| On this article you will find information on collars for | | | | wearing the collar as doing so could create a negative |
| deaf dogs. I would like to make it clear that my dog | | | | association to it. |
| Sabrina never had a training collar because I | | | | Use treats to encourage the dog associating good |
| personally don't like them. My reason for this is that | | | | feelings with wearing the collar. This can be done by |
| they have to be placed quite tight around the dog's | | | | giving them a treat when you put the collar on. |
| neck for them to feel the vibration and some dogs | | | | Positive reinforcement always works well. |
| find them traumatising. In addition, it is not a good | | | | The very first time you introduce your pet to the |
| idea to let a deaf dog off of their leash in an open | | | | collar you should put it on your dog, give him or her a |
| area anyway (see living with a deaf dog) However, | | | | treat and then take it off and give them another |
| some people do and for this reason I have included | | | | treat. Do this several times during the first day. On |
| some information about them as you will be the best | | | | the second day put the collar on for about fifteen |
| judge of what is best for your dog. | | | | minutes and repeat the same process with the |
| Vibrating collars are used to train deaf dogs because | | | | rewards, gradually increasing the length of time. |
| they provide the added benefit of acting like a paging | | | | Always be with the pet when you do this. It is not |
| system for the dog and its owner. When pressed, a | | | | recommended to leave them alone whilst wearing |
| button on a remote control causes the collar to | | | | the collar as it can cause anxiety which could make |
| vibrate, attracting your dog's attention (after | | | | the collar hazardous. |
| extensive training!). The effective distance of the | | | | When you first introduce the vibration your dog may |
| collar will depend on the make of the collar, so it is | | | | be startled, however some dogs simply ignore the |
| important to consider this when buying one. Although | | | | vibration. Keep them close to you in this phase of |
| they are not the same as an electronic or shock | | | | the training and make sure there are no distractions. |
| collars and the vibration is not very strong, they are | | | | The key is to make help your dog to understand |
| not pleasant for the dog either and a very sensitive | | | | that it is you who is causing the vibration and that |
| dog can have a negative reaction to them. | | | | you want their attention when you do so. Do not |
| Will your dog need a vibrating collar? Most likely, not. | | | | wait for the dog's response when the collar vibrates, |
| Many deaf dog owners including myself do not use | | | | at this stage just make the collar vibrate and |
| them for number of reasons: | | | | immediately give a treat. It should be a case of |
| One of the main drawbacks of vibrating collars is | | | | page-treat-page-treat-page-treat until your dog |
| their weight. They are too heavy for smaller dogs | | | | realises that you want his or her attention. |
| and pups (they weigh between 65g to 221g and they | | | | Do this about ten times allowing your dog time to |
| are as big as the average soap bar) and it does not | | | | eat the treat with no rush and then stop. The first |
| really teach your pet to do anything, besides being an | | | | sessions should be about 5 minutes each, increasing |
| attention getter for the cue "look at me". Also, from | | | | to 10 minutes but not repeating more than three |
| my experience, it is never advisable to let your deaf | | | | times in the first few days. In other words you |
| dog roam free, as there is no guarantee that they | | | | should leave the collar on all day and repeat it 2 or 3 |
| will come back. | | | | times, making sure your dog looks at you when |
| The collars available today come with a number of | | | | receiving the vibration. If the dog does not look at |
| available features. Many of them have a tone feature | | | | you when receiving the vibration, you are probably |
| that can help you track down your dog (although this | | | | moving too fast. |
| can be substituted by tying a tiny bell to the collar) | | | | On the second or third day, after you page the dog |
| and it is ideal if you do not want to hear the sound | | | | do not give him or her a treat right away. If the dog |
| of a bell when your dog walks or when your pet is | | | | looks up at you regardless, give an extra treat as an |
| sleeping. | | | | encouragement. This is an excellent sign and it means |
| If you consider buying a vibrating collar make sure | | | | that they are learning. |
| that it is waterproof. If it is a combination vibration | | | | To start with you should try letting your dog off the |
| shock system, make sure that the shock setting can | | | | leash in the same room with you. Page the dog and |
| be turned off. Ideally it should be small (5% of the | | | | when they look at you give the hand signal "come |
| total body weight of the pet, which is still a lot). Most | | | | back", showing your hand with a treat in it and then |
| of these collars come for medium to large sized | | | | give the treat. The goal is to train your dog to look |
| dogs, have a long battery life, a tone setting and a | | | | at you every time and to find you when they cannot |
| long range. | | | | see you when paged. Only when your dog looks at |
| Remember that a vibrating collar is not a magic wand | | | | you EVERY TIME you should attempt to try this. Let |
| and your dog will need to be trained regardless. Do | | | | your dog roam the house, first in the same room, |
| not assume that your dog will come back to you if it | | | | and then out of your visual range. Page him/her once. |
| is off the leash just because you press a button to | | | | When he comes to you, give a treat and if he does |
| make its collar vibrate. Your pet is deaf and it can | | | | not come, go get him/her. Do not repeatedly page |
| never be let off-leash (unless in a safe fenced-in | | | | him/her over and over, as frequent paging will cause |
| area) just because you are using a vibrating collar. | | | | the dog to forget the meaning of the vibration (the |
| When you introduce the collar to the dog patience is | | | | meaning is "food and come back to the owner") and |
| the key. You have to let the dog get used to the | | | | it will become meaningless. Never punish the dog for |
| feeling, especially as it is heavier than a regular collar. | | | | not coming, rather, figure out why he/she is not |
| Fit it according to the instructions and let your pet | | | | responding, he/she may be too distracted by outside |
| wear it for short periods for the first three days so | | | | influences (a risk that can always happen with |
| that he or she can get accustomed to it. DO NOT | | | | vibrating collars) or maybe the treats you are using |
| test the vibration until your pet has got used to | | | | are not enticing enough. |