Tag: Balanced Training

With balanced training, dogs are motivated by positive reinforcement such as treats, praise, play, and games. Thoughtful choices are made between management and appropriate corrections to balance the training. Modern dog training = happy, confident dogs that have freedom, enrichment, and autonomy.

How to Stop Dogs from Fighting: Tips to Prevent Dog Bites & Keep All 10 Fingers
Is there an answer for how to stop dogs from fighting?

Dogs are pack animals and as a result, they sometimes fight with each other.

This can be dangerous for both the dogs and for people around them.

WHY DO DOGS FIGHT: THE FIRST STEP IN HOW TO STOP DOGS FROM FIGHTING IS UNDERSTANDING WHY

Dogs fight all the time. Sibling puppies will tussle and play-fight as part of growing up and learning social skills.

However, if you have two dogs that are fighting, it’s important to understand why before you can learn how to stop dogs from fighting.

Is Your Great Dane Aggressive?

There are many reasons why dogs might start fights with each other, including:
1. Possession aggression: This is when a dog becomes aggressive over something he perceives as his, such as a toy or a spot on the couch.
2. Territorial aggression: This is when a dog feels like his territory is being threatened and he becomes aggressive to protect it.
3. Fear aggression: This is when a dog is afraid of something and lashes out in aggression in order to protect himself.
4. Redirected aggression: This is when a dog is feeling aggressive about something but can’t get to the object of his aggression, so he redirects it onto another dog.
Now that you know some of the reasons why dogs might fight, let’s look at how to stop dogs from fighting.

HOW TO STOP DOGS FROM FIGHTING: THE SECOND STEP IS MANAGEMENT

The first step in management is understanding what sets your dogs off and trying to avoid those situations.

POSSESSION AGGRESSION

If you have an aggressive dog who gets more agitated when they are around toys, items, bones, or food, they might have possession aggression or food aggression. This is often called resource guarding.

Dogs involved with a dog fight involving being possessive might initially appear relaxed and then suddenly start growling or snapping when someone comes too close to their prized possession.

To help manage a dog with possession aggression:
1. Make sure there are enough toys, bones, and food so that each dog has their own.
2. Do not allow children to take away a toy from a dog; instead teach them to trade the dog for something else such as a treat.
3. If your dogs start fighting over an item, do not try to intervene yourself; instead, use a loud noise (such as clapping your hands) to startle them and make them drop the item.
TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION

Dogs who become aggressive when someone enters their home or yard might have territorial aggression.

To help your dog with possession aggression, you can:
1. Give them their own toys that they can keep in their own space
2. Feed them in separate areas or in crates so they don’t feel the need to protect their food
3. Avoid leaving bones or other chew items where other dogs can get to them
4. Teach him a “welcome” command so he knows that it’s okay for people to come in
5. Keep him on a leash when visitors come over so you know that he will not approach them
6. Crate train so that your dog feels safe as well as other people feel safe in the same room as your dog
The Best Crate for a Great Dane Puppy: Click Here

FEAR AGGRESSION:

Fear aggression is common in many dogs. Most dogs are afraid of at least something, if not all dogs.

Your dog could be afraid of the silliest things, like the sound of the vacuum cleaner or a plastic bag.

Other dogs might be afraid of more serious things, such as men with beards or people in hats.

Younger dogs often start off afraid of their own shadows, and need socialized to understand what validates fear and what does not.

The first step to helping your dog with fear aggression is to find out what he’s afraid of and try to avoid those situations while you are working on building confidence.

If you can’t avoid the situation, then you need to help your dog learn to cope with his fear. This can be done through desensitization and counterconditioning.

REDIRECTED AGGRESSION:

Redirected aggression happens when a dog is feeling aggressive about something but can’t get to the object of his aggression, so he redirects it onto another dog.

For example, if your dog is barking at the neighbor’s dog through the fence and the neighbor’s dog starts barking back, your dog might become so agitated that he turns around and bites you.

Bark Collars: Should You Use One?

To help your dog with redirected aggression:

Do not put your dog in a situation where he is likely to be aroused by something but unable to get to it.

If you see that your dog is getting aroused by something, try to redirect his attention with a toy or treat.

Make sure that you are not inadvertently rewarding your dog for being aggressive by giving him attention when he is acting aggressively.

DOGS FIGHTING IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

Dogs who are fighting can cause serious injuries to each other, as well as to people who try to break up the fight. It’s important to understand what might be causing your dogs to fight so that you can prevent future fights from happening. There are four main types of aggression in dogs: possession aggression, territorial aggression, fear aggression, and redirected aggression.
1. Possession aggression is when a dog becomes aggressive when someone tries to take away their toy or food.
2. Redirected aggression happens when a dog is feeling aggressive about something but can’t get to the object of his aggression, so he redirects it onto another person or animal.
3. Territorial aggression is when a dog becomes aggressive when someone enters their home or yard.
4. Fear aggression is when a dog becomes afraid of something and redirects his fear onto another person or animal.
WHAT DOES A STRESSED DOG LOOK LIKE?

A stressed dog might:
1. Pace
2. Shake or tremble
3. Pant excessively
4. Yawn
5. Lick his lips
6. Avoid eye contact
7. Have a “half-moon” eye (whites of the eyes are showing)
8. Ears may be back or flat against the head
9. Tail may be down, between the legs, or wagging low and fast
10. Body may be stiff
If your dog is demonstrating any of the above signs, they might be stressed, even if they are not demonstrating all of them.

Photo credit to @lexi.aspen.rayna

Photo credit to @lexi.aspen.rayna

Dog owners should be intuitive with their own dogs in order to identify underlying anxiety and their dogs stressors so that they can prevent dog fights in the first place.

WHAT DOES A MORE CONFIDENT DOG LOOK LIKE?

Some dog owners think that the most confident dog is the most dominant dog.

That is just not true.

The ‘pack leader’ will demonstrate calm behavior, a relaxed posture, and slow movements.

A confident dog is not afraid to make eye contact and will have a soft body with a natural wagging tail.

Confident dogs are not the ‘weaker dog’. They are not necessarily the older dog either.

The confident dogs will be able to help other dogs feel calm and comfortable by picking up on their cues.

Dogs who are comfortable with their situation will display:
1. Relaxed body
2. Loose ears
3. Relaxed tail
4. Happy to make eye contact
5. Happy to approach other dogs but also give space when needed
6. Not impacted when new people come into the dogs environment
7. Can happily be in the same house and same room as other dogs or a new dog
HOW TO STOP DOG FIGHTS INVOLVING GUARDING PEOPLE

Sometimes two dogs will get into a dog fight when one dog gets possessive over another dog while trying to ‘protect’ their owner or a person.

How to work on resource guarding with your Great Dane: click to read!

The first step in preventing this type of dog fight is to never put yourself in the middle of two dogs who are fighting.

If you try to break up a dogfight, you could get bitten by one or both dogs. The best way to break up a dog fight is to distract the dogs with loud noises or spray them with water. Once the dogs are distracted, you can move them away from each other.

WHY DO MANY DOGS GUARD THEIR OWNERS?

Many dogs will act aggressive if another dog comes too close to their owner.

Some dog owners consider this as a form of protection. They try to label this action as heroic: their dog is protecting them and even willing to fight other dogs to ‘protect them’.

Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

If a dog is acting aggressive when another dog comes nearby its dog owner, this is not heroic, but rather called guarding.

Dogs growling or raising their hackles at another dog for ANY reason shouldn’t be praised.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOG IS GUARDING ME?

Identifying your dogs stressors is the first step.

If you know that your dogs triggers lies with the moment another dog approaches you, start by asking other dog owners to give your dog a wide berth.

This will help your dog feel more comfortable and less anxious. If you have friends with dogs, ask if they can help you out by not coming too close to you when your dog is around.

You can also work on desensitizing, socializing and counterconditioning your dog to other dogs being around you.

Start with having another person stand far away from you while you feed your dog his favorite treats. We recommend using a treat bag.

As he gets used to this, the person can move closer little by little until they are close enough to pet your dog without him feeling uncomfortable.

It’s important that during this training process, everyone involved ignores the fact that there is another dog present.

This means no talking to or looking at the other dog, even if he’s being well-behaved.

The goal is for your dog to associate the presence of other dogs with good things happening, instead of feeling anxious or stressed.

Photo credit to @born.greater

When your dog is comfortable with this exercise, you can start adding in movement by having the person walk around you while you are standing still.

Once your dog is doing well with that, you can move on to having the person walk past you while you are walking in the opposite direction.

Remember to go slowly and only increase the difficulty of the exercise when your dog is completely comfortable and not showing any signs of stress.

If at any point during these exercises your dog becomes anxious or stressed, you are moving too fast and need to immediately separate dogs and go back to the previous step.

It is important to never force your dog into any situation that he is not comfortable with.

Forcing a dog into a situation that causes him stress will only make his guarding behavior worse.

MY DOGS FIGHT WHEN THERE IS FOOD INVOLVED

Food is a very big trigger for dogs, and can continue to be so for a majority of some dog’s life.

Many instances of dogs fighting is related to when dogs are eating meals, treats, bones, or anything similar.

Many dog owners do not realize that food can be one of the biggest of dogs triggers to an otherwise calm dog becoming a ‘more aggressive dog’. Even dogs who are generally even-keeled can become uncomfortable with another dog getting into their space when they are eating.

TIPS FOR ELIMINATING ISSUES WITH FOOD

It is best to feed dogs in separate areas, especially if they are not used to being around each other.

If you have a multi-dog household, we recommend getting an extra food bowl and feeding station so that each dog can eat in his own space.

Crate training is an especially excellent tool to help more than two dogs stop fighting while eating. Crates help manage mealtime and feed dogs separately and safely.

The Best Crate for a Great Dane Puppy: Click Here

This will help reduce the chances of your dogs fighting over food.

In cases where one dog consistently steals food from another dog, it is best to get a puzzle toy or slow feeder bowl to give the ‘stealer’ dog something else to do with his time besides trying to steal food.

PetDuro has creative ways to slow feed your dog in a standard slow feeder, an engagement slow feeder or a slow feeder licky mat.

Puzzle toys and slow feeders are a great way to keep any dog occupied and out of trouble!

DO NOT STEAL YOUR DOGS FOOD OR PUT YOUR HAND IN YOUR DOGS BOWL

Some training methods, especially in the ‘alpha‘ or ‘pack leader training’ methods will recommend that you steal your dogs food or put your hand in his bowl while he is eating as a way to show him that you are the ‘pack leader’.

Click to read an example of a deplorable dog trainer in Denver, Colorado.

This is an outdated and dangerous method that can cause your dog to become aggressive towards you or other dogs.

We do not recommend this method under any circumstances.

Instead, if your one dog is acting stressed around food, make sure to associate yourself with the ADDITION of positive treats/food. When you walk past your dog, throw a treat in his bowl or drop a few next to him so he associates you with something good happening.

Guarding food is a very natural behavior for dogs, and one that should not be punished.

In summary: apply these tips with your dogs who demonstrate stress surrounding food when around other dogs, other animals, or other people:
1. Avoiding triggers that may cause your dog to become aggressive
2. Feeding dogs in separate areas or using puzzle toys/slow feeders if they tend to steal food from each other
3. Never stealing your dog’s food or putting your hand in his bowl (this could trigger aggression
By using the above tips, you can help your dogs feel more comfortable around each other and reduce the chances of them fighting.

SEEKING HELP WITH DOG TRAINING FOR FOOD AGGRESSION

In cases where a dog is truly food-aggressive and fights with other dogs over food, it is best to seek professional help from a certified trainer or behaviorist who can help you safely modify your dog’s behavior.

Dogs fighting is a very serious issue that can lead to many problems, including but not limited to: severe injuries, the spread of disease, and even death.

If you have two dogs who are fighting, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible to prevent the situation from escalating. There are an abundance of dog training resources that can help.

Fighting dogs can be a danger to themselves, each other, and any humans who try to break up the fight.

DOGS IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD FIGHTING

Dogs tend to fight with new dogs that they do not know already, but sometimes two or more dogs of the same pack can randomly begin to fight.

If you have two dogs or even three dogs in the same house, you will need to work hard to keep the peace with the house.

Multiple dogs in one household CAN get along in a peaceful way!

With obedience training, confidence building, and strong boundaries, your dogs can get along well under one roof.

Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.

TIPS TO STOP FIGHTING WITH DOGS IN THE HOUSE

If your dogs fight with one another in the house, you can work to stop fighting with a few tips.
1. Crate train one dog or both dogs. This will give each dog his own space and help to prevent fighting.
2. Do not allow either dog on the furniture. This will help to create a hierarchy in the home and prevent fighting over resources.
3. Be sure to feed each dog in his own area and never leave food out where they can both get to it.
4. Make sure each dog has his own toys and do not allow them to play with the same toy at the same time.
5. Do not leave your dogs unattended.
6. Do not let kids or small children lay on top of your dog, pull the tail of your dog or interact with your dog unattended.
7. Plan ahead for when new dogs will visit.
8. Work with a dog trainer and animal behaviorist to help your dogs remain peaceful in the home.
MY DOG FIGHTS WITH NEW DOGS

If your dog fights with new dogs that it is unfamiliar with, it is likely because it is afraid but there are also other reasons:
1. Older Dog: Sometimes with an older dog, you might find that they no longer have the same interest as a younger dog to interact with dogs anymore.
2. Young Dog: Some young dogs have not been properly socialized and therefore might try to fight with new dogs.
3. Dog Parks: Dog parks can be a great place to socialize your dog, but they can also be a place where dogs fight. If you take your dog to the dog park, be sure to keep an eye on him at all times.
4. Barking: Dogs will often bark and lunge at other dogs when they are on a leash because they feel restrained and unable to escape. If your dog is barking and lunging at other dogs while on a leash, it is important to work with a professional trainer to help your dog overcome this behavior.
5. Reactivity: Reactivity is when a dog is overly sensitive to stimuli in its environment. Dogs who are reactive may bark, growl, lunge, or even bite in response to things that trigger their fear or anxiety. If your dog is reactive, it is important to work with a certified trainer or behaviorist to help your dog learn how to cope with the things that trigger its reactivity.
6. Fearful Dogs: Fearful dogs are often the ones who start fights with other dogs because they are trying to defend themselves. If your dog is fearful of other dogs, it is important to work with a certified trainer or behaviorist to help your dog overcome its fear.
7. Anxiety: Anxiety is a condition that can cause a variety of different behaviors in dogs, including aggression. If your dog is anxious, it is important to work with a certified trainer or behaviorist to help your dog learn how to cope with its anxiety.
Depending on the cause of the reactivity and aggression, most dogs if not all dogs can be rehabilitated and will be able to exist with any other dog without breaking out in fights.

TIPS FOR PREVENTING DOG BITES

The best way to prevent dog bites is to educate yourself and others about how to interact safely with dogs.

Here are some tips:
1. Never approach a dog you do not know, even if he seems friendly. Ask the owner first if it’s okay to pet the dog.
2. When meeting a new dog, let him sniff your closed hand before petting him.
3. Don’t bother a dog who is eating, sleeping, or playing with a toy.
4. Dogs can get jealous when you give attention to other dogs, so always ask the owner before petting another dog.
5. Never pull on a dog’s tail or ears, and never try to pick up a dog against his will.
6. Respect a dog’s personal space and do not invade it.
7. Never approach a strange dog from behind as this may startle him.
8. If you see a fight between two dogs, do not try to break it up yourself. Dogs can become aggressive when they are afraid or feel threatened, so it is best to call animal control or the police for help.
HELPING DOGS BE SUCCESSFUL ON LEASH

If you have worked with a dog trainer, you have probably heard that you should not let your dog interact with other dogs while on leash.

4 feet, 6 feet, or 8 feet options

The reason being is that dogs on leash often feel threatened and anxious, which can lead to aggression.

However, there are ways that you can help your dog be successful when interacting with other dogs while on leash:
1. Make sure that your dog is well-socialized so that he knows how to interact appropriately with other dogs.
2. Be aware of your dog’s body language and look for signs of stress or anxiety. If you see these signs, it is best to move away from the other dog.
3. Ensure that your dog has a good foundation of obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. This will help you keep control of your dog if he does become excited or reactive around another dog.
4. Do not approach other dogs on leash or let the two dogs interact with one another while on leash.
5. Participate in on leash walks where the dogs do not interact, but rather learn how to exist with one another without playing, lunging or biting.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG ATTACKS ANOTHER DOG

First and foremost, if your dog attacks another dog, it can be very scary.

Try not to panic.

Also, do not try to separate fighting dogs, especially with your hands.

Try to make loud noises and get the dogs’ attention by spraying them with water from a hose or throwing objects near them.

Only once the dogs have stopped fighting should you try to separate them.

Then, take your dog to the vet for a check-up, even if he seems fine.

Afterward, make sure to consult with a certified animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist to help you and your dog work through any issues that may have caused the aggression.

It is also important to talk to your veterinarian about what happened and ask for their advice on how to prevent it from happening again in the future including asking them if they have any recommendations for fear training and obedience training. Your vet might have great suggestions for a certified professional dog trainer.

5 Common mistakes you may be making when Training Your Great Dane

Dogs are complex creatures and there can be many different reasons why they fight with other dogs. However, by understanding the causes of aggression and working on prevention.

Some parents like to be prepared with items such as loud horns, dog versions of pepper spray, or other tools in case their dog ever gets into a fight with another dog.

If you choose to carry any of these items, make sure to familiarize yourself with how to use them before you need to use them in an emergency situation.

Remember, the best way to prevent your dog from fighting with another dog is to be proactive and understand the causes of aggression. If you can identify the triggers for your dog’s aggression, you can work on prevention and management so that your dog can live a happy and healthy life.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG GETS ATTACKED

If your dog gets attacked, do not forget to get the contact information from the owner of the attacker.

