Steve Snell’s Gundog Blog

It has been years (10 to 15) since the days of dummy collars coming
with Remote Dog Training Collars.  Some of the newer companies (SportDog and Unleashed
Technologies) don’t even offer dummy collars.

From our website: “At Gun Dog Supply we feel the use of the DUMMY
collar to condition the dog to the weight and feel of the active
collar PRIOR to the use of electrical stimulation is still an
essential component of the training process.”

I still agree with this but I am not sure it is as valid as it once was.

Ecollars are so common now that many dogs (mine also) wear them any
time they are off leash.  Even my older dogs always have one on when
they are out in the field.  While they seldom get corrections, I want
them on so I can make the correction if needed, but it’s more of a
safety issue.  You never know when that “dog running full speed toward
a road” is going to happen.

I prefer to start a young dog (12 to 16 weeks) with either a real
collar that is turned off or a dummy collar to get him used to the
feel.  Every time we go to romp or chase birds or pick up fun bumpers,
we put the collar on.  My dogs see the collar as a regular step in
fun so that don’t dread the idea behind it.

The collar is just part of life ( just like a tracking collar, Astro,
or beeper collar)

Once we start using the collar (30 to 60 weeks – depending on the dog)
he has less issues.

If you strap one on an older dog that has never had a collar on and
zap him the first opportunity – you’ll get a collar wise dog.

Of course these folks tend not to be trainers.  They are just looking
for a quick fix.

Folks that plan to start out right can get a dummy collar for a puppy
and get the real collar later.  If they already have a real collar with a young dog, I
don’t really see the value in getting a dummy collar.  The other
situation is when you want the dog to wear the collar when he is
around other dogs and not under supervision ( one of my dad’s first
collars got chewed up by a kennel mate – a really expensive mistake in
the early 1970’s)

I prefer not to leave a collar on a pup in this situation, since he
really only needs it when he is “working or playing” and I will be
there when that is going on.

The folks that have the real issue is the competition guys.  They will
always put dogs in situations that require them not to have a collar
on (tests and trials) so they need to do everything in their power to
avoid collar wise.  Starting the dogs young and proper introduction to
the collar tends to help this.

The other situation is duck hunters in flooded timber.  They don’t
want a collar on the dog that might get hung up.  Same thing goes
here.  If  they do the young dog, proper introduction and they use the
collar as a tool not a crutch, they can avoid the collar wise dog.

To me,  this is an issue of not putting the proper foundation ( I see
starting with an ecollar as part of the regular gear as part of  the
drill) having issues down the road. – Steve