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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
I was pretty impressed with what she told us.
Both DH and I felt the "shock" collar - it's nothing like what I thought. It's not a vibration, more of a tingling feeling, but not a shock. So that helped some of my fears.
From what Kim told us, the collar is always on for training but they only use the remote when they have to - they prefer to use positive reinforcement than punishment, so that was also good to hear.
The cost is prohibitive, so we really have to think about it, but it's good to know they are guaranteed for life and the group classes are lifetime as well. Plus, the gratification is almost instantaneous because they use the collar. But then again, I'd so much rather prefer not using the collar, and who knows how long she would have to have the collar on all the time?
So much to think about...
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Posted 9/2/10 8:15 PM  |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
What does she need training for?
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| Posted 9/2/10 10:46 PM |
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DeniseMarie
<3
Member since 8/07 10682 total posts
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
my dog only listens when he has the collar on. He is a completely different dog when we take it off  . He is a very smart dog.
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| Posted 9/2/10 11:10 PM |
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lbride
Lovin' my mini man!
Member since 3/07 2475 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Posted by DeniseMarie
my dog only listens when he has the collar on. He is a completely different dog when we take it off . He is a very smart dog.
This was a another reason why we didn't go this route. Our neighbor;s dog is the same way with the collar. I feel like if a dog id truly trained then it should be following commands with or without any type of collar. That being said, some dogs may have issues that really hinder life-long listening. Is your dog aggressive or just want some basic training?
Message edited 9/3/2010 7:32:48 AM.
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| Posted 9/3/10 7:32 AM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Our dog is not aggressive at all, and she's very smart, but she has no "manners." She jumps, play bites, doesn't come when called, jumps all over me, DH and new people when they come in the house, and gets so excited that she often knocks DS over, so now he's scared of her.
We have looked into other trainers as well, and we have not decided which route we are taking yet.
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| Posted 9/3/10 9:06 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Thanks for posting the information. They come up a lot here, so it's good for everyone to have this thread to read when they're considering them. 
Good luck with your search!
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| Posted 9/3/10 10:07 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
I would highly suggest meeting with www.barkbusters.com. They don't use collars, only voice commands. And since your dog isn't aggressive, using a collar to me at this point seems a bit extreme to just teach basic commands. A dog should learn basic commands and training, with rewards or voice activation (pitch, etc) over punishment. Barkbusters has different programs that are lifetime programs at well.
I personally would only use a collar if I had to, if all other options failed, esp if the dog isn't aggressive and it's just basic training. JMO though.
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| Posted 9/3/10 10:11 AM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Posted by Goobster
I would highly suggest meeting with www.barkbusters.com. They don't use collars, only voice commands. And since your dog isn't aggressive, using a collar to me at this point seems a bit extreme to just teach basic commands. A dog should learn basic commands and training, with rewards or voice activation (pitch, etc) over punishment. Barkbusters has different programs that are lifetime programs at well.
I personally would only use a collar if I had to, if all other options failed, esp if the dog isn't aggressive and it's just basic training. JMO though.
I appreciate the recommendation.  Like I said, we haven't decided yet, and I am definitely open to all suggestions! She is pretty aggressive in her play so that worries me but we will see. I just want to do right by her.
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| Posted 9/3/10 10:58 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Posted by headoverheels
Posted by Goobster
I would highly suggest meeting with www.barkbusters.com. They don't use collars, only voice commands. And since your dog isn't aggressive, using a collar to me at this point seems a bit extreme to just teach basic commands. A dog should learn basic commands and training, with rewards or voice activation (pitch, etc) over punishment. Barkbusters has different programs that are lifetime programs at well.
I personally would only use a collar if I had to, if all other options failed, esp if the dog isn't aggressive and it's just basic training. JMO though.
I appreciate the recommendation. Like I said, we haven't decided yet, and I am definitely open to all suggestions! She is pretty aggressive in her play so that worries me but we will see. I just want to do right by her.
My dogs are also very aggressive when playing. But puppies also do this too, can be quite aggressive but not intended to be. It's pretty normal for young dogs to play rough, so don't worry that it's something else going on (at least it doesn't sound that way).
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| Posted 9/3/10 1:39 PM |
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Lori Beth,
It was my pleasure meeting you, DH and your furry baby Lexi.