Not only is it important for potential vet bills, but you will want to verify that their dog is up to date on its vaccines.

Next, try to get to the vet immediately. Getting to the veterinarian immediately is important because your dog will need to be checked for injuries, given a round of antibiotics to prevent infection, and possibly have x-rays taken if there are any broken bones.

If your dog has been attacked by another dog, it is important to take some time to understand what may have caused the attack.

It is also important to work on prevention so that it does not happen again in the future.

There are many different resources available to help you do this including books, online articles, and even working with a certified professional dog trainer or behaviorist.

While an attack can be frightening, it is important to remember that most dogs do not want to hurt other dogs and that with some training and understanding, you can help your dogs stay safe.

MY MALE DOG IS AGGRESSIVE

Male dogs can be aggressive for many different reasons.

Some male dogs are aggressive due to dominance, while others may be acting out because they are afraid or in pain.

Other males may have been poorly socialized as puppies or have a history of abuse or neglect.

Need ideas for healthy socialization?

If your male dog is displaying signs of aggression, it is important to consult with a certified animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist who can help you create a treatment plan specifically for your dog.

In some cases, medication may be necessary in order to help your dog feel more relaxed and comfortable around other dogs. However, medication should always be a resort taken after training.

Some male dogs mount female dogs when they are over stimulated and this should be avoided. Keep your male dogs separately from female dogs if they are not spayed.

MY FEMALE DOG IS AGGRESSIVE

Female dogs are known more for fighting with dogs that are the same sex as themselves.

This is because females are often more territorial and want to protect their home and resources from other females.

However, any dog can be aggressive regardless of sex.

If your female dog is displaying signs of aggression, it is important to consult with a certified animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist who can help you create a treatment plan specifically for your dog.

If your female dog is aggressive toward any other dog, work on setting intense boundaries, crate training and seeking help from a balanced trainer.

MY DOG HAS SEPARATION ANXIETY

Separation anxiety is a type of anxiety that occurs when a dog is away from their owner.

This can be caused by many different things including prior abandonment, neglect, or abuse. It can also be caused by dogs not being given enough independent time, which is why crate training is so important.

Dogs with separation anxiety often display signs of distress such as barking, howling, chewing, pacing, and destruction when left alone.

If your dog has separation anxiety, it is important to consult with a certified animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist who can help you create a treatment plan specifically for your dog.

Treatment plans for separation anxiety often include medication, crate training, and providing your dog with toys and bones that are only given to them when you leave the house.

With some time and patience, most dogs with separation anxiety can be cured and be confident being by themselves.

MY OLDER DOG IS SUDDENLY AGGRESSIVE

If you have an older dog that is suddenly demonstrating signs of aggressive behavior, it is important to take them to the vet for a check-up.

Older dogs can become aggressive due to many different things including pain, cognitive decline, and sensory issues.

Since dogs cannot talk, they sometimes resort to other forms of communication to express their pain. Their pain could be stemming from:
1. Arthritis
2. Cancer
3. Dental disease
4. Organ disease
5. Hip/Joint Dysplasia
Once you have ruled out any medical causes, it is important to consult with a certified animal behaviorist or behaviorist who can help you create a treatment plan specifically for your dog.

Treatment plans for older dogs that are suddenly aggressive often include medication, crate training, obedience training, and providing your dog with plenty of mental and physical stimulation.

With some time and patience, most older dogs that are demonstrating signs of aggression can be helped with these treatment plans.

IN CONCLUSION

There are many different reasons why dogs may become aggressive. However, with some patience and training, most dogs can be taught to control their aggression. If you are struggling to stop your dog from being aggressive, it is important to consult with a certified animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist who can help you create a treatment plan specifically for your dog. With some time and effort, you and your dog can overcome this obstacle and have a happy and healthy life together. Thanks for reading! I hope this article was helpful. 🙂

If you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences with dog aggression, please leave a comment below! I would love to hear from you.

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May 25, 2022
What is a Dog E Collar? 99 Reasons Why They’re Great & Shock Ain’t One
What is a dog e collar?

Is it abusive? Is it a shock collar? Does it cause pain?

Or do e collars help build strong, confident dogs, while removing undesirable behaviors and creating a bond between pets and pet owners?

E collars are a form of remote training collar.

But – do they work? And even more-so- what the heck are they?

THE FOUNDATIONS: WHAT IS A DOG E COLLAR?

An e collar is a training tool for dogs. But more importantly, it is a way for dog owners to communicate the rules and ‘norms’ of life with their pet, set strong boundaries, and help them to be successful in life.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHOCK COLLAR AND AN E COLLAR?

Most people think that e collar use is the same thing as shock collars.

This is simply NOT true. E collar training is VERY different than training with shock collars.

Shock collars are known to create painful skin burns, cause extreme harm to the neck / skin, and can actually CAUSE negative behavior. Shock collars are made with the intention to punish a dog for bad behavior – and are NOT an effective way to train your pet.

What is the difference between a shock collar and an e collar? Read more here.

Additionally, one of the main difference between shock collars and e collars is on the inside. On the inside of a shock collar is a shock unit- when you push the button on the remote control your dog will get shocked. The shock collar can be VERY unreliable- sometimes it will shock and sometimes it will not. A ‘cheap’ shock collar from Amazon or something of the like is known to create pressure sores and thus, negative associations with your dog.

Do not get sucked into thinking that a shock collar is the training tool that you should use to perfect your dog’s behavior. It will simply cause harm, pain and unnecessary behaviors or new behavioral issues over time.

ARE ELECTRIC COLLARS CRUEL?

If you are using a shock collar to train dogs, it can be considered cruel. Using a shock collar on your dog for any form of behavior modification can create confusion.

However, e collars work entirely different than a shock collar, and therefore the training sessions associated with these collars are also very different. In result- your dog will FEEL very different physically, emotionally, and their behavior will be very different when working with this effective training tool.

Not all collars for dogs are the same. E collars work with positive reinforcement AND negative reinforcement (YES- negative reinforcement IS a good thing- ALL dogs need correction in order to correct behavior when training).

What is balanced training? Read the story of how I found balanced training with my Great Danes.

So- when deciding if remote training collars are cruel- you need to know the difference between all the different types of collars for dogs. Bark collars, shock collar, or stimulation collars for dogs.

Choose a stimulation collar! We call these e-collars. This is the most ethical form of training collar for your pup and is NOT cruel.

WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE OF AN E COLLAR?

On the inside of ethical, modern e collars is what makes them an effective training tool.

Have you ever been to the chiropractor?

The chiropractor uses a tool called ‘stim‘. In humans, stim is used for muscle therapy, rehabilitation, long-term injury care, pain management, and sports recovery.

The collar you choose to buy REALLY matters. Click to see the devices we vouch for.

What BETTER item to use on your dog’s neck than electronic collars with electronic stimulation that not only helps with their training but provides healthy muscular benefits as well?

WHAT DOES THE ‘E’ IN ‘E COLLAR’ MEAN?

The ‘e’ in e collar means ‘electronic’.

But what does that mean?

It means that there is a small stimulation box on the inside of the collar that sends out a electric charge to two metal contact points on either side of your dog’s neck. The electric charge is not harmful- and actually feels similar to a ‘tingle’ or ‘buzz’ that you might feel if you were to touch your tongue to a battery.

The charge is not harmful, and is actually very low level. The level of stimulation can be increased or decreased depending on what training stage your dog is in, as well as their individual personality and needs.

Any collar that does not include Electrical Muscle Stimulation is considered a ‘shock collar’, and should be treaded easily. Stim will train your dog what is right and wrong and allow them to understand your communication whereas shock collars will condition your dogs to the idea that you are going to harm them and cause pain when they are not responding correctly.

WHAT DOES AN E COLLAR DO FOR DOGS?

An e collar is used by dog owners or a professional dog trainer to help dogs succeed in ALL aspects of life.

Great Dane Trainer Guidelines: How to Choose a Trainer

Because e collars are ‘communication’ devices, rather than ‘corrective’ devices, they are used not to control your pet, but to help as your dog learns right from wrong.

Additionally, e collars teach dogs how to be safe, avoid dangerous situations while off leash, and gain strong recall.

E Collar Training for Off Leash Freedom

E collars can also be used for maintaining positive obedience skills like walking on a leash, not jumping on people, avoiding counter surfing, and being able to gain the freedom to live their best lives while also being safe and healthy.

WHAT DOES AN E COLLAR FEEL LIKE?

E collars, unlike shock collars, DO NOT hurt or cause pain.

The level of stimulation can be increased or decreased- but should always start at the lowest setting.

The electronic e collar that we highly recommend has a ‘momentary’ and a ‘continuous’ setting.

The momentary is a quick stimulation that’s purpose is to get your dog’s attention or remind them of a certain behavior. It is similar to what you might feel if you were to briefly have your hand fall asleep, for 1 second.

Coopers Treats Himalayan Yak Cheese Long Lasting Chews are a fantastic and healthy way to keep any Great Dane busy for hours.

The continuous stim is where the owner has control over the electronic collar with the remote, and can dial the volume of the e collar up and down, depending on the dogs behavior.

For example: if you are wanting your pup to recall while off leash from 100 yards away, you can begin to dial up on the continuous stim. As your dog returns to you, you will begin to dial down. This is a strategy that I like to call the ‘hot and cold’ game.

Either way, when using e collars with stim inside of them, the e collar feels like a slight buzzing- and does not hurt.

Most dog owners will try the collar on themselves before trying it on their dog to train.

DO E COLLARS TRAUMATIZE DOGS?

E collars and e collar training does NOT traumatize dogs.

In fact, the opposite is true.

Shop for the best crate for Great Danes on Amazon

E collars provide a way for dog owners to have clear communication with their dogs- and help them learn how to be safe and make good decisions.

Without e collars, many dogs would never be able to experience all the joys that life has to offer- like being off leash hiking in the woods, running and playing on the beach, or even just being able to have a safe walk around the neighborhood.

E collars provide dogs with a way to have freedom- while also keeping them safe.

Viper 15ft Training Lead

Leather Dog Leash

Leather Slip Leash

However, having said that, using a low quality collar with your dog will put you at risk for contact burns, random harsh shock, and in turn: unexplainable behaviors.

HOW DO YOU USE AN E COLLAR?

E collars are meant to communicate with your dog.

First and foremost, before you begin dog training with e collars on any behavior, your dog should know the basic verbal commands.

Training a Great Dane

For example, if you are wanting to train your dog to associate the use of ecollars in their dog training to the ‘sit’ command, they should ALREADY be able to perform the sit command.

If you are hoping to strengthen your dog’s leash skills- they should already have a foundation of training on leash skills in which you maintain control over your dog on leash.

WHERE DO I START WITH USING AN E COLLAR?

The first place to start using e collars on your dog is with their name.

Your dog should know their name already.

If they don’t- that is the first place to start.

You will want to get your dog’s attention before using any type of stimulation with the e collar.

The way that you do this is by saying their name in a happy, excited voice and then immediately following with a treat. Our favs here:

Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products

IDENTIFY THE WORKING LEVEL OF YOUR DOG

After you have done this a few times, you will then want to begin using the e collar.

Start with the lowest level of stimulation and work your way up as needed.

I like to start on the lowest level and then increase the level if my dog is not responding.

Once you find the lowest level of the collar that works for your dog you are ready to begin training them to associate their name with the collar.

TEACH YOUR DOG TO ASSOCIATE THEIR NAME WITH THE COLLARS

Next, you will want to put the collar on your dog.

You will then want to say your dog’s name in a happy voice and immediately follow it with a treat.

Repeat this process several times until your dog is responding consistently.

Now you are ready to begin adding in the stimulation with the e collar.

Start with the lowest level of stimulation.

Remember to always start with verbal praise first and then follow it with a treat as well as a ‘marker word’. A marker word means that you are telling your dog that they have done something correct.

I like to use the word ‘yes’ as my marker word.

So, when I say my dog’s name and they look at me I would then say ‘yes’ and immediately follow it with a treat.

Once your dog is responding consistently, you can begin to add one extra step with your wireless remote.
1. Say your dogs name
2. Wait for them to look at you
3. Press the stim button
4. Simultaneously provide a treat (positive reinforcement) as well as a marker word ‘YES’!
SHOULD YOU TRAIN YOUR DOG WITH AN E COLLAR?

In short, we LOVE seeing healthy training of dogs using an e collar! Feel free to check out our guide below:

Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.

If you feel uncomfortable getting started, get some help from a professional trainer who can help you get started. With proper techniques, using an e collar can significantly help most dogs thrive and be confident members of society.

READ MORE:

Is My Puppy Too Skinny?
Scam Breeders: What to Look For
Breeders: Shady Business
What is the Difference Between an E Collar and a Shock Collar?
9 Reasons to E Collar Train Your Great Dane Puppy
Is the Gentle Leader an Abusive Tool?
May 24, 2022
E Collar with Puppy Training: 9 Exciting Reasons You Should Use an E Collar With Your Puppy
You might be shocked to see me suggest using an e collar on a puppy.

However, I’ve got some news for dog owners: Great Dane puppies don’t stay little for long.

One day, you’ve got this new puppy who is snuggly and sweet… but if you blink for just 1 second and open your eyes: you’ve got a puppy the size of an adult dog.

It can be detrimental not to begin training positive behavior into your dog from a young age.

But really- electronic collar training? On a puppy?

Let me explain. I’ve got some reasons why I believe that incorporating an electronic, stim collar into your training sessions with yes- even young puppies– will benefit both you and your dog.

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE AN E COLLAR WITH PUPPY TRAINING?

One of the most common questions new dog owners ask is when to start using a stim collar during puppy training.

The answer, of course, depends on a variety of factors, including the methods of which you plan to use the collar, the collar you buy itself, and temperament of your dog.

The collar you choose to buy REALLY matters. Click to see the devices we vouch for.

However, there are a few general guidelines that can help you decide when it’s time to introduce a stim collar into your pup’s training regimen.

First, you’ll need to use stim conditioning with your dog, which means teaching them that the collar is not a punishment.

Collar conditioning protocols will help the Great Dane owner equip the Great Dane with the ability to understand the training method as a form of communication and not as a punishment for undesired behaviors.

WHAT IS A SHOCK COLLAR AND IS IT THE SAME AS A STIM COLLAR?

A shock collar is a device that is worn around the neck of a Great Dane and delivers an electric shock to the dog when it is triggered by a remote control.

Shock collar training is NOT the same as using an ethical training collar.

Shock collars are controversial, and their use is banned in some countries.

Supporters of shock collars argue that they are a safe and effective way to train dogs, while opponents argue that they are cruel and can cause behavior problems.

LET ME REPEAT: WE THINK THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS!

The use of shock collars is regulated in some countries, and only approved collars may be used. In the United States, there are no federal laws governing the use of shock collars, but some states have laws that restrict their use.

We stand by the belief that you should never use a puppy shock collar to prevent puppies from certain behaviors.

ARE SHOCK COLLARS SAFE?

Modern shock collars and shock training is NOT safe. Shock training requires the use of a shock collar that delivers an electrostatic shock to eliminate unwanted behaviors. With each shock administered, you are telling your dog that you are in control and will/can physically harm them if they are misbehaving.

What is the difference between a shock collar and an e collar? Read more here.

Shock collar training is NOT a safe method of training- and shock collars are known to frequently cause painful burns. Great Dane owners should not use a shock collar or puppy shock collar to get a dog’s attention.

TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD USE AN ETHICAL TRAINING COLLAR WITH YOUR DOGS

Now that we have talked about the reasons NOT to use a shock collar, let’s jump into the many reasons why you should start collar training with your puppy.

ONE: OUT OF ALL TRAINING METHODS, AN E COLLAR TRAINING DEVICE IS SAFEST

When it comes to training methods, there’s a lot of debate over which one is the best. Some people swear by using a positive only approach, deeming the use of stimulation collars as cruel or abusive.

But when it comes to safety, health and the LEAST ABUSIVE METHOD, there’s really only one winner: a collar with stimulation: NOT a dog shock collar.

When pet parents think of tools that are ‘painful’ they often think of prong collars, electric collars, and choke collars.

What Great Dane parents do NOT realize is that the most aversive and dangerous items of all often look the least harmful. Harnesses, flat collars, gentle leaders, and

Check out this review of the ‘gentle’ leader. Spoiler alert: It is NOT gentle!

It is important to note that electronic stim collars are much less aversive than other tools such as choke chains or prong collars. Matter of fact, Great Danes actually LOVE them!

Photo Credit to Hellen at Mumukodogsquad (Picture of sweet Dakota!)

Photo Credit to Hellen at Mumukodogsquad (Picture of sweet Dakota!)

And unlike those devices, the e collar does not cause any lasting physical harm such as joint pain, joint damage or neck issues.

TWO: THERE IS NO ‘APPROPRIATE AGE’ FOR A SAFE TRAINING COLLAR

Your Great Dane has a small window of opportunity where their learning curve is huge and they are growing fast and learning quickly. This window is called puppyhood!

You should seize this as a learning opportunity for you and your dog!

There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer on what age you should begin using a dog collar on your dog.

However: it is crucial that your dog learn the basic command INDEPENDENT of the collar, before incorporating the collar into the regiment. If your dog responds to the ‘sit’ command, you can begin including the collar into their ‘sit’ routine.

THREE: E COLLAR TRAINING IS THE SAME AS REWARD BASED TRAINING

‘But using an electric collar on my dog removes the process of positive reinforcement…”

No… no it does not.

Using e collar conditioning with your dog is one of the most positive training methods you can use!

The e collar is a remote training tool that can be used to deliver positive or negative reinforcement. It is simply a device that helps you to more effectively communicate with your dog.

