What age do you introduce the e-collar?

[Annette47]

About a year or so ago, I added an e-collar to my "bag of tricks" for obedience training my male (competition level, not just around the house obedience) and found it very helpful. I'd like to eventually be able to do the same with the pup, but didn't know what was a good age to start the collar conditioning (Mulder was 9 at the time, so obviously old enough!). I do train with people who have extensive experience using an e-collar in this venue, but they have different breeds, so I didn't know if what they do is necessarily appropriate for labs and certainly don't want to do any harm by introducing it too young or at too early a stage of training.

Thanks! By the way, I'm in no hurry about it, but am trying to plan for the future.

[Zman1001]

I have heard 9 months is a good age to start. I think recommendations are no sooner than 6 months, but from everything I have seen and discussed with local retriever club, the trainer will not put a pup on collar until after 9 months.

Good luck

[Fowl Play]

I start intro once they know their basic obedience commands, with my last two that was around 5 months. (Sit, here, heel, etc.) Each dog is different so you have to judge the intensity and maturity of the dog each time.

[windycanyon]

6.5 mo old Kiku is wearing one in the off mode right now while running marks off my wingers etc so she makes the connection that it's related to "fun". We just started formal "hold" work. I usually don't have a need to collar condition super young, but feel I could do so as Fowl Play described above for Here, etc, at any point. She will be CC'd within a couple months probably.

[kojakusa]

I don't think it's a question of the dog's age (though I probably wouldn't use it any earlier than six months myself), but at what point in the training process you introduce the collar. As Fowl Play said, intro after you have gone through the basics of obedience (here/sit/heel) and the dog fully understands those commands is a good point to introduce the collar.

[EvanG]

Originally Posted by kojakusa

I don't think it's a question of the dog's age (though I probably wouldn't use it any earlier than six months myself), but at what point in the training process you introduce the collar. As Fowl Play said, intro after you have gone through the basics of obedience (here/sit/heel) and the dog fully understands those commands is a good point to introduce the collar.

This is sound rationale. In fact no tool or process should be done for any dog on the basis of a schedule.

However, I do routinely start CC-to-"Here" at around 4 months of age with most pups. The stipulations are:

• The maturity of the pup
• A systematic approach
• A widely flexible e-collar
• Pre-teaching of the command passively first

As for general collar conditioning, Kojakusa has rightly stated that formal obedience should all be solid prior to embarking on it, and that is usually later than 6-8 monts of age. Again, of course, this is general and should not be construed as a schedule.

EvanG

[Quack Quack]

When I can't catch them anymore!
Usually around 5 months, thats when the run-a-muck stage kicks in.

[omaha]

i know i am in the market for a good e-collar in the next month, lucy is 7 months

[BrianW]

I "introduced" the e-collar at about 4 m/o by having the pup just wearing it, turned off.
His initial CC to "Here" was just before he turned 5 m/o under the guidance of an expert. He already "knew" the command as per training program, so this just formalized it. My recollection is that we only needed a 2 High on a TT 500 Pro to get the desired response.