There have been so many great training points brought up on this thread. First off, some dogs do get "collar smart" where they only behave when the collar is put on. There is a small percentage of dogs that are just that smart. In addition, there are a small percentage of dogs that figure it out. See, while training, we tell you to put the collar on as soon as you're up and take it off right before bed. The reason we do this is so that the dog just thinks it's a piece of jewelry and just gets used to it. Therefore, no connection is made between collar and behavior. As training progresses, it is important not to feed into the correlation between the remote and the collar. Some folks think it's cute that they can pick up their cell phone and the dog will suddenly listen (sorry if some of our clients are on here and do that, it's JMO). What I try to do is make my/the owners' voices have meaning. I can personally attest to the fact that my dog, Rigel who I enlisted the help of BFDT to train, doesn't need the collar anymore. I do however, put it on when we go for a walk and when we go to the vet. I basically treat the collar like everyone else uses their leash/harness, etc.
I hope that cleared up some of the concerns. If you gals have any other questions or want a free in home evaluation, I'd be happy to help you.
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| Posted 9/3/10 2:31 PM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
LB you should come over to my house and see how Mitch is.
he was impossible to control and now he is awesome. YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH IT THOUGH. you can't just assume ANY trainer will come in train the dog and that's it. which I kinda knew, but didn't realize it until recently. so it will mean work for a few years.
the only thing I have to say that they did tell me and I see they told you, and I found is not the case, and I was a little disappointed with (not the company just the policy)
they say you only use the button to reinforce something. so when they demonstrated to me how to use it they would say come, no button. if he didn't come every time after the 1st time I would use it slowly turning it up at each push.
When I went to class, they said that's using it in punishment, like if he doesn't come you get punished, which is what you don't want to do. so you have to use it for the first year or 2 basically every command you say so they know that that just comes with the command. there are dogs in the classes that are older then our pups and they still bring them to class and wear the collars. I don't believe the use the button as much anymore
I knew the price would get you, did you ask if they can work out a payment plan or something? good luck, I know its not easy
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| Posted 9/3/10 2:35 PM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Posted by Best Friend's Dog Training
Lori Beth,
It was my pleasure meeting you, DH and your furry baby Lexi.
There have been so many great training points brought up on this thread. First off, some dogs do get "collar smart" where they only behave when the collar is put on. There is a small percentage of dogs that are just that smart. In addition, there are a small percentage of dogs that figure it out. See, while training, we tell you to put the collar on as soon as you're up and take it off right before bed. The reason we do this is so that the dog just thinks it's a piece of jewelry and just gets used to it. Therefore, no connection is made between collar and behavior. As training progresses, it is important not to feed into the correlation between the remote and the collar. Some folks think it's cute that they can pick up their cell phone and the dog will suddenly listen (sorry if some of our clients are on here and do that, it's JMO). What I try to do is make my/the owners' voices have meaning. I can personally attest to the fact that my dog, Rigel who I enlisted the help of BFDT to train, doesn't need the collar anymore. I do however, put it on when we go for a walk and when we go to the vet. I basically treat the collar like everyone else uses their leash/harness, etc.
I hope that cleared up some of the concerns. If you gals have any other questions or want a free in home evaluation, I'd be happy to help you.
Mitch did this, so now we hold the button behind our back. I also bought a clip so I can wear it on my pants because I was always putting it down and losing it
We put Mitch's colar on the 2nd we get up and we actually take it off after hes sleeping. DO NOT LEAVE IT ON IN THE CAGE!! the dog can actually hang themselves if it gets stuck between the openings (this is actually the case with ANY collar not just the shock). Frank the owner, recently told us a scary story about a dog. thankfully the dog survived but I would have never thought about this!
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| Posted 9/3/10 2:38 PM |
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Posted by HeatherRose
LB you should come over to my house and see how Mitch is.
he was impossible to control and now he is awesome. YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH IT THOUGH. you can't just assume ANY trainer will come in train the dog and that's it. which I kinda knew, but didn't realize it until recently. so it will mean work for a few years.
the only thing I have to say that they did tell me and I see they told you, and I found is not the case, and I was a little disappointed with (not the company just the policy)
they say you only use the button to reinforce something. so when they demonstrated to me how to use it they would say come, no button. if he didn't come every time after the 1st time I would use it slowly turning it up at each push.