E collar 900 review: honest and unbiased

Like all training tools, the e collar should be used in conjunction with positive reinforcement such as treats, toys, and praise. Matter of fact- get ready to load up on treats! Here’s our favs:

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When you start e collar training, you are going to have a reserved pup who has NO idea what is right and what is wrong!

Incorporating different training methods, treats/verbal commands/leash training/etc, is exactly what your Great Dane needs.

Tips for Leash Training Great Danes

Most of all, your Great Dane is RELYING on you to communicate with them to help them navigate what is right and what is wrong.

FOUR: BUT…PUPPIES NEED BOTH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

Every single dog and puppy needs boundaries.

Positive only training is NOT going to work! You will create a dog who consistently relies on the use of treats, rewards, and other incentives in order to do what they should just do as a citizen of this world: the right thing.

In life, humans and dogs alike need to know right from wrong. There should be positive praise and communication and reward when we do the right thing. And likewise, there should be negative reinforcement for unwanted behavior. This method of combined positive training as well as providing explanation for wrongs is called balanced training.

What is balanced training? Read the story of how I found balanced training with my Great Danes.

FIVE: E COLLAR TRAINING CAN HELP PROTECT FROM UNSAFE BEHAVIOR

Dogs are unsafe. That is just the truth of the matter.

Dogs like to run randomly into the street. (Que the lack of recall)

Dogs like to eat things they shouldn’t.

Dogs like to jump on small children.

All of these behaviors can be prevented with proper boundary training and proper collar training.

An e collar can provide a safe and effective way to protect your dog from engaging in unsafe behavior.

The single most important part about dog training is helping your dog learn to avoid negative or unsafe actions. After all, it is YOUR job to keep them safe.

SIX: SET UP YOUR DOG FOR POSITIVE ADVENTURES WHILE THEY ARE LITTLE

When you first get a dog, you imagine your life with them being full of wild adventures.

You want to visit lakes.

You want to go on long hikes.

You want to take them camping with you.

But the reality is that most dogs are NOT ready for those things when they are a small, still learning, puppy.

They need time to learn how to be a dog and how to behave in different situations.

Work to set up your dog for off leash adventures right from the start. Eliminate their desire to participate in negative or unsafe behavior by communicating with them from puppyhood.

The adventures will be worth it.

SEVEN: PREPARE YOUR PUPPY FOR EMOTIONAL STRESS OF LIFE

Life is stressful.

CBD

Crate Training

Socialization

One day you’re on a walk and everything seems fine, and then suddenly your puppy starts barking.

You have NO idea why your dog begins this unwanted behavior, and you have NO idea how to stop it.

What you don’t realize is the HUNDREDS of stressors that are bombarding your dog during every single walk, every single moment.

The squirrel.

The cat.

The car that drives by.

All of these things can be stressful for your pup, and can cause them to behave in ways that are unwanted.

E collar training can help your dog to learn how to cope with the emotional stress of life. By using positive communication between yourself and your dog, you can help your dog to learn how to cope in a busy and stressful life.

EIGHT: PREVENT AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR BEFORE IT BEGINS

A confident dog is a happy dog.

An anxious dog is a stressed dog.

A stressed dog is a dog that is more likely to lash out in aggression.

E collar training can help your puppy to become a confident and happy dog.

Aggressive behaviors typically stem from fear. Your dog’s temperament is NOT (typically) normally aggressive.

Helping your Great Dane overcome fear will help them remain even-keeled, confident, calm, and composed throughout their lives.

If you, as their dog owner, begin consistently implementing collar communication with your dogs while they are little sponges, you can help mold their temperaments into healthy, strong dogs.

NINE: STIMULATE YOUR DOG’S MENTAL ENDURANCE WITH MORE THAN BASIC CONCEPTS

It is very important that your dog knows basic manners.

Most Great Dane owners will have practice sessions with their pups on things like sit, down, stay, come, etc.

BUT- it is just as important to keep your dog’s mind active and challenged with more than the basics.

Stim collar training can provide a way for you to challenge your dog mentally, while also providing physical activity.

Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.

HOW DOES USING A STIMULATION COLLAR PROVIDE MORE FREEDOM?

Using an e collar during activities such as activities, adventures, hikes, camping, and even just everyday life, will help you and your dogs find the most freedom possible.
1. Hunting dogs are often trained on electronic stim collars, as many find huge success working to train hunting dogs with the powerful form of communication.
2. Sports dogs can also benefit from training with a stim collar.
3. Off leash adventures will be much more enjoyable and safe for both you and your dog if they have a good foundation in recall.
4. Hiking on pet friendly trails will become more exciting as your Great Dane is able to sniff/smell like they are biologically designed to do.
5. Eliminate stress while camping/adventuring as you can be relieved and stress free knowing that your Great Dane is not going to run away.
TEN: THERE ARE HEALTH REASONS FOR USING A STIMULATION COLLAR

Believe it or not, stimulation devices are the single healthiest form of training for our pets (in my opinion).

You may be shocked to hear that some popular forms of training are actually very dangerous.
1. The use of a dog shock collar: Shock collars can cause contact burns, irregular communication, and skin issues.
2. Harnesses: Harnesses are proven to create joint issues, spinal problems, and soft tissue damage.
3. Gentle leader: The ‘gentle’ leader is not so gentle after all. Known for pulling your dog’s neck in the direction that you want it to walk, the gentle leader is also known for causing soft tissue damage, neck injuries, and tracheal collapse.
4. Anti Bark Collars: Use with discretion. Many anti bark collars actually deliver a very high level of stimulation that can cause your dog to be in pain.
5. Flat Collars: Even flat collars can be harmful if your pet is not trained in loose leash training.
USING A PUPPY E COLLAR: IN CONCLUSION

Your Great Dane deserves your best.

It is your job to provide them with safety, socialization, life skills and training.

An e collar is an amazing tool that, when used correctly, can provide your dog with everything they need and more.

Don’t be afraid to give it a try with a Great Dane of many ages!

Happy training! 🙂
May 23, 2022
6 E-Collar Training Myths Busted!

Electronic collar training, often referred to as “e-collar” training, is a modern method used to train dogs. Unfortunately, it is riddled with myths and misconceptions that can cloud the understanding of this tool’s actual purpose and effectiveness. In this article, we will debunk some of the common E-collar training myths and shed light on the responsible and humane use of electronic collars in dog training.

It’s essential to separate fact from fiction to make informed decisions about this training technique!

What is an E-Collar?

An electronic collar, commonly known as an e-collar or shock collar, is a device designed for dog training and behavior modification. It consists of a collar that fits around a dog’s neck and a handheld remote control.

The primary function of an e-collar is to deliver electronic stimulation. This tactile sensation is a powerful way to communicate with a dog from afar, and it doesn’t have to be painful or unfair.

While the term “shock collar” may sound harsh, it’s important to note that modern e-collars have evolved significantly and offer adjustable levels of stimulation, allowing trainers to use them in a more humane and controlled manner. These devices are not meant to harm or punish the dog but rather to provide clear and consistent communication during training sessions.

When used responsibly, e-collars can be effective tools for teaching dogs to obey commands, prevent certain behaviors, and enhance their overall safety and well-being. However, it’s crucial to emphasize that e-collar training should always be carried out by knowledgeable and experienced trainers who prioritize the dog’s comfort and safety.

E Collar Training Guide
What is an E Collar?

Think of it as a wireless leash, but without the physical restraint of a flat collar or harness that can be dangerous or damaging to you or your Great Dane. Today we are going to share 6 E-Collar Training myths that you MUST know about!

Modern Day E-Collars vs. Shock Collars

Many people are confused about the difference between a shock collar and an E-Collar. The difference is HUGE!

What is the Difference Between an E Collar and a Shock Collar?

A shock collar will deliver a sharp zapping sensation that is meant to be aversive and painful. They are often inexpensive and may lack reliability.

Many people who resort to shock training are at their “wit’s end” with their pet’s behavior, and looking to get their attention with a beep, vibrate, or shock. Negative body language (cowering, running away, yelping, avoidance) is often seen!

E-Collars are different.
Also known as “remote electric training collars”, they use electricity to stimulate the muscle.
The sensation from a modern E-Collar is a touch sensation that is not meant to be aversive or painful

At low levels, where most pets are responsive, the sensation is imperceptible to humans. At higher levels, it can feel like tiny ants crawling around or a twitch or tickle, not a shock. At the highest levels, it is uncomfortable, but not sharp.

E-Collars offer a versatile, humane, gentle tactile communication that dogs respond to with enthusiasm and positivity!

The exchange of occasional, low-level muscle stimulation, that the dog knows how to turn off, is such an incredible, elegant, and simple trade-off for having absolutely NO leash pressure, no restrictions to movement, and the ability to run, jump, zoom, circle, sniff and explore naturally.

Why are dog E-Collars controversial?

E-Collars are controversial because people don’t understand them.

‘Positive only’ and ‘Force-free’ trainers use a lot of poorly done studies and emotional marketing to promote the idea that electronic training collars are abusive, no matter what.

They believe that shock collar training and e-collar training are the same things (they aren’t!) and that both tools are used deliberately and unfairly to hurt, scare, punish and confuse dogs.

The truth is that incorrect use of poor shock devices can and do cause pain and behavioral problems. No legitimate, ethical and professional dog trainer will recommend a shock collar, especially not to harshly punish aggression and reactivity.

The studies and case studies that people often cite in reference to electric training collars and similar tools (such as prongs) are typically based on harsh or punitive training and other incorrect use scenarios.

E-Collars are very different than shock collars. Many balanced trainers use and recommend high-quality E-Collars for off-leash reliability. The controversial part is that people just don’t know or understand the difference between correct use and abuse.

E-Collars are a communication tool that provides clarity and guidance, not confusion. Using this training tool correctly is all about providing information.

The end goal of proper e-collar training is to give your pet more autonomy, choice, and enrichment, without relying on physical restraint or harsh corrections.

Despite the controversy surrounding remote collar training, the truth is that dogs correctly and thoughtfully taught with this method are confident, balanced, obedient, and have more freedom and autonomy than others can only dream of.

We believe that reward-based training paired with thoughtfully balanced techniques (including e-collars and prong collars) can keep thousands (if not millions) of bored, ‘stubborn’ dogs out of shelters, too.

Myth #1: E-Collars make your dog afraid of you

We highly recommend watching Larry Krohn e collar training videos on his Youtube channel. He has an insane library of content where you can see videos of pets being trained with E-collars who are confident, friendly, and not afraid of Larry Krohn at all.

One mistake many pet owners make when training their dogs with a shock collar is that they rely on it as a punishment tool. Many feel guilty about that so they begin waving the remote as a threat, hoping to stop an act before resorting to zap corrections.

With the aforementioned approach, the pet quickly learns that the remote means they are in trouble. They don’t often know why, only that they should run away. This can make it appear that a remote collar-wearing dog is afraid of its owner!

What’s worse is that teaching an animal to fear the remote and the collar means teaching them run away from the owner, rather than to recall, check-in, and engage.

Correct modern e-collar training relies on both parties involved having mutual respect for each other, and that includes a recall (coming when called) foundation that is rock solid. The remote tool becomes a cell phone, not a big stick that you beat your dog with.

Why is Leash Training so Hard?
5 Leash Training Tips
Puppy Training: 5 Mistakes in Training
What is Balanced Training?

The remote tool and the collar should not be used as threats or for punitive punishments, and if you watch videos of animals being thoughtfully and correctly E-Collar trained you will see positive body language, mutual respect, and enthusiasm.

Train your companion with communication, not fear.

Myth #2: E-Collars burn dog’s necks

While a cheap shock collar can cause damage to the neck, it is impossible for an E-Collar to burn skin. This is another wild myth often promoted by people who have never even felt the stimulation from an E-Collar themselves.

We are a science-based blog, so let’s dig into this!

Cheap shock training devices from Amazon can malfunction, run hot, and shock your dog at the wrong time. Those collars can absolutely cause damage.

An E-Collar from a reputable, high-quality company such as Educator Technologies will cost $175 or more to purchase, and with good reason. Reliability and modern tech are huge when it comes to training ethically and humanely with any kind of remote collar.

The technology that uses electric currents for muscle stimulation (from an E-Collar) is more advanced than the technology required to deliver a sharp static zap (from a cheap shock device).

It’s the difference between buying an old used Samsung s3 and buying an iPhone 13, only this is used to train your dog (not flip through Tik Tok).

Because the electric output of modern electronic collars is less than .01amp at the highest level, it is impossible for this training tool to burn a dog’s skin.

Remember, this modern version uses electrical currents to stimulate the muscle, not cause pain.

Incorrect use of ANY remote collar, however, CAN lead to pressure sores. The contact points are made of metal and can be an irritant when they aren’t rotated and kept clean. This is not unlike a poorly fit harness or head collar, which can cause rubbing and sores too.

User error is a problem resolved only by education and dedication (hence the reason we are here)!

To eliminate the chance of irritation and pressure sores, the collar must be fit correctly (snug, preferably with a bungee collar), the contact points must be kept clean, and the collar must be rotated or removed every few hours.

Proper Placement of the E Collar

Electric training collars should never be worn overnight or unsupervised. For pets with sensitive skin, contact points made of different materials are available to try.

A mantle Great Dane on a long line learning recall with an E-Collar

Myth #3: E-Collars are used to punish dogs

This is true of shock devices, for which the only purpose is to punish, scare, and correct.

A properly used E-Collar on the other hand can provide guidance that will improve your relationship and provide your pet with enrichment and opportunities that only a well-behaved dog can have.

With E-Collar training, it’s important that your pup understands what the stimulation sensation means. Through a fun training process using basic obedience commands and conditioning, your dog learns how to respond to and be in control of the sensation.

What is Balanced Training?
What is Great Dane Dominance Training?

The dog becomes a willing and active participant in the training.

This pressure becomes a communication, not a punishment, and the pup knows that it means good things to them. Training starts with a good foundation and lots of fun, not harsh punishment or ‘trigger happy’ corrections.

The application of E-Collar pressure is no more “inhumane” than the pressure from a leash and harness; the only difference is that there is no longer a reliance on physical restraint and thus, no damage to the neck, head, or shoulders.
The pressure is ‘virtual’, in other words!

Your pet will be able to make choices and move freely, all in exchange for communication from their ‘wireless device’. With this method, the dog dictates every move, free of restraint and you can communicate using a language they understand.

A dog on a long line does not behave the same way as a dog off-leash using a modern wireless tool.

A dog on a long line cannot zoom, spin circles, safely play or climb on, around, or under trees.

Sniffing is great and awesome for dogs, calming, and extremely beneficial for helping them settle and lower their heart rates, but that should not be the only goal! The proper use of modern tools can offer both the “sniffari” and much-needed off-leash enrichment.

The proper fit of a comfortable E-Collar bungee strap: snug with two fingers of room.

The long line should be a backup, when required to satisfy leash laws. When possible, however, it should not be the only way that your Dane gets all of its enrichment and ‘free movement’.

A Dane getting tangled up in a long line is dangerous to you and to themselves.

The E-Collar training method is extremely effective, and those being trained correctly on modern, high-quality remote collars show positive body language and excitement. They can easily be redirected away from incorrect activities, too.

Can an E-collar be used at aversive levels to punish or correct a dog? Absolutely.

Things that are More Aversive Than an E Collar in Training

But there is a huge difference between punitive corrections and thoughtfully balancing ‘yes and no’ with rewards and the occasional use of an E-Collar correction.

A harlequin Great Dane wearing a remote electric wireless collar and enjoying a creek!

Myth #4: E-Collar training is not ‘science-based’

Well, where do we start! Buckle up, this is a big one.

Many ‘positive-only’ trainers claim to be ‘science-based’. This statement they use in their marketing comes from studies that have shown how positive reinforcement, aka “R+” (the quadrant, not the training method) is the most humane and effective technique for training new behaviors.

We LOVE using R+ to instill tricks, obedience, and confidence!

9 Tips to Having a Trained Great Dane with Balanced Training

Positive reinforcement is not the same thing as ‘positive-only’ training, however.

One is a key piece of operant conditioning and a huge part of any good training program. The latter (positive-only or force-free training) is a training method.

The training method of ‘positive-only’ uses a lot of R+ to reward behaviors.

So does balanced training, actually.

The best trainers use a lot of R+ in their techniques, no matter where they fall on the positive to balanced spectrum (and yes, there is a spectrum! No wonder dog training is so confusing to people).

R+ is not some magical or exclusive gem that only “science-based positive trainers” use and live by.
All good trainers use positive reinforcement whether they market themselves as ‘force-free’ or ‘balanced’.

Catch our drift, yet? ‘Science-based’ has been diluted to a marketing term in this case, and as a truly science-based blog, that makes us uncomfortable!

To better understand how canine learning science works, and why ‘balanced’ training is not abusive or inhumane as some people may have led you to believe, here is a little lesson for you!

There are four quadrants of operant conditioning, and people (including ‘professionals’) misunderstand them often. We get it, these can be confusing. BUT, in the interest of science, we’re going to dig in!

Here they are in layman’s terms!

Dictionary, for the purpose of understanding the four quadrants of operant conditioning in dog training:

POSITIVE = To add something
NEGATIVE = To take something away
REINFORCEMENT = To increase a behavior
PUNISHMENT = To reduce a behavior

Positive Reinforcement (R+) = The dog gets a treat for sitting

Positive Punishment (P+) = The dog is hit in the face for barking

Negative Reinforcement (R-) = A barrier is removed when the dog waits calmly to go outside

Negative Punishment (P-) = Freedom is removed so the dog can’t run away

R+ should always be used to reward and encourage the repetition of all new skills!

This includes the obedience commands sit, down, wait, leave it, come, heel and place.

However, all dogs, even “good” ones, do things they shouldn’t do.

