Spray Collars

Spray collars provide a valuable training tool when all other reward based methods have been tried and failed. I do not advocate the primary use of spray collars until it becomes a legitimate method to use. The products are designed to startle and shock the dog which is not harmful but is a more severe method than the reward based methods like verbal corrections and food rewards.

I prefer the audible collars which have the ability to emit a sound/buzz which I use to signal good behaviour similar to a clicker and a reward to follow. The spray is the last option and is only used after the dog is taught the reward on the buzzer and when its tested and attempts to do the bad activity, the spray is to correct that decision and a reward is offered if the dog recalls to the handler away from the problem activity!

Start by using the buzzer when giving treats to your dog just to "load" the sound and teach the dog that it has done right and a reward will follow. Ask the dog to come to you and as it starts to do so press the buzzer (DO NOT MISTAKE THE BUTTONS AND SPRAY OR YOU WILL TRAIN THE DOG TO STAY AWAY FROM YOU!) and when it arrives reward with a tasty treat. At this stage i recommend not loading the spray into the device so accidents can't happen. This is purely training on voice and reward!

After the dog has learned that the sound is a reward, add the spray option and we can now test the dog in a very low stimulus area. For instance; if its cow poo that is your issue, go to an area with very little poop and try to use voice and reward alone and work hard at training the dog to come to the reward. When we are proofing the training, then if the dog goes to roll in the poop, as it physically attempts to do so, preferably as it starts to manoeuvre into it, press the spray button ONCE ONLY and when the dog avoids the poop call him/her and if they start to come, press the buzzer and praise lavishly and reward well.

This can then be done for a week or two and then areas with greater levels of poop can be attempted, but you must be on your guard and not to lose concentration so the dog gets away with the activity sometimes and is sprayed at others. This will confuse the dog and you will be going backwards in your training and the tool (Spray collar) will be useless!

Remember, reward is the key to success, the spray is purely a correction at distance to the behaviour, if the dog is near you can correct using your voice and a physical touch as well! Remember NEVER, NEVER get angry, NEVER press the spray in anger, NEVER repeatedly press the spray as a punishment and ALWAYS praise and reward correct behaviour, even after a bad incident!

Any problems give me a shout!

Cheers Steve