Petsafe Comfort Fit Remote Trainer - Manuel (Page 10)

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Training Guide
Starting Training With The Collar
Although it is an advantage if your dog does understand the basic commands this is not essential.
Basic commands can be learned as your dog progresses with the collar.
There are two main reasons why a dog may not obey a command.
1. He has not been taught the command and therefore does not understand what is required.
2. He knows the command but believes he has a choice and decides to do something other than obey.
When starting with the collar it is essential to be able to guide the dog and also control his actions.
In addition it is advisable to train in a controlled environment, a fenced area or inside a building
with the doors closed. This keeps your dog safe in any eventuality.
Each command should be taught separately in a session and repeated in further sessions until it is
clear the dog understands. Sessions should be long enough to move forward with understanding
but short enough to keep the brain fresh and not confuse your dog. Two sessions per day of 10 to
15 minutes is a good schedule.
The two main commands to gain understanding of the collar and then build upon are the call
“Here” or “Come”, and “Sit”. The stimulation is applied initially in the learning phase just before
a command or guidance is given. This is important as otherwise the dog may be complying with
the command and then receive a stimulation which would stop him and “punish” him for what
was actually correct. The stimulation is turned off by releasing the button the moment the dog
complies. The sensation therefore goes the moment he does as he is asked. Once learning and
understanding is achieved the stimulation
can be given simultaneous with the command.
The aim is to reduce and fi nally remove the need for stimulation on each command; therefore
we take it in stages. First use continuous, or numerous taps of continuous and gradually reduce
them until you only use one tap together with the command. You can also them give “freebies” (no
stimulation with every command) to determine whether your dog is obeying and understanding
without the collar and using a “tap” of stimulation to reinforce only when there is resistance,
slowness or disobedience. A “tap” of the collar becomes a prompt, a quick reminder, and a
reinforcement of the command.
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General Tips
• Take the training of your dog in small steps, teach one obedience command and/or eliminate one
misbehaviour at a time. If you move too fast with the training, your dog can become confused.
• Be pleased with small improvements and stop the training session on a good note.
• Your dog may show confusion and lack of understanding at any stage even though you believe he knows
the command. Do not attempt to force him with the collar but put him on a lead and show him again
what is required.
• Be consistent with commands and actions. When training with stimulation initially give your dog a
“prompt” stimulation with each command until his obedience becomes natural.
• Do not over-correct your dog. Plan to avoid misbehaviour or to stop them from happening by being
ahead of your dog’s actions. Use as few stimulations as possible to train your dog.
• Unless you can supervise him, it is recommended that you restrict your dog from situations in which