That includes pulling, barking, lunging, bolting out the door, chasing cats, stealing food, jumping the fence, and running away.

As a Great Dane owner, you have likely experienced some of this!

Many of these things are unsafe and even life-threatening, however, they are all normal dog behaviors!

The first step to combat this is, of course, using R+ to train the dog on what they should be doing instead. You cannot combat shenanigans unless you are willing to teach the dog with rewards, fun, praise and play what it should know!

Pulling: teach heel with high-value treats
Stealing: teach “leave-it” with a toy and some kibble
Door Dashing: teach the dog to turn away from open doors

Despite this training, however, many dogs will still unsafely bolt out a door, jump on somebody, pull on the lead after a squirrel, or blow off a recall…no matter how many treats you offer.

You know, because…DOGS are DOGS and they are going to do doggie things!

Did we mention this other scientific tidbit?
For many dogs, chasing a squirrel or experiencing the freedom offered by door dashing is infinitely MORE rewarding than any treat you can offer.

This leaves all dog lovers, even those who believe ONLY using ‘R+’, with two options to fix the problem:

a. Negative Punishment: Remove choice, freedom, and access to things as a means to decrease something the dog does or is doing. This is essentially “management” to prevent behaviors and may need to be implemented for the life of the dog.

AND / OR

b. Positive Punishment: Add a correction (NO!) so the dog understands they cannot do something. A correction could be anything from a simple ‘ah ah’ to flat out hitting the dog in the face.

Not all corrections have to be painful or abusive. If the bank give you a $35 fine (bummer!) for bouncing a check, they’ve used positive punishment. It didn’t hurt you, but it will make you think twice about forgetting to balance your checkbook again!

Punishment abounds in dog training whether people admit it or not. Here are some examples:

Keeping a dog on a tether in a fenced yard because they escape (negative punishment)

Putting a dog behind a gate because they jump on guests (negative punishment)

A no-pull harness pulls the dog to the side if they lunge forward (positive punishment)

Science-based fact: even ‘positive only’ and ‘force free’ people use punishment in their training. This includes the use of training tools that punish and reduce behaviors, despite their promotion that ‘all punishment is abusive‘. ?

Another interesting science-based fact: modern E-Collar use relies primarily on negative reinforcement to reward and strengthen behaviors. Yay science!

Good, thoughtful balanced E-Collar trainers rarely use their E-Collar for corrections (“positive punishment“). If they do, it’s most often as communication to immediately stop a dangerous or unsafe behavior in dogs that know what they should be doing instead.

Unlike traditional punishment, this is one correction that a properly conditioned and trained dog knows how to respond to and control!

There is nothing wrong with thoughtfully implemented corrections, including behavior management.

Run from any “professional” trainer who tells you that all “balanced” professionals abuse, hurt and punish animals all day. This is misguided, uneducated, and inflammatory language.

Run further if a professional will claim to “never use punishment, corrections, or ‘negative reinforcement’ of any kind“. That is a clear sign that they don’t actually understand science or how tools and techniques, including the tools that they use, actually work.

Run just as far if the details they share indicate that you should shock, choke, kick, alpha-roll or hit to treat your dog’s reactivity. Remember, extremes are bad news!

Dogs have no clue why they are always on a long leash or never get to go on walks.

Isolation, physical restraint, and restrictions are sometimes necessary, but they are not actually clear or fair communication when you really search and start to think about it.

Strict behavioral management in the name of ‘errorless learning’ is the basis of ‘force-free’ training programs. Training dogs is so much more complicated than just ‘R+’, as you can see.

The marketing of “force-free” dog training and its overwhelming reliance on management to avoid corrections can be just as inhumane and unfair to a dog as harsh and punitive shock punishments.

It’s time we talk about that, folks!!!!

Good trainers will recognize that it requires skill to thoughtfully manage dog behavior, and will make the most ethical and humane choice for a dog between management and fair corrections.

In other words, while behavior management is an important piece of the training puzzle, there are times when it’s more humane, ethical, and fair to use a correction (and communicate, fully) than it is to rely on confinement and restrictions.

For example, just because a dolphin in captivity can be taught using ‘R+ only’, it doesn’t mean that keeping the dolphin in strict captivity is fair.

A captive marine animal cannot exhibit natural behaviors such as hunting and freely swimming long distances. These are behaviors for which “R+” on its own would be wildly ineffective in reducing.

These natural behaviors don’t have to be reduced because the animal is too confined to do them in the first place. It’s easy to avoid mistakes that happen with natural behavior when you don’t have the opportunity to act naturally in the first place.

Millions of dogs are living the life of the captive dolphin because so many owners and dog professionals market the misguided idea that you should just further manage (restrict) your dog instead of correcting and communicating with them. It’s devastating.

We are seeing an entirely new decade of methodology that believes pets must be babied and spoiled and never told ‘NO’.

Many of these dogs are not going on walks, cannot be safely off-leash, have to be in a crate when guests come over, are not trusted around an open front door, have to be gated away from the kitchen and definitely do not get to go on so much as a picnic with their owner.

We are seeing endemic levels of frustration-based anxiety and reactivity that have never been seen before in pet dogs.

We think there is a problem here, and what’s ironic is that it takes behavior science (yes, science!) to fix it. When we are working with our dogs, it’s important to give them the information they need to make the right decisions. That means saying a LOT of ‘YES’ and also being ok with saying ‘NO’!

Thoughtfully balanced training and e-collar use are, you guessed it, based on science.
You can, in fact, say NO and hold your pet accountable without hurting, scaring, or abusing them.

Myth #5: E-Collar training will make your dog aggressive

This goes with our science-based training information above.

Aggression typically has roots in the following things: genetics, hormones, habit, poor socialization, past experiences, frustration, and fear.

You can cause frustration and fear in a dog by alpha rolling them. You can also cause it by shocking or punishing your dog for reacting, especially without addressing the underlying root cause. You can even cause aggressive reactivity with poor leash handling, even if the dog is in a ‘harness’ and being fed piles of treats.

Incorrect training of all types can cause aggression, modern positive E-Collar methods does not.

Myth #6: E-Collars are for lazy people

Balanced training using an E-Collar requires more time, more diligence, more educated ownership, and more attention to detail than people seem to be aware of.

There is no such thing as a good, fair, humane, or truly effective training program that is “quick and easy”.

Taking a dog off-leash, understanding dog interactions, training the dog what the language of their E-Collar means, using lots of praise, play, rewards, treats, freedom and toys, and giving a dog enrichment, opportunities, and experiences that most dogs never experience?

We think that is far from lazy. Don’t fall for the negative marketing!

Why should I use an E-Collar?

We believe that all Great Danes should be E-Collar trained because it’s the most humane way to remove the reliance on physical restraints (including head collars, harnesses, and collars) that can cause harm, frustration, injury, and damage.

Giant breed dogs are strong and powerful; if you are relying solely on your ability to physically overpower and restrain your dog with some kind of physical device such as a collar or harness, you are setting both you and your dog up for failure.

Off-leash freedom is just one benefit; having an amazing relationship with your dog and being able to control your giant anywhere at any time, even on a flat collar alone, are key reasons to choose modern, positive balanced low-stim E-Collar training.

When your dog understands what is expected of them, and what they can and cannot do, you’ll be giving them a precious gift that will help them thrive.

You can train your dog to walk politely on a leash using an E-Collar or a humane Herm Sprenger prong collar. Leash walking can be a tough skill to work on when your Dane can overpower you without even trying!

These tools will give you a gentle and effective way to communicate so that actual living and enjoying every moment of life can begin.

How long does it take to train with an E-Collar?

It depends on how good of a trainer you are, and how much of a foundation you’ve already installed using positive training techniques.

A dog that has 60% recall can be safely off-leash with 100% recall in their E-Collar within weeks, following the positive conditioning process.

A dog that is wild, frustrated, lunging, destructive, shut down, anxious, and even aggressive will require more time. We recommend working with a highly qualified positive-balanced trainer to address the root cause of these behaviors.

How do you train with an E-Collar?

When you teach your dog with an E-Collar, you start by using positive R+ training to teach basic commands such as sit, down, leave it, place and COME!

Then you find your dog’s “working-level”. This is the lowest level of stimulation that they respond to.

Most dogs are responsive and enthusiastic to learn on a Mini-Educator at between a level 3 and 7.
Humans typically cannot even feel the same sensation until the remote has been dialed up to a level 12 or even 20.

They always report surprise that the stimulation, once they do feel it, is both nearly imperceptible and non-aversive!

This response is paired with treats, so the dog learns that when they feel that, good things happen.

Through a process of conditioning from that point forward, the dog learns to control when the stimulation is on or off and learns that they can turn it off themselves.

By using the continuous button instead of the tap button, the stimulation can then be applied as a constant sensation paired with a command such as ‘come’, and then immediately removed when the dog begins to recall.

This is also known as ‘negative reinforcement’ and is a very simple and rewarding ‘pressure on, pressure off’ communication that mirrors leash pressure, just without the leash.

This allows you to communicate with your dog by ‘touching’ them, which can be insanely helpful for deaf dogs, dogs with ‘selective hearing’ or when you are in noisy environments such as the beach.

Higher levels are used in higher-distraction environments, just like your friend might have to speak louder to communicate with you in a noisy bar vs. when you are at home. Higher levels aren’t necessarily more aversive!

The stimulation from a modern E-Collar replaces prong, head halter, long line and harness pressure so that you and your pet can enjoy safe movement free of restraint.

Does this gentle simulation annoy the dog? Sure. That’s one reason it works. Just like your ringing cell phone makes you pick it up and answer. The timer on your oven makes you get up and take the cookies out. Your pants getting too tight makes you undo the button. All of these activities are first annoying and second, inherently rewarding!

Pressure does not have to hurt or be painful to be effective at changing your behavior.

Is Larry Krohn a good dog trainer?

Larry Krohn is our recommendation for learning about positive E-Collar dog training.

You can watch some of our favorite videos from his YouTube channel below! YouTube is a great resource for both good and bad methods, so here are some trainer channels that we do and don’t recommend as well.

YES:
Larry Krohn
Tom Davis
Leerburg

NO:
Jeff Gellman (too much compulsion and flooding)
Cesar Milan (outdated intimidation ‘dominance’ method)
Most franchise-based trainer companies (unreliable, tend to be heavily punishment-based)

What kind of E-Collar does Larry Krohn use?

Larry Krohn uses and recommends the same collars that we do, by Educator technologies! You can purchase them from us below, with free U.S. Shipping and email support during training.

May 18, 2022
Proper E Collar Placement on Your Dog: Are You Failing With This Simple Trick?
When it comes to using an e collar on your dog, there is a right and wrong way to do it.

Do you feel like giving up using e collars to train your dog? Is it just not working. Well, we have one last thing for you to try before you call it quits with your training.

Pet owners who gear up to use a training collar often find themselves frustrated, stating that their training goals aren’t going as planned.

Improper placement of the e collar is one of the BIGGEST problems with your dogs training. A proper fit on your dog’s neck should be the FIRST STEP in e collar training.

Let’s get started.

How to get started using an e collar

IS THERE A PROPER E COLLAR PLACEMENT ON DOGS?

Absolutely. All collars should have a good fit, but when using a collar for dog training it is even more important to have a proper fit.

What problems can you encounter if you have your dog wear their e collar improperly?
1. You notice your dog regularly act non-responsive when you are using stimulation
2. You realize that sometimes your dog responds and sometimes they do not
3. Your dog is losing interest in the training collar
4. Your dog has zero recall
5. Your dog is yelping
6. You seem to think ‘I have no idea if this thing is working’ often
If you notice any of these problems- you might have missed an important e collar detail: proper contact and a snug fit.

HOW DO I MAKE SURE THAT THE COLLAR FITS MY DOG?

The way that e collar dog training works is from the communication between the remote and the points that rest on your Great Dane’s skin.

When you push the button on the remote, you should rely on your dog’s collar to send stimulation to their skin, alerting them that you are attempting to communicate with them.

If these contacts do not fit snugly on your dog’s neck, they will not send proper stimulation, or any at all for that matter.

E collar 900 review: honest and unbiased

Even if just one of the contact points touches your dog’s neck, but not both, your dog will receive NO sign or indication from the collar.

Therefore, if you do not make sure that the collar is extremely snug on your dog, making contact with its skin and not just it’s hair, it will feel ABSOLUTELY NOTHING at all.

CONTACT POINTS ON YOUR GREAT DANE’S SKIN

Contact points are the two metal pieces that come in touch with your Great Dane’s skin when you are using the e collar.

They should fit snug on your dog’s neck, right behind their ears.

You will want to make sure that these contact points have direct contact with your Great Dane’s skin and not just their fur.

If they do not have direct and physical touch to the skin, your dog will not feel the stimulation and it will be as if you never even pushed the button on the remote.

MY DOG IS YELPING WHEN WEARING ITS COLLAR

If you notice that your Great Dane is yelping when wearing the e collar, you should question the position in which you have the collar.

If your dog leans downward, for example, it creates space between the collar and the neck. But when it leans back up right, the position of the collar is altered.

Therefore, when using a level, let’s say 20, your dog will not feel the stim at all while leaning downward, but will be taken completely off guard when leaning upward.

The yelping is probably a result of incorrect position of the collar: a complete surprise at the sudden sensation upon finally feeling the point.

MY DOG HAS PRESSURE SORES UNDERNEATH ITS FUR / ON ITS NECK

If you notice your dog has developed pressure sores, it is likely from the e collar being too loose on their neck or you are wearing the wrong points.

PROPERLY FIT E COLLARS WILL NOT CREATE IRRITATION

As we stated before, the points must have direct contact with the skin and feel almost uncomfortably (to you) tight in order for proper stimulation to be felt.

What is the difference between a shock collar and an e collar? Read more here.

A loose fit will cause the metal pieces to slide around on your dog’s neck. If the collar constantly rubs through your dog’s coat and hair- it can cause extreme skin irritation.

Work to tighten your collar strap until you can just fit two fingers underneath of the collar strap and the neck.

The collar should feel very tight and have no ‘wiggle room’.

ARE YOU USING THE RIGHT LENGTH OF CONTACT POINT?

There are different lengths of points which should be chosen wisely for good contact on skin.
1. For example: Short-haired dogs will need the shortest points so that the metal has direct contact with their skin.
2. On the other hand, long-haired dogs will need longer metal pieces to make sure the stim is not being lost in all of the fur.
Great Danes have very short / thin hair, and therefore usually the point that works best for them is the ¼ inch.

The next size up would be the ½ inch and so on. The longest point is usually no longer than one inch in length and would be for a pet with long hair, whereas the shortest contact points are 1/4 inch.

Comfort Pads

Comfort pads can be the answer to a lot of problems. Comfort pads are small, rubber discs that go in-between the points and your Great Dane’s body.

Purchase comfort pads here.

This provides a buffer between the metal piece and your dog’s body. It also helps with making sure the contact points do not get lost in all of the fur (as we discussed before).

If you have a pup with very sensitive skin, a short coat, or you are just trying to avoid any irritation, comfort pads may be the way to go.

WHERE DOES THE E COLLAR GO ON MY DOGS NECK?

The e collar should be positioned with the strap snug around your dog’s head, right behind their ears.

You will want to make sure that the contact points have direct contact with your dog’s skin and not just their fur.

If they do not have direct contact, your Great Dane will not feel the stimulation and it will be as if you never even pushed the button on the remote.

View remote and collar sets in our shop- we offer free shipping.

The best place to keep the collar is on it’s head, right behind one of the ears. If the collar hangs in the front of the neck, skin can become easily irritated.

SHOULD MY GREAT DANE WEAR THE COLLAR ALL THE TIME?

The answer to this question is usually no. You should only put the e collar on your Great Dane when you are actively training them or if they are in a situation where they may need a communication (i.e. if they are about to run into the street) or you’d like them to recall.

Off Leash and Out of Control: Funny Stories

You should remove the collar every few hours to ensure that your dog’s skin does not become irritated.

It is also a good idea to remove the collar when your dog is eating or drinking so that they do not get food or water on the contact points (which can cause irritation) and so that they can have full range of their body.

THE FINAL STEP

After you have double-checked that the contact points are properly fitted that the strap is snug but not too tight, and that you are using the correct length of contact point- it’s time to put the e collar on your dog and start training!

Check out our guide for more detail on how to begin working with an e collar!

Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.
May 17, 2022
How to Use an E Collar: A Personal Memoir to the Shock Collar and My Path to Finding the E Collar
My road to the e collar was definitely not clear cut: I had absolutely no idea how to use an e collar. Heck, I didn’t even know what an e collar was.

What I did know was that I had two Great Dane puppies who were 8 weeks old. They were supposed to be sweet, charming, and adorable. But instead, all they were doing was ripping up my carpet, eating my bedroom walls, peeing EVERYWHERE, and destroying my house.

Meet Banks and Roo:

Yes- I ripped out my carpet within a few months and opted for Pergo (Thanks Home Depot!)

To say I had a bad day was an understatement.

These puppies were quickly turning into horses. What the heck was I going to do with them when they were in complete control over me- and not the other way around.

My Journey to Learning How to Use an E Collar

I had no idea what e collar training was.

I didn’t even know how, when, or what to feed these dogs.

Give them a treat and they should listen right? All the rest should fall into place?

Wrong.

Their behavior was getting worse.

My Dog Ate My Carpet

First, my sweet female Great Dane, named Banks, decided to eat my carpet.

She thought it was fun.

‘Other dogs don’t do this’, I thought. Dog training is supposed to be about sitting, laying, basic things- everyday life. Not how to stop eating carpet!

I was horrified.

My Immediate and Irrational Use of a Shock Collar

In my horror, I immediately did what many, many dog owners do.