When I went to class, they said that's using it in punishment, like if he doesn't come you get punished, which is what you don't want to do. so you have to use it for the first year or 2 basically every command you say so they know that that just comes with the command. there are dogs in the classes that are older then our pups and they still bring them to class and wear the collars. I don't believe the use the button as much anymore
I knew the price would get you, did you ask if they can work out a payment plan or something? good luck, I know its not easy
Actually you pair the button with your command. You should spit out your gum when training. Well that's what Frank told me when I was training Rigel. I'm a clutz and I did bite the inside of my mouth during our second lesson. I was a bloody mess!!
Anyway, I digress...you press the button at the same time you give the command. You don't give the command, see if they do what you want them to do and then press it. That would be punnishment. As for "turning it up", if you don't get compliance, then you have to go up to the level they are actually feeling it until they comply.
Consider this scenerio:
DH is on the couch, beer in hand, watching the game. You call his name ever so politely to tell him dinner is ready. NO RESPONSE. You call him again, only a little louder this time. STILL NOTHING FROM DH. Finally, you've about had it and you yell his name. POOF, HE HEARD YOU THAT TIME. And will question why you were yelling at him in the first place.
Now, I'm not calling all men dogs, I'm personally a casual poster on the Newlyweds board. What I'm saying is that depending upon what is going on around "someone", that is going to dictate how loud you will have to "talk" to them.
Anyone who has trained with us has experienced this and anyone who should train with us in the future will start to laugh when it happens, thinking back to this post.
Hope that helped clarify things.
Message edited 9/3/2010 2:49:28 PM.
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| Posted 9/3/10 2:46 PM |
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WaterGirl
Momma!!!
Member since 1/10 1060 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Message edited 1/23/2011 7:14:57 PM.
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| Posted 9/3/10 11:50 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
Posted by HeatherRose
DO NOT LEAVE IT ON IN THE CAGE!! the dog can actually hang themselves if it gets stuck between the openings (this is actually the case with ANY collar not just the shock).
I'm glad you brought this up, I want to derail the subject for a second, because this is such a scary thing.
Our Ginger not only hung herself up on the knobs of our heavy wood buffet, she almost pulled it over on top of her. If she had, she would have sustained significant injury or died. Thank God we were right there to help and snap her out of her panic with tried and true commands so we could unhook her.
Then there was the time we got together for a playdate and someone had one of those flat collars with a choke section on their dog. Someone happened to snap a picture of Brinkley's upper jaw stuck inside the collar. It happened fast, and he was able to get out of it, but I had to talk to the owner about it. It is so dangerous to their dog and any other dog around them. 
We never leave collars on in the house for that reason and always properly fit them to make sure we can get a couple of fingers under, nothing more. It's a ritual now, they sit nicely by the door while I put on their collars, we open the door, and only when we say "ok go" are they allowed out. It also helps because they are less likely to bolt anytime the door is opened.
There are also "breakaway" collars out there that will unsnap in those situations too.
eta, found the pic: http://www.greenfreak.net/wp-content/myfotos/dogs/brinkley_meetup.jpg
Message edited 9/4/2010 11:14:35 AM.
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| Posted 9/4/10 11:10 AM |
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
@Greenfreak
Thank you for sharing your story. I went on an evaluation about a year ago and the client wanted training for their new dog because the previous dog had hung herself. It was such a sad story I was fighting back tears kinda unsuccessfully. I later found out that we were the third trainer to meet with them and they chose us mostly on the fact that we were so compassionate. They started out dead set against using the remote collar but when I explained how you can call your dog from across the yard without treats and just a few taps of a button, they reconsidered.
Trainers note: Flat collars should be snug enough to get three or four fingers under them. If they are moving up and down the neck, they are too loose.
Personal note: DH and I are TTC. Are the parenting boards as helpful as this Pets board for our furry babies is?
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| Posted 9/5/10 12:13 PM |
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MegZee
My bunny
Member since 5/06 8777 total posts
Name:
Meaghan
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Re: So we met with Kim from Best Friends tonight
I used them years ago (Bailey is almost 6!) - i was also cautious of the collar - I zapped myself and its no more than a tingle.
it is really worth the $$ - and even though my Bailey did get collar smart, he is still much better behaved than before.
and the group classes are great for socialization!!
and Kim - the TTC/Pregnancy boards are great!!
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| Posted 9/5/10 7:22 PM |
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