Right age for an e collar

[Ranger351]

I'm kinda new to this so picking up info every where I can. Whats the best age to start working a dog with an e collar?

[CowboyBirdDogs]

You're going to get a lot of different opinions, and most of it depends on the individual dog but I'd say around a year.

[jayhawkj]

I start mine wearing one when we're out on a walk or doing yard work at around 4-5 months. I introduce collar stimulation at a low level at around 6 months and I utilize the perfect start method of introduction.

[kninebirddog]

It has more to do with how you prep a dog

i begin teaching my dogs cues as little puppies with the leash and check cord tugs taps are for movements commands move with me or if I am standing still move to me...then a constant for stand still

I work this then with the command lead and then continue teaching points of contact and then over lay the e collar if you have a method and have the e collars which have those light levels of stimulation you can conceivably start them younger
I like to get my young dogs started with go with me games in the field..the e collar is used just like the check cord was used.

but again I stress have a method feel comfortable with the method and the collar as it is far better to wait till You have more confidence in what you are doing then start to early and get frustrated and have a set back

[shags]

Around 4-5 months, then get them conditioned to it quickly - because they start blowing me off around 5-6 months in free runs.

[tommyboy72]

+1 on what Shags stated.

[Redfishkilla]

"Around 4-5 months, then get them conditioned to it quickly - because they start blowing me off around 5-6 months in free runs."

Agreed.

Let them wear it a few weeks or one week before you start to use it.

[Ryman Gun Dog]

Ranger,
There is not specific age, it all depends on the animals maturity, some breeds are real soft and we do not like to put the collar on these dogs till around 5 or 6 months,
others mature quickly and we have our Pet-Fafe yard collars on them at 3 or 4 months. You can put the T&B collar on them and use the beeper even before the dog is mature enough to understand what he or she is learning, but never use the e-collar unit at this early immature age. It all comes back to the maturity of he animal.
RGD/Dave

[Soignie]

Have you ever used an e-collar in training before? If not, you need to remember that it is nothing more than a training aid and you need to teach the dog what is expected of it before you graduate to the collar. Additionally, when in doubt whether the dog knows what is expected/what it has done/is doing wrong keep your finger off the button AND when your finger is on the button keep your mouth closed. A collar is a great tool when used correctly but a whole lot of problems have been caused and even dogs ruined by people using collars when they don't know what they are doing.

[bossman]

Good informantion above. I will even tape a AAA or AA battery to the regular collar at 3 or 4 months from time to time just to get the pup use to the extra weight. Then I'll transition to a "dummy" collar. I will make it a point that the pup has good times while wearing the extra weight. Just a thought

[kninebirddog]

Good informantion above. I will even tape a AAA or AA battery to the regular collar at 3 or 4 months from time to time just to get the pup use to the extra weight. Then I'll transition to a "dummy" collar. I will make it a point that the pup has good times while wearing the extra weight. Just a thought

this is truly unneeded

Just put on the e collar and until you have conditioned the dog to cues and commands and over lay just don't use the transmitter.