I resorted to Amazon.

‘Training collar’, ‘Electronic Collars’, ‘Shock Collar‘- I begin frantically tapping faster than my fingers could even type.

What is the difference between a shock collar and an e collar? Read more here.

And up popped a ‘perfect’ remote training collar- only $25! Since I was buying 2, I KNEW they had to be affordable.

Amazon prime? Even better-

Order placed! Soon my dogs will be wearing this electronic collar EVERYWHERE they go- and they will be perfectly behaved because of it.

Why Their Shock Collars Did Not Work

I couldn’t wait to open up their new shock collars.

Before I could barely throw away the bubble wrap, the collar was on the dog’s neck.

‘Zap!’ I thought as I begin tapping and pushed the button.

The dogs looked at me with a hurt and betrayed look in their eyes. They had no idea what they did wrong, but they knew mommy was mad. And that’s all that mattered to them.

Banksy curled under my legs, even though I wanted her to sit. Roo ran upstairs, even though in my mind he was going to lay down.

Where was their perfect behavior?

Learning that Shock Collars are NOT It

I started to sweat. My dog was stressing. I was stressing.

My dog was not giving me any behavior or indication that they were about to listen… WHY! WHY. What is it going to take to get these dogs to drop the undesirable behavior and actually start to listen?

The Reality Sinks In

As my dog sat and stared at me, I stop tapping the handheld remote.

This animal in front of me has absolutely NO idea what I’m saying- I think.

How do I speak ‘dog’? Frantic panic sets in. I looked down at the shock collar. Well, I know electric shock collars are NOT working. Positive reinforcement, by itself, is NOT working. I’m losing control, and it’s happening fast.

With this feeling of losing control of my dogs behavior…. I start to search for answers.

In my search- I realized that the shock collar didn’t work because it wasn’t paired with anything else.

I didn’t know how to use the collar, when to use it, or what it was for.

To them, the shock collar was just a terrible sensation on their neck with absolutely NO meaning. My dog’s sensitivity was more important to me than anything else.

I had to find a better training program, and I had to do it quickly!

Discovering The E Collar Training Process

Back to the drawing board, I needed to find something my dogs would actually respond to.

I had to get creative.

The answer?

Although it took months to find, I found what works best for me and my dogs: combination of an e collar and positive reinforcement.

This is called balanced training, and you can find many professional dog training companies or an individual trainer who are willing to help you through balanced training for your dog.

I began to research e collar training and discovered that the remote training collar (shock collar) that I had purchased was VERY different than an e collar.

I had ZERO idea that there was a difference- but the difference in collars was MONUMENTAL.

It all started to make sense, and I knew it was right for both my dogs and for me.

What is an Electronic Collar?

An e collar is a remote training collar that does NOT use shock.

Additionally, unlike the use of a shock collar, trainers who use an e collar encourage you to use the collar CORRECTLY.

I noticed an immediate shift in training discussions around e collar dog training vs. shock collar dog training.

More on that soon, but first: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT SO DIFFERENT?

WHAT IS INSIDE OF AN E COLLAR?

The e collar has a receiver and a transmitter.

The receiver is the portion of the e collar that goes on your dog’s neck, and the transmitter is the handheld device that you, the owner or trainer, will use.

Some e collars have one button while others may have multiple buttons for different stimulation types (we’ll get to that in a bit).

THE RECEIVER

The receiver has two main parts: the prongs and the contact points.

THE PRONGS

The prongs are what touch your dog’s skin and deliver the stimulation. The contact points are what make contact with your dog’s skin.

There are three different types of e collar prongs on these training collars: short, medium, and long.

The type of prong that you will use is dependent on your dog’s coat type.

SHORT PRONGS: These are best for dogs with short coats because they make direct contact with the skin.

MEDIUM PRONGS: These are best for dogs with medium-length coats because they still make direct contact with the skin but are not as likely to irritate.

LONG PRONGS: These are best for dogs with long coats because they make indirect contact from the contact points with the skin and are less likely to irritate.

ELECTRIC STIMULATION: Most importantly, the receiver delivers the electric stimulation to your dog. Stimulation is NOT the same as shock, which was in the original collars I had bought for my dogs.

The stimulation is a very low-level electrical impulse that feels similar to a static shock that you would feel if you touched something and then touched someone else.

The sensation is not painful, but it is noticeable.

A VARIETY OF LEVELS IN YOUR DOG COLLAR (1-100)

Some e collars have multiple levels of stimulation while others only have one. (You should look for remote training collars that offer 100 levels of stimulation). The level in which one dog might feel the stimulation differs from dog to dog. One dog might feel the stimulation at a level 4, whereas another dog might feel the stimulation at a level 20. This is called the working level of a dog and is one reason why it is important that your collar offers so many varying levels.

The level of stimulation that you use is dependent on your dog’s size, age, and sensitivity.

THE TRANSMITTER OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE HANDHELD REMOTE

The transmitter is the handheld device that you will use to deliver the electric stimulation to your dog.

As I mentioned before, some transmitters have one button while others may have multiple.

The e collar technology device has a different amount of buttons, depending on which unit you purchase.

Typically- your e collar device will have a stimulation button, a noise / beep button, and a ‘vibrate’ button.

YOUR COLLAR HAS A STIMULATION BUTTON

The stimulation button is, by far, the most talked about button by owners and ethical trainers in dog training.

Stimulation (e stim) is the same exact unit found in a ‘tens’ machine at the chiropractor. In other words, it’s actually HEALTHY for your dogs neck!

Why not receive some healthy boosts to your neck WHILE training? It all made sense to me.

YOUR COLLAR HAS A VIBRATE BUTTON

The vibrate button on the transmitter is used to deliver a ‘warning’ to your dog before any stimulation is even delivered.

Hypothetically, dog owners believe that the vibrate is a feature that you can “train your dog without ever having to use the stimulation”, somewhat of a ‘warning’.

I, however, have found the vibration MUCH more aversive to getting my dog’s attention than typical stim e collar use.

Every dog’s behaviors are different, and while some dogs might thrive with the use of the vibrate feature in different situations, the vibrate causes unnecessary stress to my own dogs.

YOUR COLLAR HAS A BEEP / NOSE BUTTON

The beep / noise button on the transmitter is used to deliver a ‘warning’ to your dog before any stimulation is even delivered.

Additionally, the beep can be used to target a specific behavior in your dog. For example, if your dog understands that the beep means you want them to demonstrate the behavior of ‘sit’, then you can use the beep as a marker for that specific behavior.

The beep is also used in e collar training to ‘mark’ a desired behavior. For example, if your dog is running towards you and you want him to stop, you can press the button on the transmitter which will emit a beeping noise, prompting them to sit.

All in all, the buttons mean what YOU want them to mean.

Each behavior of your dog can be depicted with any button: as long as you have given your dog clear instructions and communication as to WHAT that sensation or noise actually means.

If you’d like the beep to mean sit, then train your dog that the beep means sit.

If you want the vibration to mean ‘watch me’, then train your dog that the vibration means ‘watch me’.

The beauty of these devices is that they are versatile and can be used for a variety of different behaviors.

It is simply up to you, as the owner and trainer, to be clear in your communication with your dog surrounding that particular behavior.

E COLLAR FITTING & PLACEMENT

When you are beginning dog training with e collars, one important step that many dog owners forget, is how to fit the collar on your dog.

Trainers will point out that this is one of the MOST important parts of using these collars.

HOW SHOULD PROPERLY FITTED E COLLARS FIT ON MY DOG’S NECK?

The answer is VERY tight!

Uncomfortably tight- in your eyes!

Your dog has hair, and A LOT of it! Remember all of that shedding? YEAH…

That’s a lot of hair.

All that hair can actually act as an insulator between the probes on the collar and your dog’s skin, making the electric stimulation much less effective.

A properly fitted e collar should be so tight that you cannot fit more than ONE FINGER underneath it. That’s it! Just one finger.

You want the probes on the e collar to be touching your dog’s skin at all times in order for the electric current to flow properly.

If you can fit more than one finger under the strap, it is too loose and needs to be adjusted.

You can also use something called comfort pads, underneath the prongs, which helps keep the collar snug and in place.

Check out the comfort pads here.

WHERE SHOULD MY DOGS COLLAR BE PLACED AROUND THEIR NECK?

A professional trainer skilled in using e collars will tell you to place the e collars directly behind your dogs ear, tightly enough that you can only fit one finger in between the strap and your dog’s neck at any point.

We’ve all seen those dogs who have the large, dangling e collar straps- and that is NOT how it should be!

Tight and snug right on the neck of your dog, behind one ear or the other of your dog- is the best place for canine stimulation to happen and where you will find the most success with getting your dog to respond.

HIRING A PROFESSIONAL TRAINER WHO WORKS WITH E COLLARS

Hiring a trainer who has experience using a remote collar, prides themselves in positive reinforcement and is eager to help you work with your dog on correcting behaviors as well as rewarding behaviors is DEFINITELY nothing to be ashamed of.

You want to be able to trust the person you are working with, and if that means finding someone who is experienced and passionate about helping dog owners- then do it!

The best part about finding great trainers in your area, is that they will not only be able to show you how to use the equipment but can also help you troubleshoot any issues you may have along the way.

A good trainer will be able to teach you how to properly fit the collar on your dog, how to effectively use the buttons on the transmitter and can give you tips and tricks for different behaviors that you may want to work on with your dog.

Remote training collars / e collars are a great tool for dog owners- when used correctly. And furthermore, training your dog with the eyes of other people, trainers included, is ALWAYS a positive.

Remember to be clear in your communication with your dog, take the time to find a trainer who can help you if needed and make sure that the collar is fitted snugly and behind your dogs ears!

WHERE TO START USING A REMOTE COLLAR AT HOME?

If you are confident that you’d like to begin using a training collar to work on getting your dog e collar trained, first of all CONGRATULATIONS!

There are some exciting things ahead for both you and your dogs.

STEP 1: WORK WITH YOUR DOG ON BASIC COMMANDS

You absolutely need to train your dogs basic commands before beginning working to get them trained on e collars.

This was one of the major mistakes that I made- and a huge pain point for me and my dogs.

5 Common mistakes you may be making when Training Your Great Dane

Some skills you need to lead your dog through, BEFORE using collars are:
1. Leash skills– walking, sitting, staying
2. Recall– coming when called
3. Impulse control- waiting at doors/thresholds, not jumping up on people
4. Potty training (any animal should be potty trained before beginning higher level commands or being asked to have the ability to learn training with training collars)
5. Their name- Teaching your dog their name is an ABSOLUTE MUST.
You need to be able to have a clear understanding and communication with your dog before you begin using any type of electronic collar.

STEP 2: FIND YOUR DOG’S WORKING LEVEL

A ‘working level’ is the level of stimulation that your dog will respond to without hesitation.

The goal is NOT to get your dog to yelp or cry out in pain, the goal is to find a level where your dog takes notice and responds accordingly.

This may take some time and you may have to experiment with different levels before you find what works best for your dog.

A good tip is to start at a lower level than you think- it is always easier to go up in levels of stimulation than it is to come back down.

Typically, a normal canine working level is below a level 10.

Begin tapping on the stim button, at a level 1. If you notice that your dog moves any part of it’s neck / shoulder or looks in your direction- STOP TAPPING- you have found its working level.

If you do not notice any sense of them feeling it, do the same thing on level 2. Continue to increase in level until you’ve seen any indication that your pet feels the stim. That is when you have found the working level.

If at ANY time you feel like your dog is in pain- stop all training and lower the stim immediately. E collar training is NOT supposed to cause pain!

STEP 3: INTRODUCE YOUR DOG TO THE E COLLARS BY USING THEIR NAME

Like mentioned, your dog MUST have the ability to know their name.

If they do not respond to their name, back up- and begin working with them to target behavior of gaining eye contact when you say their name.

Otherwise, get ready to teach your dog what the e collar MEANS by using their ability to know and respond to their name.

First, you will want to put the e collar on your dog.

I like to do this while they are eating their kibble or a treat so that they make an association with the collar being put on = good things happening.

Once the e collar is on, you will take a few steps away from your dog and say their name in a happy voice.

When they look at you, immediately press the button on the transmitter (at their working level- the lowest possible level) so that they feel static stimulation on their neck.

Do this a few times until your dog begins to turn their head towards you when you say their name.

This routine training period should be repeated daily for about a week- as your canine buddy learns to associate their name with the e collar stim and also- best of all- with YOUR EYES.

STEP 2: BEGIN WORKING ON A LONG LEASH / LEAD WITH YOUR DOG

Using a long lead to teach your canine positive learned behaviors with a leash and electronic training collars is a huge skill.

Using a long lead, find a safe area like your backyard (away from other dogs).

Attach the long lead to your dogs e collar- making sure that there is plenty of room for your dog to walk around on the lead.

Affordable Long Lead in Different Lengths

You should be able to feel the leash moving with your dog as they move.

I like to use a six-foot lead for this so that I have some room to work, but you can start with whatever length / distance you find most comfortable.

PLAYING THE ‘HOT AND COLD’ GAME

Begin holding down the continuous stim (at their working level and at the same time, call your dogs name from a distance and say ‘come’.

If your dog follows this command and immediately comes towards you, start dropping the stim level lower (going ‘colder’).

If they do NOT follow this command, begin to slowly increase the stim (going ‘hotter’) until your dog begins lowering the distance between you and them.

As soon as their body moves CLOSER in distance towards you (an act that they are beginning to follow the ‘come’ command, you should say ‘YES’ and begin lowering (colder).

Continue this pattern until your dog is coming towards you quickly, at which point you can start to decrease the length of the leash.

Viper 15ft Training Lead

Leather Dog Leash

Leather Slip Leash

I like to do this training in baby steps- so if my dog is on a six-foot lead, I will lower it down to a five-foot lead and work with them there for a few days before going down to a four-foot lead, and so forth.

The goal is for your dog to be able to respond quickly on a verbal command with little to no stim needed (from you).

This will take some time and patience, but it is SO worth it in the end!

LEASH TRAINING YOUR DOG USING TRAINING COLLARS

The great thing about using e collars for leash training is that you can get your dog used to the feel of the collar around their neck as well as begin working on getting them used to wearing a leash- all while staying in the safety and comfort of your own home!

Start by putting the e collar on your dog and attaching the leash or long slip lead. This period of training works best with a long leash- here are a few of my favorites:

I like to do this while they are eating their kibble or a treat so that they make an association with the collar being put on = good things happening.

Once the e collar is on and the leash is attached, you will begin training them to walk on leash with their learned behaviors of the e collar.

Allow your Great Dane to have a loose leash- leash tension is a sign of your pet pulling, and will want to tackle that with training.

Target behavior of walking calmly next to your side by continuing to play the ‘hot and cold’ game with your dog. As your pup walks next to you, if they begin to walk in front of you, dial up/hot, as they walk back into stride next to you, dial down/cold.

This form of communication in training will let your dog know that they are doing what you want them to do- without having to use any physical corrections.

Remember, the goal is for your dog to be able to walk on a loose leash by your side with little to no stim needed from you!

STEP 3: DEVELOP A FOOD REWARD SYSTEM

Balanced training means to not only use corrections but also to reward your dog when they are doing what you want them to do.

I like to keep things simple and use kibble for rewards during training sessions, but not ALL the time. Using kibble as your ONLY means of reward has the POSSIBILITY of your dog beginning to rely on the yummy item, rather than falling back onto their obedience training.

When using treats, a bag can be a sweet way to maintain control over the leash and dog, while also keeping something yummy around your waist.

Here are some of my favorites:

The Olly Backcountry treat pouch for Great Danes

The Olly smaller treat pouch

REWARD ALWAYS!

That does NOT mean that you should only reward your dog sometimes!

Rewards come in MANY different forms such as :
1. Treats
2. Kibble
3. Praise
4. Verbal commands followed by an energetic hug or excited ‘good job’
5. An excited pet
6. Simply taking a break to rest, sit and lather attention on your pup
You can (and should) use a combination of ALL these forms of rewards during your dog’s training! This will help to keep things fun and interesting for both you AND your pup!

Here are my all time favorite treats!

Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products

Remember, the goal is to find what motivates YOUR dog, mix things up with every command / reward, and to make training fun!

THE PROCESS TAKES PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE

I’ve come a LONG way in my training process with my pups.

I had to really search for what worked best for us, and that took time, patience and consistency.

But it was SO worth it in the end!

I hope this guide has helped you to learn a little bit more about e collars and how to use them during your dog’s training journey! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to check out our e collar training guide! I love hearing from you all!

Happy Training! 🙂

Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.

READ MORE:

EZ Educator ET-900 E-Collar Review For Great Dane Owners
May 13, 2022
A Story of Balanced Dog Training Success With My 2 Great Danes
When I first got my Great Danes (yes- 2 Great Dane puppies at ONCE- WHAT was I thinking?) I was SO excited to start finding dog trainers, learn different methods and ‘quickly’ have the most perfectly trained dog.

Boy, was I wrong! Getting dogs trained is not an overnight venture.

Dogs need balance in their lives, just like people do. Too much discipline and your dog will become resentful and disobedient. Too little and they will take advantage of you and become unmanageable. That’s why it’s important to follow a balanced dog training program that will keep your Great Dane happy, obedient, and well-adjusted.

Anyways, what’s more is as I worked with my Great Danes, I realized that not only does my dog take time to learn, but SO DID I. I realized I had no idea what training methods really fit my style and even what a well behaved dog SHOULD look like.

That is when I began my journey of finding the training method that worked best for my dogs and our mission: solving problem behaviors and building trust while at the same time building a bond between them and me.

FIRST, LETS DEFINE BALANCED TRAINING

What is balanced training?

Balanced training is a dog training method that uses both negative (-) reinforcement and positive (+) reinforcement training.

