Adding E-Collar Prompting to your Place Command

If you are incorporating an e-collar into your dog's training, I encourage you to also add it for the Place training. You can start adding stimulation as soon as you've done some shaping, teaching the dog to step onto the target object . As long as the dog is not showing apprehension about the object itself, you're ready to move to this next step. It is beneficial to add the e-collar prompting for two reasons. First off, you'll be able to build the dog's understanding of staying on the Place more quickly. The stimulation can be used to identify to the dog the mistake of stepping off of the Place. If your timing is good and you tap as soon as the dog begins to consider coming off of the target, the communication will be very clear to the dog. You will be able to build duration into Fido's understanding very efficiently. Secondly, you can begin to create a send out and easily redirect for any changes in direction. Once your dog understands the concept of Tap & Command = get onto the Place, you can begin to build distance between yourself and the target. The tap can then redirect for any decisions your dog makes to veer off course. It is the same as when we tap the dog that decides to change course when coming to us. If the dog gets distracted and off course in a recall, a quick collar tap serves as the reminder to straighten out and get back on track. But before you can do either of these things you FIRST have to add the stimulation just as the dog is getting onto the Place. This is how you create the associated meaning in the dog's mind. Take a look at how I worked with this young lab on his first day of e-collar conditioning.

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