Are you wondering how to train a dog with a shock collar?
No matter how much we love our furry friends, sometimes they engage in unwanted behavior that we want to prevent.
Whether it’s unwanted barking, biting, nipping, jumping, or running into the street, it’s important to stop these behaviors. It’s for the safety of your small dog as well as your sanity!
But here’s the thing: some dogs are more stubborn than others. In fact, some toy breeds such as chihuahuas, Lhasa Apsos, and terriers are known for their stubbornness.
Fortunately, behavior collars for dogs can help you stop misbehavior, even in the most stubborn dogs.
Imagine never having to worry about your dog jumping on guests whenever they come over. Imagine no more unnecessary barking when you’re working remotely from home.
Imagine the improved safety when your dog is no longer biting or nipping family and friends.
When used properly, a shock collar will help you curb these behaviors. After reading this article, you’ll no longer have to wonder about things like “how to stop barking” or “how to stop my dog from jumping on people.” Below we outline the seven steps of how to train a small dog with a shock collar.
How to Train a Toy Breed with an E Collar?
The first step is to familiarize yourself with an e collar.
When you purchase one of the best dog behavior collars from Wiggle Kingdom for small pups, it’s important to become familiar with the equipment before using it.
One of the reasons e collars have a negative reputation is because of the incorrect usage by some owners. The term “shock collar” is also off-putting to some people, but once you are familiar with the equipment, you’ll realize why the term “training collar” or “behavior collar” are more appropriate.
Here are the key features you should be familiar with:
- Sound, vibration, and shock modes. The best dog behavior collars have multiple modes so you can find the right stimulation level for your dog. Furthermore, the vibration and shock settings also have levels ranging from a low-end of 1 to 9.
- Plastic cover for prongs. If your tiny dog is allergic to metal, then you can prevent the prongs from touching your dog’s skin by placing the plastic covers over the prongs. Some owner’s like using the plastic covers anyways for a more muted intensity.
- Pocket-sized remote. Last but not least, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the remote to ensure you know how to use it properly. The buttons (such as “Mode”) are clearly labeled. The antenna has a long-range of up to 1,000 feet so you can use it anywhere in the house or while you’re outside.
Of course, if you have any questions about the remote or the training collar, feel free to get in touch with Wiggle Kingdom so we can guide you through how to train a dog with a shock collar.
Familiarize Your Dog with the E Collar
If you purchased a puppy shock collar for biting or a shock collar for whining in the crate, you might be eager to start training immediately.
However, it’s better to slowly introduce and familiarize the dog with the collar first. This is one of the key secrets of how to train a toy breed with an e collar.
Why?
First, you don’t want your dog to be afraid of the behavior collar. The more familiar your dog is with the collar, the smoother the process will be.
Second, there’s a theory that some dogs become “collar-wise.” In other words, the dog is wise enough to behave when the collar is on, but the moment it comes off, the dog does as it pleases. Slowly introducing your dog to the collar can help prevent this.
Dogs learn by association. Humans do, too, but it's not our primary method of learning. Think about the last time you met someone. You walked away from that interaction with either a neutral, negative, or positive impression of that person. Similarly, dogs learn to associate things.
If your dog gets stimulated every time they wear the collar, they will become collar-wise because they associate the collar with training. But if you let your dog wear it a few times without stimulation and don't use the settings every time, your dog will be less likely to become collar-wise.
So that raises the question: what’s the proper way to familiarize your dog with the collar?
Feel free to let your dog sniff it a few times to understand that it’s safe. It might even be a good idea to allow your dog to wear it a few times without turning the collar on.
It’s important to note that training collars are not meant to be a 24/7 collar. They are only meant to be worn for a few hours at a time (during training and behavior correction), not as the full-time collar.
Properly Fit the Collar to Your Dog
In order for a behavior collar to work properly, it must fit your dog correctly.
If the collar is too loose, the prong won’t touch the skin and it won’t have the effect that it’s meant to. On the other hand, if the collar is too tight, then it will be uncomfortable for your dog and won’t be a pleasant experience.