In short: This type of training looks at the whole picture- not just one side.

For example, if your dog is jumping on you when you come home from work, you could say “no” and put your knee up to block their jump (negative), or you could ignore the jump and instead, wait for your dog to sit and then give them a treat (positive). Some of our favorite treats here:

Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products

You could also do a combination of both- say “no” and push their butt down to help stop jumping, and proceed to give them a treat once their butt hits the ground.

This method is called balanced because you are using BOTH negative AND positive reinforcement training- not just one.

MY FIRST AND LAST EXPERIENCE WITH PHYSICAL CORRECTION

Raising a dog is hard. Raising a puppy can be even harder. Ever heard of the puppy blues? There’s an actual WORD for the depression that one might feel with the sheer amount of work and fatigue a new dog can cause them.

When my puppy came home, I had an entire training plan, I knew what I wanted my dog’s behavior to look like, I had watched the clicker training videos on youtube, and I had done my research.

But what I didn’t factor in was how TIRED I would be.

How do dogs learn? Find out here.

I quickly learned that no amount of research or videos could have prepared me for the real thing.

TRAINING DOGS REQUIRES YOU TO RESORT ON HABIT, NOT ‘PLANS’

In those first few weeks, I made a lot of mistakes. But- to be fair, she did too…

One being the time she RAN and I mean RAN out the front door when she saw our nice neighbor and their new baby walking past with a stroller.

I gasped, I panicked, I turned into the worlds WORST dog trainer.

I started running after her- screaming “NO! NOOOO!” as if that would somehow stop a speeding bullet.

And what did my puppy do? She thought it was a game and RAN FASTER. So there I was- running down the street like a maniac, screaming at the top of my lungs- embarrassing myself and my poor puppy.

Off Leash and Out of Control: Funny Stories

When I finally caught up to her, I was so out of breath and angry that I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, shoved her in the house, and slammed the door.

I was relying on plans, rather than having built strong habits to fall back on in the midst of a frustrating moment.

DOGS NEED CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND CONSISTENCY

My lesson books told me I was a force free trainer, but my HABIT told me I was a big meanie who used leash jerks, terrible body language, and even ‘mean verbal tone’ to my dog.

She was SO confused!

And I was devastated. How could I have been SO mean and strayed so far from the way I wanted to treat unwanted behavior?

I knew I wanted and needed to be better for my dog. I also knew she would be acting out again- and probably soon- so I needed to know exactly how to act when she did.

PURELY POSITIVE TRAINING WAS JUST NOT RIGHT FOR ME

That night I sat with my dog, thinking about the immense leash pressure (sigh) and the lack of effective communication I had granted my dog when she made a mistake.

That is when it hit me- no amount of “science based” verbal praise was going to get her back to me when all 45 lbs of her puppy energy was running off towards something WAY more exciting than myself- should it be a baby carriage, other dogs, or a squirrel.

‘What in the heck am I supposed to do when I can’t control my dog? And how can I get to a place that my dog understands me?’

MY ROAD TO FINDING BALANCED TRAINING

Que the mad google research for dog trainers. We’ve all been there.

The midnight quest to solving life’s problems, one search at a time.

‘Balanced Trainers’, ‘Balanced Dog Trainers Near Me’, the results started flooding in.

I finally found an article that talked about the importance of BOTH positive and negative reinforcement in training.

It made SO much sense!

How could I have been so naive to think that one or the other would be enough?

Dogs are living, breathing creatures with feelings, just like us. They need both- just like we do.

Finding a trainer who could show me how to properly use both positive AND negative reinforcement was my next task.

I was sold on the satisfying and bonding behavior modification that could be accomplished by positive punishment (the addition of an unpleasant consequence) and positive reinforcement (the addition of a pleasant consequence).

I was intrigued by the concept of completing training exercises with both positive motivation for successful new behaviors, and discipline for any unwanted animal behavior (negative punishment).

Yup- I bought the cute planner at Target, I memorized the four quadrants, and I knew that this was the route for me.

WHAT ARE THE FOUR QUADRANTS?

The four quadrants of operant conditioning are:
1. Positive reinforcement
2. Negative reinforcement
3. Positive punishment
4. Negative punishment
I’ll go more in depth with each one below!

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT (+R)

This is when you offer the dog a reward for completing a desired behavior.

The reward can be a treat, toy, a clicker or verbal praise. The most important part is that the dog finds the reward valuable.

Clicker training: purchase here.

Some dogs will work for food, while others prefer to play with a toy or receive petting and scratches.

You’ll need to experiment to see what type of reinforcement works best for your dog.

When used BY ITSELF, reward based techniques can actually be ineffective and put your dog at a huge disadvantage, in my opinion.

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT (-R)

This is when you remove an unpleasant condition after the dog completes a desired behavior.

For example, if your dog doesn’t like to be restrained on a leash, you can immediately release him from the restraint (leash, collar, or harness) as soon as he sits calmly.

The dog learns that the desired behavior (sitting calmly) will result in the removal of the unpleasant condition (being restrained), so he is more likely to repeat the behavior in the future.

POSITIVE PUNISHMENT (+P)

This is when you add an unpleasant consequence after the dog completes an undesired behavior.

For example, if your dog jumps on you when you come home from work, you can immediately turn your back and ignore him until he calms down.

With +P, dogs learn that the undesired behavior (jumping on you) will result in the addition of an unpleasant condition (being ignored), so he is less likely to repeat the behavior in the future.

NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT (-P)

This is when you remove a pleasant condition after the dog completes an undesired behavior.

For example, if your dog jumps on you when you come home from work, you can immediately put him in his crate or kennel.

With -P, dogs learn that the undesired behavior (jumping on you) will result in the removal of a pleasant condition (being out of his crate), so he is less likely to repeat the behavior in the future.

WHICH ONE SHOULD I USE?

The thing is, you’re going to use ALL four sections of the operant conditioning quadrant when you are a balanced trainer.

Balanced training requires dog owners to be well versed in each section so that they can make the best decisions for their individual dog’s needs.

I’ll admit, at first I was a little discouraged. It felt like a lot to learn and keep track of! But I’m telling you, it is SO worth it.

Not only will your dog be a better dog, but overall, you will notice a change in yourself.

You’ll be more patient, more consistent, and better equipped to handle any dog training challenge that comes your way.

So how do you beging working on balanced training? Check out the steps below!

IDENTIFY NONNEGOTIABLE BEHAVIOR ISSUES AND DEVELOP HABITS

Every Great Dane is going to have their vice.

My pups have shown me it all.

Leash pulling, eating things, counter surfing, destroying furniture, separation anxiety, the list goes on.

The first step is identifying which behaviors are nonnegotiable for you and your family.

For example, if you live in an apartment and can’t have a dog that barks excessively, then barking would be a nonnegotiable behavior for you.

Canine behavior is complex. Living in a dog world, especially when you are new to training dogs, is NOT easy. Behavioral issues are GOING to pop up. That, I can assure you.

Grab your Target planner and decide on your house rules. You’re going to need them.

LOOK UP BALANCED TRAINERS IN YOUR AREA

Finding dog trainers is never easy. Every human has their own training methods, even amidst balanced dog training methods.

But, choosing the wrong dog trainer who uses the wrong training methods can be a lethal decision.

RUN FROM ANY TRAINING ENVIRONMENT THAT USES ‘ALPHA’ TECHNIQUES

I’m sure you’ve seen the movies. The dog trainer comes to the house, roughs up the dog a bit, and then everything is fixed!

The dog magically becomes this well-behaved, obedient creature that follows every command to a T.

If you want a happy and healthy dog, find another trainer.

Balanced dog training is NOT being an ‘alpha‘, being dominant, performing knee-chokes, or any of that other cruel baloney.

Click to read an example of a deplorable dog trainer in Denver, Colorado.

MY TRAINER USES PHYSICAL CORRECTIONS IN THEIR TRAINING METHODS

There is a place for balanced trainers who know how to correctly use force-free techniques in the dog training industry and RIGHTLY SO!

Physical corrections, when used appropriately, should never actually physically hurt your dog.

A physical correction is meant to startle or surprise your dog so that they can break their focus on the undesired behavior and refocus on you.

For example, if my dog is about to bolt out the door, I might give him a quick leash pop so that he knows to pay attention to me instead of bolting out (ultimately potentially saving its life from running away or entering a dangerous road).

E COLLARS AND BALANCED TRAINING METHODS

Another example of a correction used ethically during training is the use of an e collar. E collars, when used ethically and appropriately, are one of the most humane and effective dog training tools on the market.

E collars can be used for a variety of things, such as recall training, boundary training, and more.

If you are interested in learning more about e collar training, I suggest checking out some of my other blog posts or contacting a local balanced trainer in your area.

Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.

WHAT IS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT?

Now that we’ve talked about corrections, let’s move on to positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is defined as any reinforcer that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

In other words, when your dog does something you like, you ‘reinforce’ that behavior by giving them something they find reinforcing in return.

The most common form of positive reinforcement is food.

Other forms of positive reinforcement include verbal praise, petting, and play.

Chippin’ Cricket Treats are known for being a powerful food topper for digestion- and dogs LOVE them!

WHEN SHOULD I USE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT?

Positive reinforcement should be used frequently to shape and mold desired behaviors.

It should also be used to maintain behaviors such as sitting, lying down, coming when called, and more.

E Collar Training for Off Leash Freedom

SHOULD I GET A POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINER?

If you find a trainer who ONLY uses positive reinforcement, it is our belief that you will not accomplish what you so desire.

Many dog owners spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on a positive trainer, only to find their dog relying on dozens of treats to perform simple requests.

When used in correspondence with humane corrective and communicative tools, positive reinforcement is absolutely a necessity for every dog.

TOOLS TO CHOOSE FROM TO TRAIN A BALANCED DOG

PRONG COLLAR

A prong collar is a type of collar that has metal prongs that point inwards, towards the dog’s neck.

Buy your own prong collar.

Prong collars should be fitted by experienced trainers who know how to correctly fit and use them.

When fitted correctly, prong collars will not even pop a balloon!

When fitted incorrectly and used to train dogs, a prong collar can cause serious injury.

E COLLAR

An e collar, also known as an electronic collar or remote training collar, is a type of collar that delivers a low level electrical stimulation to the dog wearing it.

E-collars are most commonly used for recall training and boundary training, but can be used for a variety of other things as well.

E-collar training is one of the most ethical forms of training for dogs and allows owners to communicate effectively with their dogs.

Getting started with an e collar.

CHOKE COLLARS AND SLIP LEADS

A choke collar, also known as a slip lead, is a type of collar that tightens around the dog’s neck when they pull.

Slip Collars: Black and white striped, neon green, and thin chord.

A slip lead is a primary example of applying something negative when dogs demonstrate negative behavior. The slip lead around their neck will tighten and become uncomfortable when they pull, which will teach them not to pull on the leash.

ELECTRIC SHOCK COLLAR

Please do NOT use shock collars on your dogs.

What is the difference between a shock collar and an e collar? Read more here.

Shock collars and dog training should not be associated in the same sentence.

Cheap shock devices off of amazon are inhumane and will cause your dog more harm than good such as contact burns, sporadic and confusing shocks, and a lack of communication or understanding of why they are being shocked in the first place.

There is a huge difference between a shock collar and a stim (e collar).

IS USING TOOLS ON DOGS CRUEL OR MEAN?

Absolutely not! I found that once I began my research based training, filled with both treats and communication, my Great Danes finally UNDERSTOOD what I was asking them to do.

They can play, run, spend time with other animals, live like they are meant to. They can be off leash and on leash, in the house and out of the house, with children and without children.

They are finally able to be a part of this world in a way that didn’t involve stress or punishment, but instead pure understanding.

Dog training is not about being mean or forceful, it’s about showing your dog what you want them to do and then using body language and physical touch to help get them there!

Dogs are not born knowing how to “sit” or “stay”, we teach them these things through patience, love, and most importantly- communication.

GETTING STARTED ON YOUR DOG TRAINING JOURNEY

It wasn’t long ago that I was frantically doing the google searches, looking for absolutely anything that could help my dog.

I had tried everything from traditional obedience classes to hiring a personal trainer, and while both of those things helped in their own way, I still wasn’t getting the results I wanted.

I felt like I was stuck in this never-ending cycle of my dog doing something wrong, me getting frustrated, and then both of us giving up.

I knew there had to be a better way, and that’s when I found balanced dog training.

If you are on your journey to finding a better way of training dogs, I recommend seeing if balanced work is right for you!

Thinking about getting a Great Dane? Here’s how to find a reputable breeder.

READ MORE:

Find a Great Dane Rescue

Is My Great Dane Too Skinny? 5 Things You NEED to Know!

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Do you like modern positive+balanced off-leash dog training, science-based information, life with Danes, educated ownership and chatting with other like-minded people?

Join our growing Facebook group!

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May 11, 2022
The Best Collars for Great Danes
When it comes to choosing the best collars for Great Danes, we’ve got you covered! There are many different types of dog collars available for puppies or adults on the market today, from traditional buckle dog collars to harnesses, electric collars, and beyond.

So, which one should you choose?

Do you have a puppy? Does your dog pull? Do you have problems with running away, fence-jumping, lunging, or escaping? We’re sharing tons of information, and more, below.

Should a Great Dane Wear a Collar or a Harness?

A very small but notable study was done showing that harnesses, even the type that is meant to be ‘non-obstructive’ nearly always change the way that a dog moves and walks. This is something that has been theorized for many years.

More studies are needed but as owners of giant breed dogs, we should all take note!

While harnesses have their place, we believe that in general off-leash obedience and wide, flat collars are much better than harnesses for Great Dane’s orthopedic health and for Great Dane owners.

Collars are safer, less restrictive, and more humane overall for most dogs, especially when paired with positive training that will ultimately give you full voice control of your dog.

For more information on each type of harness that you might choose for a Great Dane, check the table of contents.

A Pet Safe ‘Easy-Walk’ harness is not recommended: note the restrictive strap across the chest.

Ruffwear Webmaster Harness for Great Danes

In a ‘less-obstructive’ harness such as the Ruffwear Webmaster or Front Range, your dog will have a lot of leverage to pull you around. If you must use a harness for your Great Dane dog, this can be a good option for dogs that don’t pull or lunge.

It’s also very helpful for dogs that may need a little assistance (it has a handle on the back), for example!

With Great Danes, you should be relying on voice control, training, and obedience, not your physical ability to hold your dog back.

If your Great Dane dog pulls, lunges, reacts or is less than obedient, harnesses will be dangerous for you and for others around you!

The Ruffwear Front Range Harness, a less obstructive and more comfortable harness option for dogs that do not pull.

If you must use a harness (some dogs with Wobblers or orthopedic disease that require mobility support and/or that cannot be off-leash, for example) then we recommend the less obstructive Ruffwear harnesses mentioned above.

The Y-front construction of the Webmaster or Front Range or Webmaster harness is less obstructive to movement than harnesses that are made to deter pulling behavior, and the Ruffwear harnesses are well-built! Plus they have a handle on the back if you need to support your Dane for any reason.

The Ruffwear Webmaster dog harness with a handle for mobility support

The Basic Great Dane Collar

This choice for a regular dog collar is up to your budget and aesthetic needs! There are many options available including collars made of leather, rope, nylon, and Biothane.

A leather collar will be beautiful and there are many custom options available. We love a leather collar on a Great Dane! They look nice and last forever.

A personalized collar with leather stamping or embossing, for example, is an awesome way to make sure your dog has identification without the constant jingling of tags.

This type of ‘basic’ collar is great for everyday use, but still rugged enough to hold up to a Dane:

ROAM Dog Collar (our top pick)

Agiotage Custom Leather Color on Etsy

Biothane Great Dane Dog Collars

Biothane is nice option for people who have dogs that like to play in the mud or swim, as they are waterproof and easy to clean. We like Biothane dog collars because they also come in bright collars and can be customized when you shop for them at www.etsy.com!

Viper 1″ thick Biothane Collar, comes in a range of colors.

Tactical Dog Collar

Some Great Dane dog owners love the look and rugged construction of a tactical dog collar! These are usually wide, heavy, and made with sturdy hardware that is less likely to break if your dog were to lunge or pull.

Many of them have handles, too and they typically come in camouflage colors such as taupe and green. We love and recommend this type of wide, heavy collar for large, full-grown adult Great Danes.

Tactical Dog Collar – See it on Amazon HERE

A puppy wearing a basic nylon collar. He will quickly outgrow this and someday, it will only fit around his nose!

Great Dane Collar Safety

We don’t recommend leaving collars on dogs unattended, especially if your Great Dane tries to escape their crate, destroy things, get into stuff or play rough with your other house dogs.

Many Great Dane dogs have been hurt or killed by collars that were worn unattended.

If you are worried about your Great Dane running away without a dog collar unattended, we recommend off-leash training, obedience training, a remote electric training collar (more on this below), management, and a microchip!

What size collar does a Great Dane puppy need?

Great Dane puppies do best with small or medium-sized inexpensive nylon dog collars.

Blueberry Pet Collars on Amazon has a massive range of regular collar patterns and colors to choose from. An adjustable Great Dane collar with a range of several inches will last the longest as your puppy experiences explosive growth.

Measure your Great Dane’s neck; most puppies fit into a size small or medium to start.

Keep in mind that your Great Dane puppy is going to grow FAST and you’ll be needing to replace this soon enough, so save your money at this point!

You’ll need your cash reserved for food, supplements, vet care, and regular training collars for your adult Great Dane!

Never leave your Great Dane puppy unattended in a dog collar, training collar, or martingale collar of any type.

They can become trapped, chew it off and try to swallow it or get tangled up while attempting to escape or while playing with other dogs in the house.

The best dog collars for Great Dane Puppies

We recommend choosing a flat collar OR ergonomic harness for your puppy.

