Collar training vs positive training

[BitsyNaceyDog]

We've only used positive training, with one exception. Our dog, Jake, hates our horses and used to always run into the horse field and nip at them. We tried positive training, but it wasn't working in that situation. We feared Jake would get kicked and badly injured, or worse. We borrowed a shock collar (my husband tried it on himself first) and that shock collar is finally what trained him not to go into the horse field. We only needed to use the shock collar one day and he hasn't gone into the field since, he now stops at the fence, and doesn't go through!

[IRescue452]

You definately don't NEED a training collar of any type. Autumn was pretty well fully trained on sit, down, come and those types of things before my stepdad decided we should do the training class like his brother did with his dog (he was paranoid about having the dog and his new twin daughters). We aced the class because she was well-trained already but we did learn some new tricks like "leave it" and "front" which I'd never heard of before having her. I'd never even owned a training collar before then. How was she trained if I didn't have a training collar? I must be magic. All I used was a normal collar without even a leash attached and some treats.

[binka_nugget]

With my first dog, Kai, I trained with a slip collar. Kaedyn was with primarily corrections as well. When Keeva came along, I trained with positive methods. Leash corrections and positive reinforcement both worked for my dogs and all three listen reliably. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to train a dog but my preferred method is positive reinforcement. The enthusiasm I get from Keeva (positive reinforcement) and Kai & Kaedyn (leash corrections) is huge. And Keeva loves to learn - she offers me new behaviors in order to get a click. It makes training much easier for me.