SIT MEANS SIT

[JANET YOUNG]

Anyone use this company to train their dogs? Interested in use of e collar and results. Ready for 3 1/2 month old to get this training done! They board them for 2 weeks and train them.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

I've heard not such good things.  They are know for a hard sell.  Also my understanding is they use a lot of adversives early to, in order to get consistent results in a short period of time.  Not much fun for the dog.

[Christine & Camus]

I've also heard negative comments.

[Vivian & Mojo]

I was so sad reading this post. First of all E collars are not a positive training method and can make dogs mean and neurotic. Second 31/2  months is a very young puppy. The training should be done by the owners with love and patience and the help of training classes or private trainers. Sending a puppy or dog off for weeks to be trained in a harsh manor is just cruel to me. You don't just get training done, its a lifetime commitment and part of being a dog owner.

I also have heard very negative things about Sit Means Sit.

Most reputable trainers don't even suggest E collars and require a puppy to be at least 6 months old and as a last resort.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

In general I agree, except that these days there are good trainers have gotten away from the "last resort" mentality with respect to e-collars. They can be useful in training hunting dogs and other situations where you have to communicate with the dog from far away. They can also be good for layering pressure over behaviors that you've already taught using positive methods, in order to proof. Lastly they can be used in situations where you want a strong negative response - such as rattlesnake avoidance training.

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with e-collars - there are just another tool in the bag to be used under the right circumstances. However they require particular care and respect because it is easy mess up a dog if you just slap an ecollar on them and start zapping them without understanding what you are doing.

I strongly agree that using escape avoidance to teach new obedience behaviors to a young puppy - whether the pressure is applied by an ecollar or any other method - is at best unfair and at worst dangerous. Generally using using adversives on a dog younger than 6 or 7 months is not a good idea.

[Christine & Camus]

Excellent points.

[KLN]

I have also heard very negative things not only about this company but the use of an ecollar. I work very closely with a trainer because I'm working with Finley to become a therapy dog and the only time they ever even consider an ecollar is when there are severe behavioral issues. Any good trainer will never use force to train a dog. I'm not a fan of "send away" training programs but there are ones out there that do not use force. One thing I will say is that even if you send them away, if you don't practice every day it will all be for nothing. There is no quick fix with training...it's an every day commitement. Another point to make is that most reputable training services will not take your dog until at least six months, eight months is preferred. Three and a half months, even four of five is way too early for a training program like this. Vets won't even nueter them this early! I've done a puppy class and intermediate class with Finley and with daily practice he has done awesome. They are smart dogs and pick up fast. Golden doodles and labradoodles have very gentle temperaments; an ecollar or training program that uses force could dramatically impact your dogs temperament and create a very skiddish dog.

[Missy]

I don't know anything about the company you mentioned; however, I have had great results with using an e collar.

I started using ecollar towards the end of 5 months.

You must understand how to use one in order to have a positive outcome. The dog MUST understand commands before using ecollar, so if you don't have basic commands learned this is not the tool for you.

I worked with Teddy on commands using a leash and treats. and we would work everyday for months. The greatest lesson I learned was to use one word commands. sit, stay, leave, down, come, drop, etc.

For me, Teddy had great understanding of commands, but when around other people, he would loose control, so the great thing about ecollars is to get the pup out of that 'red zone' and able to hear my commands.

The ecollar I choose has the option of a beep, or vibrate, or shock. And I must say our lives have changed but there was a lot of work put in BEFORE the use of the collar. if the dog doesn't know commands, then he won't understand why he is being beeped or shocked.

To be able to walk off leash and be able to say "wait for me" and have the dog turn around and wait for me to catch up is awesome to me-and this is thanks to the e collar.  I just wanted to let you know there are good things to be had with them. 

if you are having difficulty with commands, then maybe a class or personal trainer?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Add me to the list of those who have heard all negative comments about this program. Personally, I can't imagine sending my puppy off to be trained. I think that is all part of the bonding experience. JMO.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have two e-collars. Mine have a vibrate mode which is all that I use. I use it on occasion to refresh Luca in recall. He acts like the hand of God has touched him and immediately returns. I started using it when he was well over six months of age probably around 10 months of age well he was still in training, with the advice of my trainer. The collars could be a great tool.
However, I never use the shock mode. I tried it on myself using it on my side. When I got to about six out of 10 on the scale, it was very painful and my legs shut out from the muscle reaction. I would never do this to my dog.
I also don't think I would ever send my dog away for training. I think training is best done by the owner. You need to reinforce it forever. 3 1/2 months is very young to expect a dog to be well-trained. They are just really learning to do more intense training.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Oy!  6 out of 10 is very, very high F.  I use Einstein collars (great company, great CEO and excellent customer service), which go up to 100.  Lola is a very "hard", dominant dog and I've never gone above 12 - and that that was for negative reinforcement purposes.  For general proofing she's good with about an 8 out of 100.  I personally cannot feel it at all at that level but she gives me the little ear flick.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, but at least i knew what not to do. Vibrate, which doesn't hurt at all, works like a charm.

[Tammy and Violet]

Can you start to use the e-collar's at any age ?? Violet is one now and we have tried normal collars...break away one ... which she broke away and broke it......pinch... gentle lead...easy walk .. last tow work great but she shuts down and feels withdrawn from me  when I put it on her...like .. oh man ... not this thing ... sigh....