Dogtra ARC - Manual (Page 13)

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General Training Tips
Getting started with your ARC
Your dog must know some very basic obedience commands
before beginning training with the ARC. A dog learns by
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these commands, the trainer can introduce distractions and
different locations to strengthen them. Throw in the correct
amount of positive and negative reinforcement and you
should end up with a well-mannered dog.
Obedience training on the leash
Your dog must fully understand the obedience commands
(sit, stay, here, heel and kennel) before using the e-collar
for reinforcement of these commands. A leash attached
to a standard collar is used to "teach" the dog the basic
obedience commands (here, heel, sit, and stay). A tug on the
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e-collar can be used to reinforce them.
Beginning e-collar training
When you feel your dog understands the obedience
commands on the leash we can now start with the electric
collar training. With the dog on the leash wearing the electric
collar continue with your obedience drills. Light stimulation
(nick or constant) is going to be applied as a command
is given, the stimulation is removed as the dog complies.
Through repetition, a dog learns to turn off the light
stimulation by performing the command. E-collar training is
another form of negative reinforcement, similar to the leash
and standard collar training. When the dog complies with
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he can avoid the stimulation altogether by performing your
commands. When these training procedures are complete,
the electric collar is used as a reminder when the dog does
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Keep your initial training sessions short and positive. Dogs
have a short attention span, especially young dogs.
How much stimulation to use
Always start with low levels of stimulation and work your
way up depending on the disposition of your dog and
any given situation. By using only enough stimulation to
get your point across, you will have a more controllable
environment and a dog that is under less stress. Animals
(and humans) perform better in a less stressful environment.
For more training information, please visit our website at
www.dogtra.com.