Do not introduce any kind of prong-style collars, head collars, ‘no-pull’ harnesses or otherwise until your puppy has a good positive basic obedience foundation and lots of socialization.

If your Great Dane puppy dog pulls, go back to basics! Leash training is 99% YES. Instead of punishing your Great Dane puppy for pulling, teach your puppy what you want them to do instead.

How to leash train a Great Dane Puppy

Use treats praise and fun games to reward your puppy for looking at you, walking next to you, and staying by your side around obstacles.

These are easy to teach in boring places. As your leash training progresses, you might even work with a trainer to build on those skills around distractions such as other dogs.

Use positive socialization methods and a longer leash to explore the world around you and encourage calm behavior.

We recommend that all Great Dane puppies work towards their Canine Good Citizen title! For more information on leash training Great Danes, read our blog post here.

What are the Best Dog Collars for Great Danes that Pull?

Many Great Danes learn quickly that they are bigger, stronger, and faster than you. They have a massive neck size, powerful chests, and shoulders and can really throw their weight around!

We tend to accidentally encourage these dangerous behaviors by using a tense leash and getting frustrated or chasing and scolding our dogs.

A Great Dane that pulls is a dangerous dog, even if they are friendly! For those dogs, a basic dog collar with a cheap leash attachment is unlikely to be enough.

In the next section, we will cover the best Great Dane collars, the best shock collars, and the ideal dog training collars for Great Danes, so that you can make an informed and humane decision for your gentle giant!

Are no-pull harnesses good for Danes that pull?

No-pull harnesses, also known as ‘Front Clip’ or ‘Easy-Walk’ harnesses are often seen as a positive and friendly alternative for dogs that pull, however, they are not good for Great Danes.

These harnesses punish and attempt to reduce the pulling behavior by restricting natural movement and adding pressure to the chest, ribs, front, armpits, and shoulders.

Many dogs will pull through this pressure anyways because the environment is still more rewarding than the damage they are doing to themselves.

These are also easy to escape and will do little to deter pulling caused by fear, overstimulation, frustration, excitement or anxiety.

An Easy-Walk harness, similar to the 2 Hounds ‘Freedom No-Pull’. Notice the strap straight across the front of the chest.

A front clip or ‘no-pull’ harness may or may not temper pulling behavior, but it will nearly always alter your dog’s natural gait and ability to freely and comfortably extend the front limbs.

Types of Harnesses you should not use with a Great Dane Dog

We never recommend the use of any kind of ‘no-pull’, front clip, or T-Strap harness for Great Danes!

Why are no-pull harnesses bad for Great Danes?

When worn, they keep your dog from moving naturally and don’t allow the front limbs to extend comfortably or fully, even when your Great Dane is not pulling!

Somehow, these have been marketed as ‘positive’, ‘humane’ and ‘force-free’ however they are definitely not. Even if a harness like this is fit correctly, used with a double leash system or marketed as ‘gentle’, it’s still working by restricting movement.

Great Danes are giant breed dogs with sensitive orthopedic needs. They need to be able to move naturally without having their shoulders restricted. At the same time, you as the owner needs to know that your Great Dane cannot and will not pull you down!

If you regularly have your Great Dane wearing an Easy-Walk, Balance, Freedom, or a similar ‘no-pull’ harness, we recommend switching to a good training collar instead (more information below).

Many dog parents who want to do the right thing for their dogs are surprised by this information, and that’s understandable!

A ‘Freedom’ no-pull harness.

Is a Martingale Collar Good for Great Danes?

A martingale collar is our top choice for walking Danes that don’t pull or lunge!

Martingale collars are escape-proof and the wide fabric version will be gentle and non-obstructive on a Great Dane’s neck.

Martingale collar pro tip: the collar should be made snug enough that if your dog were to pull into the collar or try to back out, the two D-rings would not touch.

Ruffwear Chain Reaction

If it Barks Martingale Collar

Dazzber Martingale Collar

Martingale collars should never be worn when your dog isn’t on a walk or being actively supervised.

Do Martingale Collars Hurt Dogs?

Martingale collars are wonderful in that they are not meant to be harsh or punishing, and they are incredibly difficult for a dog’s head to slip out of.

Newly adopted dogs and dogs that are a flight risk should ALWAYS be in a martingale collar or on a slip lead!

They also come in a range of stylish collar options from floral to superheroes, in soft fabrics and wide widths that make them ideal for walking your Great Dane.

A proper martingale collar for a Great Dane dog will be wide, flat, and made of nylon or fabric.

A Great Dane puppy in a wide, flat Martingale collar from Magnolia Mutts

Ruffwear Chain Reaction Martingale Dog Collar

Some models, such as the Ruffwear Chain Reaction dog collar have a metal chainlink paired with nylon that allows you to quickly zip the chain. The noise is an audible correction that will get your dog’s attention.

The chain reaction option is good for dogs that only gently pull occasionally or need a little reminder to focus at times, but will not be good or safe for dogs that pull wildly.

Those dogs need to be in a Herm Sprenger prong collar (more on this below).

Martingale collars are different than choke collars: choke collars have nothing stopping them from becoming extremely tight and restrictive. Martingale collars are ‘limited slip’ and will stop becoming tighter at a certain point.

Martingale collars are not meant not hurt your dog, but as with any training collar, if your dog is lunging, pulling, and acting as a freight train you should seek professional help.

A dog in that state of mind is a danger to you and to itself.

Ruffwear Chain Reaction – See it here on Amazon

Does a Gentle Leader Work for Great Danes?

Like the no-pull harness, head collars (also known as ‘Gentle Leaders’ and ‘Halti’ collars) are promoted as a ‘positive’ and ‘humane’ alternative to prong collars for Great Dane dogs.

Is the Gentle Leader an Abusive Tool?
Things that are More Aversive Than an E Collar in Training
EZ 900 Collar Review

They are somewhat effective at reducing or eliminating pulling in Great Danes because they are so aversive and punishing!

The solid majority of Great Danes require an adjustment period when introduced to head collars. They are uncomfortable to wear.

The reality is that many dogs just don’t like them, even after weeks of positive conditioning!

A Great Dane wearing a Gentle Leader from Amazon

If your Great Dane pulls or lunges in a Gentle Leader (or similar), their head will be forced to the side.

This is fairly effective at deterring pulling and lunging, however, we believe it’s not ideal for their sanity OR their orthopedic health.

Dog lovers everywhere should take note of this before using or recommending this tool.

Gentle Leaders and similar devices are especially problematic for Great Danes that do tend to lunge, pull, react, or are prone to wobblers (which has a genetic link and by the moment of diagnosis, the damage has been done).

Many times, lunging and pulling will also mean that the skin on their face will be rubbed or pushed up into their eyeballs. A dog’s face has thousands of sensitive nerve endings.

Many Great Danes will paw, whine, lay down or frantically try and remove a head collar from their face. This is a strong indication that head collars are an aversive tool.

Head collars are an inappropriate tool for most Great Danes, despite their popularity and widespread use.

We only advocate for head collars when they are being used thoughtfully, with lots of positive conditioning on dogs with good structure and no genetic link to Wobblers disease…that also don’t pull, lunge or react wildly to begin with.

They can be an appropriate and subtle communication tool for people who are relying on their highly trained Great Dane for service work and public access, or who because of age or stature cannot physically manipulate a prong collar and fully physically control a Great Dane otherwise.

There is a time and a place for them, but as the go-to dog collar for Great Dane training? We believe it’s time to flip the script on this one, and give our Great Danes a much more elegant and humane option. (Read on, friends!).

Can You Use a Prong Collar on a Great Dane?

Prong collars are actually one of the most humane, effective and ethical tools to use if you have a Great Dane that lunges or pulls you around.

We hear you, prong collars look like torture devices and you’ve heard some negative propaganda!

However, unlike a nylon harness or Halti Gentle Leader collar, a properly used prong collar relies on a simple YES and NO communication, not physical restraint.

Prong collars provide a clear pressure-based sensation that when paired with positive reinforcement is incredibly effective, gentle and humane at stopping pulling and lunging.

Your Great Dane will then redirect their focus back on you!

A Herm Sprenger Prong Collar – see it on Amazon

A prong collar is meant to fit snugly on your dog’s neck, high and tight if possible. Loose, poorly fit and poorly made prong collars ARE aversive, so make sure you do it right.

A properly used prong collar will not pop a balloon! They work by causing even pressure around your dog’s neck; this pressure is annoying to your dog but NOT painful and not damaging.

We we only recommend HERM SPRENGER prong collars for dog training, which have blunt ends and construction that protects the trachea and creates pressure, not stabbing.

Cheap prong collars are not made the same and may harm, confuse or frustrate your Great Dane.

Is it cruel to use a prong collar on a dog?

It’s a myth that prong collars are ‘inhumane and rely on pain, stabbing and harsh corrections’.

(We will show you how to introduce a prong collar to a Great Dane in the tutorial below).

A poorly fit prong collar on a brindle Dane with cropped ears – this should be higher and snug so as not to rub, pinch or poke.

A prong collar is not cruel, but would you like to know what may be?

-Never feeling like you can take your dog places with you because they pull too much on a leash (frustrating to you AND your dog).

-Having your dog become increasingly more frustrated, anxious, bored and under-socialized because you cannot control them in a harness (and people told you that a prong was abuse, so as above you don’t take your dog places).

-Letting your dog jerk themselves around on a collar, harness or head collar because you don’t have a clear, concise way to communicate both YES and NO to your dog.

-Being at your wits end with your dog, unsure what to do, hesitant to consider a prong collar because somebody misled you into believing that it was inhumane and should never be used.

We believe the Herm Sprenger prong collar is one of the best, simplest and most humane Great Dane collars available, however you must learn how to use it correctly!

If your Dane is rubbing their face raw in a head collar and you still think that it’s the more humane choice vs. a prong, read on to learn how the prong collar is actually a very positive tool!

How to use a prong collar on a Great Dane
1. Start off-leash in a boring room. Use treats and praise to reward your dog for standing at your left side and looking at you.
2. Take a step (lure your dog to step with you if needed) and then reward your dog. YES! Treat. Gradually add steps between rewards. Once you can walk 10 steps and have your dog stay by your side for the reward, add the ‘heel’ command.
3. Begin walking more than ten steps. Add in turns and obstacles. Keep it positive and fun!
4. Fit your Herm Sprenger prong to your dog (High and tight, snug and ideally with a second leash clipped to a backup collar. Add a good leather or nylon leash and hold it loosely in your hand. Do not add tension! Practice walking around in your boring room with the obstacles and turns, and continue to reward your dog. This ongoing practice will give you voice control, which is much more effective and safe than physical restraint.
5. Next, allow your dog to sniff around or walk away, or take a step back from your dog until there is tension in the leash. When you feel that tension, plant your feet on the ground (don’t move towards your dog) and continue to apply a little gentle ongoing tension from the leash.
  
  As soon as your dog gives into the pressure and comes towards you, the pressure will release automatically; your dog is in charge of releasing this tension, not you!
  
  You can mark this moment with a YES and reward your dog! Your dog should not yelp, cower, scream or act fearful. Remember, a properly used high quality prong uses pressure, not stabbing.
1. Practice step 5 several times in your boring room and then try it outside in low-distraction environments as well! Your dog should learn very quickly that when they feel gentle pressure from the prong, they can make it stop by releasing the tension on the leash and coming to you for guidance. Notice that you are NOT jerking your dog around, popping the collar, allowing your dog to pull wildly, stringing your dog by the neck or being harsh!
2. Practice the HEEL position with your dog as above, and continue using ‘pressure and release’ randomly to remind your dog to walk next to you, look at you, or re-engage when distracted. Fade out treats and rely mostly on praise. Remember, KEEP THE LEASH LOOSE! Never add tension unless you are deliberately communicating to your dog. When you do add tension, imagine the tension being so gentle; there is no need to yank or pull back. Gradually increase the distance of your walks and the distraction factor of the environment. Always teach your dog from kindergarten to college: do not expect PHD level obedience at Home Depot out of a dog that is used to pulling wildly and having their way! Work up to that over time.
3. When your dog fully understands how their collar works, you can also add quick short ‘pops’ of the prong collar if your dog is not paying attention to you. A quick pop should result in your dog looking at you, at which point you can mark with a YES and a treat! Always reward the behavior that you want.
4. With prong collar training the goal is to be as gentle as possible. If you are yanking your dog around, feel like the leash is always tight, have tense hands or are having to constantly correct your dog with ‘pops’, you haven’t set your dog up to understand their collar or how to respond to it. Go back to step one.
5. If your dog is ‘leash reactive’ and acts like a fool on a leash, the prong collar will not be a quick fix. As with any tool (including harnesses) you can make this behavior worse if you are relying on the tool only as a ‘punishment’ or physical restraint device. Make sure to use lots of positive reinforcement and set your dog up for success by maximizing the distance between your dog and things that set them off. You can gradually close this gap as your Great Dane becomes more comfortable with their prong collar and relationship with you.
PURCHASE A HERM SPRENGER PRONG COLLAR

Are Shock Collars Humane?

The shock collar is another greatly misunderstood tool.

Did you know that there is a huge difference between a bark collar, a shock collar and a remote dog training collar (also known as the e-collar)?

E Collar Myths
What is an E Collar?
What is the Difference Between an E Collar and a Shock Collar?
9 Reasons to E Collar Train Your Great Dane Puppy
EZ 900 REVIEW

Should I Use a Bark Collar on a Great Dane?

Bark collars are an automated device meant to deter or stop nuisance barking. They use sound, noxious smells (such as citronella), shock or uncomfortable levels of muscle stimulation to reduce barking.

Some offer multiple training modes, but in general a bark collar is meant to be a fairly basic, easy to use automated tool.

Bark collars have their place, but it’s important to remember that if your dog barks there is often a reason. Boredom, anxiety, frustration and habit are common causes that should be addressed before using any kind of bark collar!

For more information about using a bark collar on Great Danes, read our article here!

Training Shock Collars for Great Danes

A training shock collar will be inexpensive and offer three training modes: beep, vibrate and a few levels of aversive shocks. The shock is meant to punish and reduce behavior.

We do not recommend the use of inexpensive shock collar devices on Great Danes or other large breed dogs!

The other two training modes (vibrate and beep) are more gentle than the sharp static zap of the shock collar, so many people rely on those modes when training their Great Dane dog.

Remote dog training collars (also known as ‘E-Collars’ or ‘Educator Collars’), on the other hand, are not they same. Far away from a traditional old-school shock collar, they are an excellent choice for Great Danes.

Educator Remote Collars work differently than shock and rely on a wildly effective positive training and conditioning process.

Are E-Collars Good for Great Danes?

Many people who do not understand these more modern devices will tell you that all electric training collars all use aversive shock and that you will harm and abuse your dog by using one.

Many people are uneducated about modern remote collar tools and have never used them or felt the stimulation from a proper one themselves, so take negative opinions with a grain of salt!

(We will elaborate more on this below!)

Do shock collars work on Great Danes?

Of course, shock is very good at deterring behavior. That’s why it works; it’s easy to wave a remote at a dog and scare them away from repeating a behavior.

When you have a giant breed dog, obedience is extremely important for their safety and yours!

A more appropriate choice than a shock collar is to use an Educator Remote dog collar properly to teach your Great Dane dog to come enthusiastically towards you, not run away.

This is very helpful when you want them to stop doing something they shouldn’t be doing, or run to you when something dangerous could harm them.

This is why we advocate for the proper use of modern E-Collars (proactive training), not shock collars (reactive training).

Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.

How do E-Collars work?

A modern electronic training collar uses low levels of gentle muscle stimulation that will feel like a touch sensation, not harsh shock or aversive vibration. Following some quick, fun training exercises dogs learn to respond to this stimulation.

The best part about a modern electric stimulation collar is that it relies on communication, not physical restraint!
This is the best and most humane thing for our dogs.

E-Collar trained dogs:
1. Come when called, reliably
2. Will happily walk away from something when asked
3. Can be taught to walk off-leash or in a loose leash position
4. Are under voice control, not physical restraint, which is much safer and better for their orthopedic health
5. Are kept safe: a dog that has excellent recall and off-leash obedience is not running away, bolting out of the door or jumping over fences
6. Have more enrichment: an off-leash trained dog will always have better access to natural physical and mental activities such as swimming, running up and down hills, zooming around, climbing, playing and circling than an on-leash, long-leashed or yard-only dog.
7. Cannot damage their gait, neck or shoulders as they can in choke collars, flat collars, harnesses and head collars.
Training your dog with an E-Collar means FREEDOM.

Other dog collars cannot offer any of what we listed above. The modern E-Collar is an elegant, gentle and effective tool.

A remote-collar trained dog enjoying off-leash freedom AND safety

A life changing Great Dane training tool

Many people have told us that our positive E-Collar training method, paired with an Educator collar changed their lives!

We are hearing from Great Dane dog owners who are quickly seeing more freedom, more fun, less frustration, less anxiety and a better relationship between them and their dog.

If you are looking for the best training collar for a Great Dane, we believe that Educator Collars and the positive remote collar training method is key.

The Easy Educator and the Mini-Educator are the best training collars for Great Danes and large breed dogs. They are rugged, waterproof, have a fantastic battery life, and offer 100 levels of stimulation that at low levels cannot be felt by humans.

If you are looking for the best shock collar for your Great Dane, start looking for remote Educator collars instead. We promise it will be worth the extra investment and a little time spent on dog training!

OUR 10 FAVORITE GREAT DANE COLLARS

Mini-Educator

This is the most economical and user-friendly option for modern remote off-leash training.

E asy-Educator

Choose this option if you want more features and have a slightly bigger budget for choosing the best remote single or multi dog system for your Great Dane.

