New e-collar user experience

[Tennessee Hunter]

I have two 9 month old male dogs, both of which are somewhat shy.

Both will jump and run rabbits.

I have been working with them with the e-collar to get them to obey the COME command. I have used the collar on the rope, both mind well under this situation without the collar and become real timid when shocked.

In the field I have use the collar only twice, sparingly until today. Both have responded well to a bump on the one setting of my classic 70 (only a few times tried in the field).

Today I used it the first time on one of them while out of the line of site. He was completly ignoring me when I called him. I bumped him (on one) and heard him yelp, didn't come and I went toward him, bumped him again, everytime he moved farther away finally I caught up with him hunkered down in the brush. Not sure what I did wrong, but he would not respond. Once on the leash I fed him a few treats he was fine, but I don't want to do anything to ruin this dog, but won't tolerate a dog that won't mind.
Question: What can I do better? Do you think I hurt anything today?

The other dog was being hard headed as well and has responded to the collar before, and I bumped him once and he lit out like a bat out of heck, so I increased it a notch and could not turn him around. My buddy finally caught him as he was running his way. Again, once on the leash he was fine and eating treats like nothing happened.

Up to this point in the day both had minded well and were hunting good.

Looking for advice. I plan on continuing to work them in the yard on the rope, but they are timid and don't like the collars even on one, as they want to lock up more than come to me.

Asking for advice.

[TC]

You need to let the dog know where you are at! Somtimes sound carrys differently and he may have thought you were in the other direction. I say this only because had it happen to me and another beagler was watching what happened and as soon as the dog seen me he came runnin. Whistle or yell until you are sure the dog has seen you or knows were you are then if he dont respond bump him again.

Sorry i didnt read it all close enough sounds like you just need to work on them some more, praise them up real good when they do come to you.Keep up the treats ect.

[bowhunter59]

TO MAKE THIS PROCESS MUCH EASIER U NEEED A OLDER DOG THAT MINDS WELL WHEN U HOLLER IT COMES THEY WILL FOLLOW..e colllar can ruin them if not careful.....

[Tennessee Hunter]

when you say ruin the dog what do you mean? Do they just quit hunting? Become skiddish?

[BlueJack]

I think that them being able to see you when you call for them is very important moreso when your voice is apt to echo around in a holler than in more of a flat area. I have 2 that are hardheaded if they dont see me or if they are penned up for a while without getting out. But if they see me it dont take but one "HERE BOY" and here they both come. Also, every time they pass by me and they are not open on a rabbit, I always call for them and either pet them up real good and/or give them a very small treat. I just feel that the more positives they get from you the more likely to get what you are wanting from them.

Where abouts are you located in Tn.

[B.Trull]

My 2 cents here had a similar situation last year on a 2 yr old hound who had 1 gun season under his belt. First any puppy of any hunting breed must be able to know he/she can find their way back to you with their nose. you must use one call to get them to come back and reinforce it every time you use it. You are on the right track with the rope and yard thing. I have used doggie treats to for the positive reinforcement also. Using the collar for this can be tricky. This hound was hard headed and I believe stupid and his first season I had to chase him down and use the collar. Yard work and treats and rope also. Second season same crap. I used the collar on him some and he started getting skittish. and running farther away when nicked. My conclusion dog was inferior as he cold trailed to much also and didnt produce enough bunnies. Cull !!!! Dog has to hunt for you and with you. My good friend had a Larsen Hare hound that ran a beautiful rabbit but ole ' Jake hunted for hisself not the owner same crap !!!
Just my 2 cents

Brad

[Bill G.]

Tenn. Hunter I had a shy dog about the same age as yours and had the same problem but I solved it with Classic 70. This dogs sister was so shy that I gave her Away when I caught her, this was before I got Shock collars. I raised these two dogs from my bitch so I know they were never mistreated but I think I left them in pen to long before I got a chance to mess with them.
When I First shocked my male dog he started geting farther away like yours did and Idid not Know about using a rope because I did not read instructions before I started using my collars. So what I did was increased the power to 2 and he got farther away. Well by the time I got to 5 he was a 100 yards away by a pound buried up in some briars. IT was a hard thing to do but I decided to either break him or go in those briars and get him which I knew I did not want to do every time I hunted him.
I held down the button on level 5 until the timer shut the collar off. It was very hard for me to do but I had to have control of my dog. It took several times and the howling was almost unbearable and I came close to giving up. I stuck with it and he poped up from those briars and came to me and I turned and walked back to my truck without saying a word and he followed me every step of the way. when Iback to truck I petted him real good. When I call him out of the woods he comes to from wherever he is. He is 2 years now and doing a good job on rabbit.