Adventures Outdoors'
In Wisconsin
Pressure Conditioning
By Rick Spoerl
Stick fetch, collar fetch, sit nick, and here nick, are all done at the same time. If you’re using an e-collar you should have had a dummy collar on your dog for at least 6 weeks. This procedure should be accomplished as soon as possible after force training to retrieve. The pup is used to force and will quickly learn how to turn off the pressure. This procedure is also called "collar conditioning" but other types of force like a loud voice command, a whip or heeling stick and lead are also used. Its really conditioning the dog to different types of pressure not just the collar.
The commands are all previously taught to the dog. Now you will get the dog used to pressure while accomplishing these commands. The dog will speed up and learn how to stop, turn off, or escape the pressure by performing the task quickly. Some people I have known have simply strapped on a collar and couldn’t wait to hit the button, often causing panicking dogs that are throwing the bird, barking, and failing to perform. You need to collar condition the dog for commands he has been taught so when in the field maybe a distance away he will respond properly by performing the task the right way after he has been corrected.
The first day of pressure conditioning I like to do 3 sessions, with each ending with some fun dummies or marks. The second day I do 2 sessions, then just 1 about every other day for a week.
Take the dog for a walk with a lead on. Every ten or twenty yards say "sit". He already has been through obedience training and knows all these commands. Start walking again only this time give the dog a nick of the collar a split second before you say "sit". You don’t want the dog to freak out so keep the level on the collar low. You want him to feel it but you don’t want him freaking out. Your just teaching him how to turn the collar off. Alternate between using the collar as well as the whip as well as using no pressure most times. You will really see him respond quickly. After a few sessions he will have the idea.
During this procedure, keep him heeling at a high standard. Don’t use the collar for heeling problems, use the whip and lead for that. Later when your heeling him off lead you can correct him for poor heeling with the collar.
The first step is to put a line of 5 or 6 dummies spaced about 5 yards apart. You will need the e-collar on the dog, the choke collar on the dog, a heeling stick, and of course a leash on him. Begin by walking him at heel towards the line of dummies. If he pulls on the leash trying to break for the dummy you will need to whack him in the chest with the stick commanding "heel, heel". When you get a couple feet from the dummy command, "fetch" and lightly tap him on the rump with the stick. If he refuses to pick it up you must ear pinch. Take it from him and heel to the next dummy and command "fetch". This time don’t tap him with the stick. Move on to the others and alternate with the stick and then nothing. Move up and down the line a couple of times. Make sure your e-collar is set to a low setting and repeat the line of dummies with a nick of the collar. That is nick "fetch" nick. You may get several different reactions. If the dog cries out and really begins freaking out, you’re using to high of a setting on the e-collar. If the dog does nothing, you’re using to low of a setting. Chances are the dog will be concerned and you need to quickly get the dummy in the dog’s mouth for him to understand how to stop the pressure. Go to ear pinch on all refusals. Alternate between the stick, the e-collar, and give him lots of opportunities to escape the pressure. Do not give every "fetch" command with pressure. More like stick pressure, stick pressure, no pressure, no pressure, e-collar pressure, no pressure, stick pressure, no pressure, e-collar pressure, and so on. After a week or so you can take a step forward.
Begin sending the dog to a pile of bumpers he can see maybe fifty yards out or so giving yourself room to move back to a couple hundred yards. Send the dog to the pile with no pressure. Line him up and send him again, this time when he gets halfway there yell "back, back" and nick him twice with the e-collar. Do this several times alternating with no pressure and the e-collar while moving back after every retrieve to the maximum distance.
This "force to the pile" procedure is teaching the dog if he keeps going he will turn the pressure off. This is most often used with field trial and hunt test dogs communicating to not stop or slow down until told. Its only done once a day for about a week.
Later on when teaching long difficult blinds a few sessions of this can be done before running the blinds. Then if your dog slows or stops you can justify using pressure to remind him to keep going. This is much more fair to the dog than lighting him up for slowing or stopping. Not going through a force back procedure can later on create a dog that will totally stop when corrected for not going back.
If your dog returns with the bird slow or you want to get the dog used to pressure with the bird in his mouth you can use a force procedure. Have the dog sit facing you and walk away commanding "stay". Get fifty yards or so away and call the dog to you. Have him front sit and walk away again. This time when you call him give him a couple nicks of the collar while yelling "here, here". Only do this a couple of times. Than try it with the bird in his mouth. Remember to have him come to you without applying pressure more times than with the pressure. After three or four sessions of this you should have planted the necessary seeds.
Now when the dog is corrected in the field it should be clear to him how to turn the pressure off by accomplishing the task he already knows.