Biothane Bungee Educator Collar

All Educator receivers (the part that your dog wears) should be paired with a bungee collar made of Biothane. The bungee makes it comfortable for your Great Dane to wear the electric dog collar and ensures a good fit!

A collar like this will NOT have a leash attachment, as its meant to be worn on its own.

Educator Bungee Biothane Strap

Herm Sprenger Prong Collar

As above, we believe the Herm Sprenger Prong collar is the most effective, humane and gentle option for Great Dane dogs that pull, lunge and struggle to focus. A properly used prong is one of the safest and most gentle Great Dane collars you can choose! Work with your dog using positive reinforcement and plan to fade this one out over time.

Magnolia Mutts Custom Fabric Martingale Collar

We love Magnolia Mutts because she donates a large portion of her income each month to Great Dane rescues! She makes beautiful Martingale dog collars for Great Danes that are fashionable and well-made.

We believe that a Magnolia Mutts martingale collar is one of the best Great Dane collars available for dogs that have been trained to not pull or lunge on a leash.

Slip Lead

A slip lead works by fitting snugly on your dog’s neck and making it so that there is no way for them to escape. Slip leads are a MUST have for dogs that will escape a dog collar or harness. They are also so helpful for quick trips!

What is the Best Leash for Great Danes?

Lastly, we recommend keeping slip leads in your car and around the house; you never know when you might need one.

Blueberry Pets Everyday Collar

Blueberry Pets on Amazon has lots of choices in dog collars for your Great Dane. We like this option if you are looking for a good inexpensive and basic regular collar to hold dog tags or wear around the house.

This is a good collar choice for puppies! Choose an inexpensive, adjustable collar that will fit your Great Dane’s neck size as they grow, and that has a leash attachment for those early socialization experiences and leash training exercises.

Blueberry Pets offers different collars to catch the eye of many different dog parents.

Stylish Leather Collar

A leather collar is a rugged, beautiful dog collar for your Great Dane!

The great thing about a leather collar is that it is bound to last. They are tough and tend to wear well with age. Choose this for dogs that don’t pull, when you want something more rugged and more stylish than a basic nylon collar!

Tactical Leather Dog Collar, see it on Amazon

Custom Biothane Collar

Biothane is an amazing material that is stink-proof and comes in beautiful colors. Choose this to hold tags on dogs that like to get muddy!

Olly Dog Biothane Collar for Great Danes

Tactical Collar

Tactical collars look cool and they are rugged enough to hold up to our giant breed dogs. Choose this for walking dogs that DON’T pull.

Tactical Dog Collar – See it on Amazon HERE

Ruffwear Chain Reaction

The Ruffwear Chain Reaction is a dog training collar for dog owners that need a little extra control than they get from a martingale or basic flat collar.

It’s a mid-option between martingale and prong dog collars that will help your Great Dane dog understand that they need to focus on you.

Ruffwear Chain Reaction – See it here on Amazon

HOW TO CHOOSE A GREAT DANE COLLAR

When you are looking for the perfect collar for your Great Dane dog, we hope to have been helpful.

We have covered everything from the best collar material, the best dog collar for puppies, how to choose a waterproof dog training collar, the best Great Dane collars for adult dogs that pull, and shock collar training (including information about the best shock collar options for your pet).

Need more? Join our Facebook group, below!

READ MORE:

The Top 5 Adorable Facts About Great Dane Brindle Dogs

Find a Great Dane Rescue

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Do you like modern positive+balanced off-leash dog training, science-based information, life with Danes, educated ownership and chatting with other like-minded people?

Join our growing Facebook group!

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April 26, 2022
Respect Training Tips: How to Train Your Puppy Great Dane
If you are the proud owner of a Great Dane, then you will want to make sure that you start training them as soon as possible. What is puppy respect training for Great Danes? Let’s dig in.

These dogs grow to be large, strong, and powerful! It is important that they learn how to behave themselves early on. In this blog post, we will discuss some respect training tips that will help get your pup on the right track!

If your dog is biting, stealing, running away, pulling, lunging, dangerous, or out of control there may be things you are doing (or not doing) in your own home that are making these things worse.

Puppy Socialization
Puppy Culture: A Way to Socialize from the Start
Puppy Socialization Guide
How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy

We are here to help you!

Read on for more practical tips including Great Dane puppy respect training, basic commands, advanced training, and more.

WHAT IS PUPPY RESPECT TRAINING?

Puppy respect training is, in essence, obedience training.

Keep in mind that a Great Dane is not going to respect you if you rely on harsh, forceful, intimidating, or punitive training techniques!

These ‘old school’ training ideas (often marketed as a way to establish your rank as the ‘pack leader’) may produce quick results, but in the long run, will do more harm than good.

DOES YOUR DOG SEE YOU AS HIS RESPECTED LEADER?

The day that you bring your dog home is the day that you should start establishing this positive relationship.

Great Dane puppy bring back an obedience dumbbell outdoors in the grass.

PROTECT – TRAIN – LEAD – COMMUNICATE

Protecting your dog means making sure that their health, comfort, and physical and emotional needs are met.

Training your dog means that you spend time teaching your young pup what behaviors you like and don’t like.

Leading your dog means that you teach, guide, and lead with respect. The unbreakable bond you build with your dog by being a positive, trustworthy, and benevolent leader will pay off!

Communicating with your dog means telling them everything they need to know to make mature decisions: yes and no.

Get the family involved in teaching your dog!

Other members of the family can take advantage of your puppy’s natural desire to connect with others and feel safe.

Training, praise, treats, toys, play, fun, and cuddles are amazing ways for everybody involved to reinforce engagement and good obedience skills.

Establish house rules for your dog and encourage everybody to follow them.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR DOG ENGAGE WITH YOU

We recommend that you spend quality time with your puppy focused on showing them new places, things, sounds, textures, and experiences. Find things that your dog loves and use them as a reward!

By sharing these experiences together, your puppy will come to learn that you can be respected and are a source of good things.

It’s important that you teach your new dog what you expect of them, and teach them to be calm, confident, and cool in a scary, busy world.

How do you discipline a puppy but not be mean?

All puppies are going to do things they should not do! Don’t give them the wrong idea by being forceful and intimidating, or by accidentally rewarding the wrong things.

Puppies, especially as they mature, will jump, steal, pull, whine, bark, chew, and run away.

Many times, the best correction is the most simple! Removing your attention from your puppy is one of the most powerful early forms of ‘NO’ that puppies understand.

Dog problems

The truth is, those behaviors are normal, natural, and VERY rewarding to them! That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s ok for your dog to be out of control.

Great Danes are sensitive animals.
While correcting your dog it is important to note that if you want to prevent future behavioral problems, you don’t have to be mean or harsh.
A few rules and boundaries, paired with positive teaching using food rewards is an amazing combination.

Train the dog to repeat things that you want to see by using a lot of positive reinforcement. When you do this, the corrections that you have to use make much more sense to your dog!

BALANCED TRAINING

Balancing your dog training and your dog’s behavior is very simple. Balanced dog training for Great Danes is humane and science-based!

Discipline and corrections that you might use for a Great Dane puppy include:
- Reducing their access to something
- Redirecting them to something appropriate
- Preventing the behavior by managing the environment
- Walking away and removing your attention
- Saying ‘AH AH’ or ‘NO’ to stop behaviors that could be dangerous to them
- Popping their leash with a quick pop to ‘snap them out of it’
Once your dog is older, appropriate corrections and communication may be implemented with the use of tools such as prong collars and E-Collars, following a conditioning phase.

E-Collars and prong collars for Great Danes

We highly recommend doing a lot of research on these tools prior to using them! We have a huge collection of E-Collar resources to help. For more information on E-Collar conditioning, read our blog post!

BAD DOG TRAINING ADVICE

Never hit, kick, pinch or pin your dog to the ground. If you think you have to do that to get control of your dog or to ‘be the pack leader’, there are bigger issues at play. We highly recommend that you seek out the help of a highly qualified positive-balanced dog trainer.

If you lead with punitive punishments, chances are that your dog will redirect their own building aggression, anxiety, and frustration into other training problems (or worse, onto you!).

Positive Reinforcement vs. Corrections in dog training

Positive reinforcement (R+) is the best way to teach your dog new skills.
Sit, down, wait, leave it, stay, heel, and come are all things that are easy to reinforce with treats, praise, play, fun, freedom, and access to things.

Training sessions should be short, fun, and always end on a good note!

Bad behaviors, on the other hand, require that you work on two things:

OPTION 1 – MANAGEMENT & PREVENTION

This option is helpful for things such as chewing, biting/aggression/resource guarding, fence jumping, and destruction, where the problem is both dangerous and hard to control.

OPTION II – CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNICATION

Corrections and communication are helpful when the dog knows what they should be doing instead. This can be used for things such as running out of doors, fence jumping, stealing food off the counter, and pulling.

Some trainers will tell you never to use corrections or say ‘NO’ to your dog.

They will tell you to only use ‘option 1’.

These trainers often claim to be ‘positive only’ or ‘force-free’, and they rely heavily on physical restraint and management.

Managing movement, freedom, and access to the world so that a dog never has to be ‘corrected’ is, for many dogs, restrictive, frustrating, and inhumane.

This is why we recommend a much more comprehensive and fair balanced training approach that relies heavily on positive experiences, the relationship that you have with your dog and transparency about what your dog can and cannot do.

Should I use a spray bottle to discipline my Great Dane?

We do not recommend giving even a ‘quick squirt’ with a squirt bottle. This form of training seems ‘gentle’ but is not harmless.

Training Mistakes
What is Great Dane Dominance Training?

The last thing you want is for your 140lb giant dog to be afraid of water! Handling, spray medications, hoses, and baths are just some things that your giant breed dog may resist if you utilize this method to punish your dog.

HOW DO I GET MY DOG TO RESPECT ME AS THE ALPHA?

The entire concept of the ‘alpha dog’ is deeply flawed. It was based on poorly done, outdated studies of captive wolves, and the original findings were actually retracted!

Run from any dog trainer who is still telling you that dog training boils down to a power contest between you and your pet!

You do need to provide guidance, boundaries, leadership, exercise, and training, however.

Several short, fun teaching sessions each day paired with structure, routine, and fair corrections will always be the way to go. If you want your dog to respect you, build your relationship on trust!

HOW TO GET YOUR DOG’S RESPECT

Here is our list of tips for getting your dog’s respect:
1. Honor their body language: learn what they are telling you, and be open to listening! Make them feel safe with you.
2. Encourage them to be confident. Push them a little bit out of their comfort zone, but not too far. Then reward them like crazy!
3. Ask them for eye contact and give them lots of attention for it.
4. Reinforce and reward all good behavior.
5. Stay calm. Don’t resort to aggression or frustration while leading your dog.
6. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of mental and physical enrichment.
7. Don’t baby your dog! Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes can play in the mud, run, jump and play.
8. Spend more time saying YES than saying NO to your dog.
9. Remember that most behavior problems stem from boredom, anxiety, frustration, fear, habit, and hormones. If you are frustrated, that’s a sign that your dog is as well!
10. Have fun with your dog. Be the BEST part of their day!
IS DOG RESPECT TRAINING HUMANE?

You cannot force a dog to ‘respect’ you, and certain things will for sure erode trust. By being calm, trustworthy, and thoughtful you are being a humane dog owner!

As a matter of fact, one of the most humane things you can do is to train your dog.
Well-trained dogs that are taught both YES and NO will be well-balanced, confident, and resilient.

Great Dane Dogs + Freedom to make choices

A dog that can be trusted off-leash enjoys freedom and autonomy that other dogs can only dream of.

A dog that can safely go on a walk anywhere will quickly have access to enriching socialization experiences and new environments.

A dog that has been taught that it’s never acceptable to jump, lunge, steal or run out of a door is a dog that is being kept safe.

Using balanced training methods for your Great Dane puppy is the best, most fair, most humane and most effective thing you can do for your dog!

SIGNS THAT YOU NEED OBEDIENCE WORK: RUDE GREAT DANE BEHAVIORS

Bad behavior is frustrating to you and dangerous to others. It is important for dog owners to understand how to teach and correct their Great Danes before the problems become a dangerous uphill battle.

The three-step process for solving training issues:

1. Manage
2. Teach & Reward
3. Communicate or Correct

RUNNING AWAY

Does your Great Dane puppy run away from you and refuse to come when called?

We recommend the following:
1. Don’t let your dog off-leash until they have excellent recall. (Manage)
2. Use dog treats, praise, and play to make it fun to come back. (Teach)
3. Practice recall in low distraction areas, then work your way up
4. Use a long Biothane leash when out walking, and practice recall
5. Never chase your dog or scold them for running away. This is the wrong approach that makes recall and running away worse!
6. E-Collar train for off-leash reliability anywhere you go (Communicate)
STEALING FOOD

If your Great Dane likes to steal food from people or from the counter, they risk harming themselves with toxic or dangerous foods. Dogs love this game and are very rewarded by it. Despite what you may think, they don’t feel guilty about it but they ARE afraid of your reaction!
1. Keep the counters clear of tasty food they may want. (Manage)
2. Teach ‘leave it’ (Teach)
3. Teach ‘place’
4. Implement an appropriate correction
JUMPING ON PEOPLE

Jumping is dangerous because a Great Dane can seriously hurt somebody.

How to Stop a Great Dane from Jumping Up
1. Make your dog wait before being pet so that you can reward calm behavior with attention.
2. Teach ‘place’
3. Teach ‘off’, ‘sit’, and ‘leave it’
4. Correct the behavior, when appropriate
REACTIVITY

Telling ‘off’ people & dogs

A Great Dane dog that displays growling, lunging, barking, or aggression is a dog that requires obedience training.

Is My Great Dane Being Aggressive?
1. Teach and reward sit, down, leave it, wait, stay, come, off, and place.
2. Make sure your dog feels protected: don’t make a habit of exposing your dog to situations where such reactivity puts them in an out-of-control headspace.
3. Make sure all family members understand how to manage reactivity and use training and counter-conditioning to reduce it.
THE BEST DOG EVER

Everybody dreams of having the perfect pet. A dog that listens has respect, and has developed a strong bond with its owner is wonderful. Dogs that are well trained have a lot more freedom, choice, and autonomy, too!

Puppies vs. Adult Dogs

It’s important to remember that an adult dog will be more mature than a young one; many ‘problems’ are a simple factor of immaturity, missed teaching opportunities, and a lack of experience!

Bad behavior in dogs also happens often because of boredom, anxiety, or poor leadership (and teaching).

Hopefully our blog post today will help you get on the right track with your dog!
April 16, 2022
Nasty but Fascinating Truth: Dirt is Good for Dogs in More Ways than 1

We found out a nasty but cool fact: Dirt is good for dogs! Dogs love to get dirty, but is it bad for them? Contrary to popular belief, letting your dog play in dirt may actually be good for their immune system! Learn more about the benefits of a dirty dog and why you shouldn’t worry about your Dane getting messy. Buckle up- we are about to discuss why dirt is good for dogs!

@thebullytroika on Instagram

Dogs Need to Get Dirty for a Healthy Immune System!

Think it’s bad for dogs to eat dirt? WRONG. In fact, it’s essential for their immune system! Find out how playing and getting dirty can help your pup stay healthy.

@mister_paddington on Instagram

Healthy Dogs – They Love to Eat Dirt!

Dogs love to eat dirt and mud, and for good reason! These activities are incredibly enriching for their health and provide opportunities for exercise that most dogs enjoy. Puppies love to play with, dig in and eat mud and dirt as well! Mud and dirt are full of unique smells and textures which keep your dog’s senses engaged. So go ahead and let them play in the dirt- it’s good for them!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxnQ5U9FveM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Dogs Love Digging, But It’s Not Bad For Them!

Dogs love to dig. It’s in their nature. However, that doesn’t mean you have to just let them go wild and start tearing up your garden. There are a few things you can do to help prevent this behavior while still keeping your dog happy and healthy. Work on finding healthy way for your Great Danes to play in the mud. You may be hesitant at first, but keep in mind that dirt is good for dogs! Check out these tips for how to keep your dog entertained and safe when they’re outside!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZm7KXAd9x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Most of the Time, Dirt is Good for Dogs, but Can Dirt Be Bad?

Dogs should never eat or inhale too much mud as it can contain parasites and other things that may be dangerous to their health. There can also be parasites or bacteria in certain dirt or mud, so it’s crucial for pet parents to not let their dogs play in the wrong mud or dirt. Stagnant water, for example, is known to harbor bacteria. Allowing your dog to play in mud from stagnant water may end up in a tummy ache or even a parasite.

“Danes love to get dirty, but is it bad for them? Contrary to popular belief, letting your dog eat dirt may actually be good for their immune system! Give your Dane the opportunity to play in the mud and let them enjoy this natural source of enrichment today!“

Why Giving Your Dog Access to Dirt, Mud, and the Outdoors is So Important

However, access to free-play in dirt, mud and the outdoors has many benefits for dogs. Some of the reasons why dirt is good for dogs include reducing stress and anxiety, combating depression, reducing boredom, boosting the immune system, helping with digestion and cardiovascular health, reducing allergies, softening toenails, paw pads, skin and fur, improving balance and coordination and strengthening muscles. When you realize that dirt is good for dogs, you will actually improve not only your dog’s immune system, but provide them with more engagement in regards to sensory activities! Digging and playing in mud can help stimulate mental enrichment for dogs. There are so many ways that dirt is good for dogs! Supervision is necessary!

Dirt is Good for Dogs!

In conclusion, while it’s important to keep an eye on your pup and make sure they’re not eating too much dirt, playing in mud and getting outdoors has many benefits for their health. From reducing stress and anxiety to boosting the immune system, here are just a few reasons why dirt is good for dogs!

April 8, 2022