A training collar should fit the same way as a regular collar.
When in doubt, use the two-finger rule.
Here’s how it works: take your pointer and middle fingers and slide them under the collar.
The two-finger rule suggests that you should be able to slide these two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck. Your fingers should be able to slide in, but the feeling should still be snug.
If you need to force your fingers in, then the collar is too tight. However, if the fingers aren’t snug to the neck, then the collar is too loose. Adjust the collar accordingly based on the two-finger rule.
We recommend using the two-finger rule on your dog’s regular collar as well. The side effects of a poorly fitted collar can include choking, irritation, neck muscle injuries, and leg injuries, so it’s important to ensure that every collar fits correctly.
Find the Right Stimulation Level
What makes Wiggle Kingdom one of the best dog behavior collars on the market?
In addition to being the smallest training collar available, our collar features multiple levels and settings so that you can find the right stimulation level for your dog!
When shock collars were first created for hunting dogs, there was only one setting: shock. Beyond that, the shock level was the same for every dog, no matter the size or breed. This is one of the reasons why there are still so many misconceptions about training collars to this day.
Here’s the good news: Our collar has three modes and multiple levels, so you can find the perfect setting for your dog.
To recap, the three modes are:
1. Sound
2. Vibration
3. Shock
Furthermore, both the vibration and shock modes have levels ranging from 1 to 9. One is the lowest level intensity while nine is the highest.
We recommend testing the settings in the order, which means you should begin with sound. If your small dog responds to sound, then you won’t have to use the other two settings!
However, if you have trouble getting your dog’s attention, then you’ll want to switch to the second mode, vibration. Begin at level 1. Does that get your dog’s attention? If not, then move onto level 2, etc.
If level 9 on vibration doesn’t work, then it’s time to try the third mode, which is shock. Again, begin at level 1 and move up the intensity scale as you need to.
What does the shock feel like?
Most of our customers report that they can place the collar in their palm and put it on level 3. They describe this as a “small pinch.”
By going in the proper order (sound, vibration, then shock) and leveling-up with each mode, you can ensure that you’ll find the right level for your small dog. You won’t have to worry about whether the setting is too high, because you’ll only increase the setting if the previous one didn’t work.
Again, this is why it’s so important to familiarize yourself with the collar. It's not just about how to train a toy breed with an e collar; it's about how well you know how to use the equipment.
Many people might try using the collar immediately without learning about the different modes and levels. This can scare the dog, so it’s important to do your due diligence and understand the equipment before using it.
When you understand how to train a dog with a shock collar, it is clear that it is a safe and effective method to achieve your goals!
Stop Unwanted Behavior Like Barking, Whining, Biting, or Jumping
In order to stop unwanted behavior, it’s important that you have finished Step 4. The collar should already be on the dog and you should already know what mode and setting you are going to use.
The key to stopping unwanted behavior is to catch it when it happens and to respond immediately.
Remember, dogs don’t have the same logic that we have. Their memory is also different. This means that if you attempt to train your dog after they’ve done an unwanted behavior, they won’t understand what’s happening.
For example, let’s say that your dog ate the trash while you were away at work. If you get angry at your dog for going through the trash after you’ve come home, they won’t understand why you’re so upset. They won’t connect the dots like you have. This will make them frightened and anxious, which could cause even more unwanted behavior.
In other words, you have to catch the behavior in the moment.
For this type of training to work, have the collar on your dog and have the remote with you.
Let’s say you work remotely from home and your dog has a bad habit of barking at the window every time a car drives down the street. Anytime your dog barks, then tap the button on the remote. If your dog doesn’t stop the unwanted behavior, then tap it again until he or she stops.
Again, timing is crucial, so it’s important to deliver the taps (correction) as soon as the unwanted behavior appears.
Suddenly, your dog will find that barking at cars driving down the street isn’t as fun as it used to be.
This strategy can work for most unwanted behaviors from your tiny dog.
