH IT AND THAT IS USAULLY ALL IT TAKES TO GET THERE ATTENTION

Have you tried giving her a nibble from a treat when she does come to you and also love her up real good ( praise ) when she does what you want. I never had to do this with a beagle pup,but I use to raise blue heelers also and I had a couple heeler pups that were hard-headed and I use cheese as a reward for doing what I ask and they begain to do anything I commanded to them.Just a thought, I wouldn't use a shock collar on a pup that young

Thanks for all the replies. I sure didn't want to shock a little puppy, but if that is what the majority here had recommended, I would have thought a little harder about it. For now, I'll add the treat along with the lovin' up and praise. Its tough to love up a 6 pound pup without knocking her all over the place. I think she gets the message...she's just a baby, though. I just started letting her a run a tame bunny for 10 minutes every day in my fenced garden and its a real treat to watch. thanks again

Do it with words !!!!!!!!!!!!

Take is slow! 10 weeks they should be just following you around and working on simple commands without punishment. As far as the ecollar goes, 6 months at the earliest if not 9 months. Even then it should be on the lowest stimulation to get their attention. Hold that collar in your hand and hit the button, see how far up you can stand it. Those things can hurt. They can also ruin a dog in less than 10 minutes.

Dane

~ 6 months, no need to rush it 10 weeks is too young.