whistles vs. voice vs. TT collar vs....???

[guywhofishes]

I wonder if just a simple non-shocking beep/vibrate would work? I don't think I would ever really need to zap him.... just communicate without shouting (or whistling).

 

[Duckslayer100]

So it's not a PITA to have to carry a remote and be pushing the button every few minutes? Do they pin to your vest? Lanyard?

I have the remote strapped to either my belt or my vest on my off-hand side. If I need to locate a dog or offer a command, I just reach down and do it. I train all summer with my dogs, so I know the operation of the remote pretty much second nature.

Just a point of clarification: I'm not constantly beeping/calling/whistling my dogs. I'd much rather just let them hunt. A perfect day is one when few words are spoken and I come home with three roosters. Last year that was more the norm than the exception.

But there are times when you have to say/do something. For that, I like having the options of all the above. You just never know. And shit happens. Last year my youngest pup got caught in a snare. Using the tone on his collar (which is pretty quiet) I managed to locate him in some thick cattails. Fortunately he had the sense not to pull or struggle, and was waiting patiently for me to come get him. Scary schite!

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I wonder if just a simple non-shocking beep/vibrate would work? I don't think I would ever really need to zap him.... just communicate without shouting (or whistling).

My TT has stim and tone. Both are independent of each other. I just give a tone, and they know to recall. It's very easy to train a dog to recall on tone if you've already trained it to come when it's called or whistled.

 

[guywhofishes]

thank you gentlemen - very insightful Thumbs Up

 

[DirtyMike]

Ole koda doesn't get zapped very often. She hears the beep and she does an about face very quickly. I have the remote clipped on to the vest so I can use my forearm hand to hit the beeper if need be. Any voice command that is spoken louder than a conversation-level voice, it's LEAVE IT! Because shes a pointer, not a retriever and that bird on the ground might taste good. If you're going to get a collar Guy, get the gps. I'm usually going for best bang for the buck. However, those gps ones are the cats pajamas.

 

[johnr]

Nothing beats a good zap when the dog forgets it isn't the leader of the pack.

 

[guywhofishes]

Nothing beats a good zap when the dog forgets it isn't the leader of the pack.

I suppose it can't hurt.

I wish NDA had a good zap function.

 

[Kurtr]

Got the beep on my dogs collar and if i need to a simple push and they are both back at my side. While guiding and 8 plus hounds and the hunters wild ass dogs running around it can get a little wild and me not yelling or blowing a whistle is so nice. I despise corn fields but is a some thing we do often and yelling is worthless in there so i just push the beep and they both are back and i know not lost. I lost my older dog when he was a pup for a few hours in a corn field he trailed a winged bird into found him a mile a way and just as scared as me i never want that feeling again.

 

[shorthairsrus]

Gsp what can one say they need a collar. Trained with a whistle and hands. Rarely needs a zap however rabbits deer squirells...... all create a need. Add to that turkeys.

 

[Nanky]

I'm a talker, always giving voice commands to my dog. I use the whistle and collar if it's windy, he's chasing something etc. I've never had an issue with scaring birds away. I don't think I'll change what I'm comfortable with, I hate having to reach for the whistle or remote, I'd rather just give him a quick command. To each his own and do what works for you.

 

[wildeyes]

guywholookingforacollar, My first dog no collar was talking to that dog all day long. 2nd dog started out with no collar for the first 2 years then put the collar on mainly the beep feature (only had to use the shock once ) mainly bought it because was around roads that had traffic. Found out it got quiet with the collar no more talking to the dog. 3rd dog don't have to say much just switch direction or when the dog looks at me can point in the direction need to go. I can tell you it depends a lot on the dog. I hunt Labs mainly (ONLY) I had a friend with a Gordon setter and if the dog didn't have a collar with high voltage you wouldn't be able to keep up. the part for me is you have to be careful with the shocking you could take some of the drive if you are not careful. It does depend on the personally of the dog. My two-cents Randy you can do what you what.

 

[guywhofishes]

I think Royce would get all down on himself if I zapped him hard and maybe stop hunting on the off chance that's what he did wrong. He's sort of a thinker. At least that's what it seems like to me.

He'll often be doing something routine - stop in his tracks - think for a bit - then head off to do what he's decided. I'd hate to have him decide hunting is just a good way to get zapped - so F it.

Although he's game to hunt his relationship with the people he's hunting with seems more important to him if that makes sense? (as opposed to dogs that go absolutely blind and are focused solely on their hunt and forget EVERYTHING else)

Then again maybe he literally is thinking "um... what's my name again?" and he's dumber than a fencepost - people are very good at projecting things on their pets that aren't there.

 

[wildeyes]

my opinion only here is a dog is only as smart as their memory. the more they retain the smarter they are. Royce is a hunter mainly for big game that's his linage but they are smart dogs. a friend of mine has a standard like yours and he is a hunter.

 

[deleted member]

Collar all the way. I use the beep all the time just to keep em close. Almost never zap. Could get by without talking at all really. But, it's not my nature. For general hunting purposes, not much communication is needed. Just gotta get em to stay close and they take care of the rest for the most part.

 

[Kickemup]

My GSP gets the tone a couple times everytime we go out until she get a little tired. Then she stays close. Not very often I have to give her a zap or talk to her.

 

[KDM]

My pup learned hand signals in about 3 minutes. He's smarter than I am I think. He rarely gets more than 25 yards from me before looking back for directions. I haven't worked with him very much, but we have a good time running in the brush anyway. He covers ground I don't and that for me is good enough.

 

[Hookin8easy]

I myself won't hunt a dog of mine without a collar anymore, they will spoil you, as mentioned before nice and peaceful. I use the vibrate/tone 99% of the time as there is very little need to nick them after they are aware that it does exist, also I make sure mine have always had the adjustable strength on the transmitter, my female is very timid and a 5 out of 20 will get her a yelp yet my male at 20 when he gets wound up barely gets his attention. I've currently have the garmin 3 dog, easy to use, configurable button combos, great range and charge longevity.

 

[BDub]

Back in the days when I had good running gear and more time my dogs were mostly under control without an E collar. Rabbits and deer are a big exception. However the best dog training tool I have is the E collar. Wished many times that I would have had one 35 years ago. Luckily Brittany's are very easy to train so I rarely have to zap my dog. The tone feature works very well. They still need basic training, E collars just help solve problems. Lots of good training material out there.

 

[shorthairsrus]

My gsp begs for a nick now and then