Another scenario might be that your dog likes nipping the heels of your children as they play. Anytime you see your dog start nipping or biting, then tap the remote.
We can’t over-emphasize how important timing is. By tapping the remote at the precise moment the nipping and biting happens, that’s how your dog is going to understand that they need to correct their behavior. Again, biting and nipping will suddenly not be as fun as it used to be.
The Secret to Dog Training: Consistency is Key
Since dog’s don’t have the same cognitive abilities that we have, consistency is extremely important.
If you’re not consistent with your training, then some dogs might get mixed signals. This is where most people fail when learning how to train a toy breed with an e collar.
If you don’t tap the remote every time your dog is nipping or biting, then it’ll be difficult to stop unwanted behavior. The more consistent you are, then the quicker your dog will learn and the more consistent your dog will be as well.
The best part about a behavior collar is that it isn’t forever. Most dogs learn quickly and will behave properly for a lifetime. Of course, you can always sharpen up your dog’s behavior in the future, if you need to.
Because dog’s aren’t supposed to wear e collars 24/7, here are some times when you might want to consider consistently putting a collar on your dog:
- When you go for a walk (this is good to prevent pulling or aggression)
- When your kids are playing (if nipping and biting are an issue)
- When guests come over (if jumping is an issue)
- When your dog is most likely to bark unnecessarily (typically during rush hour)
Of course, you know your dog better than anyone, so you know the times when your dog is most likely to engage in unwanted behavior. By staying consistent, the quicker you can curb bad behavior and strengthen your relationship with your dog!
This is one of the key secrets of how to train a dog with a shock collar.
Pro Tip: Praise Good Behavior
Just as a training collar can help you eliminate unwanted behavior such as barking and jumping, praise can help reinforce good behavior.
Let’s say your dog decides to sit instead of jumping on you. That’s a situation worthy of a genuine, “Good dog!”
You might even feel compelled to give your dog a pat on the head or a treat.
As much as we want to stop bad behavior, it’s equally important to praise good behavior.
BONUS TIPS: Understanding How Dogs Learn
These seven steps are based on what we understand about canines and their learned behaviors. Remember, dogs are social animals, so they learn from each other as well as our interactions with them.
Here are a few insights into how dogs learn:
- Timing is everything. In the wild, dogs and wolves learn from the immediacy of their behavior. Their survival in the wild depended on understanding the immediate consequences of their actions. Even though dogs are domesticated, they still have that understanding deep in their DNA. Their actions immediately impact their lives in the wild, so the same should be true when it comes to obedience collars.
- They need confidence and guidance. One of the reasons it’s so important to praise good behavior is because dogs are pack animals. They gain their confidence from acceptance from their human companions. A behavior collar is excellent for deterring unwanted behavior, but it’s equally important to praise your dog for good behavior as well!
- Repetition and patience are key. It’s rare that there’s a “magic” moment where everything clicks. In most cases, dogs learn from consistency, repetition, and patience. A lot of owners might feel disappointed or discouraged when the behavior doesn’t stop immediately. However, repetition is what allows the dog to associate the stimulation from the collar with their unwanted behavior.
The better you understand how dogs learn, the better you’ll be able to implement these tips.
As your dog’s behavior improves, you’ll find that you have more peace of mind and a better relationship with your dog. Remember, improved behavior also means improved safety for your furry friend and the rest of your family!
At Wiggle Kingdom, our goal is to help dog owners everywhere have the best relationship possible with their furry friends! Good behavior makes for a better relationship and a healthier life for your dog!
We offer a 30-day money back guarantee, so you never have to worry about whether this collar is right for you and your dog (though we bet it will be)!
The best part?
We offer a one year unconditional warranty.
Ready to get a functional, but cute collar? Then purchase the smallest dog shock collar in the world from Wiggle Kingdom today! If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please call us at 213-747-7767 or email our customer support at support@wigglekingdom.com. We look forward to having you as part of the Wiggle Kingdom family!