Monday, August 31, 2009

Our New Dog !!

Training is the name of the game. We are so tired of yelling and running out to correct Prin. She is such a hard head it seems nothing curbs her evil ways. I felt we couldn't go on this way. Something needed to happen, so despite our hesitations we got an E collar. I made sure it was fitted just right, tested the tone alarm, and set the distraction (shock) strength. It has a dial from 1 to 10. Prin didn't seem to feel a thing until we reached 7. The instructions say the dog should only turn its head to the side for a second when applied. I am glad of that. I always thought the dog would yelp from pain. Anyway, Prin normally starts to bark and whine after about 5 minutes on her cable tie-out. We would tap the window, yell out the door, or run out and give her a good scolding. Always within 5 or 10 minutes she would start in again - AARRRRRR!


The first day of Prin's new training was amazing. She barked. She got zapped. She went and laid down and started looking around. She likes to watch birds fly by. About 30 minutes later she barked. She got another shock. She went and laid down, and started watching birds again. I was standing at the window for maybe 2 hours with my finger on the trigger. After the third bark and shock, she didn't bark again for so long I gave up the vigil. Over the next 3 days she barked a few more times and I would hit the tone alarm. If she continued to bark, she got a jolt. Today is the forth day. Prin went out without wearing the collar, and was amazingly well behaved!!! We didn't have to yell or scold even once! Overall she's calmer on her tie-out, better behaved in the house, less stressed, and happy!