You’ve heard about electronic training collars, also known as shock collars. Conflicting information is plentiful and very often misunderstood. Do not be intimidated, as these products are very helpful and not harmful to your pets. You don’t have to be a professional dog trainer or an expert on electronic dog collars to use them. With some basic instruction, the trickiest parts of training your dog—i.e., what they are not supposed to do—will become surprisingly easy to manage. An electronic dog collar reinforces your commands in such a way that the dog never knows the correction is actually coming from you. This is imperative, since correction is a negative experience that you don’t want him to associate with you.
Here is a quick guide to get you and your buddy off to a good start:
Four Easy Steps to a Well-Behaved Best Friend
1. Choose Your Electronic Dog Training Collar:
Keep it simple. At Pet Super Store, our two most popular electronic dog collars are affordable and easy to use. Both systems feature lightweight, water-resistant collars and small, easily concealed handheld controllers
The first and most popular is the SportDOG SD-105 Yard Trainer. This is a one-dog system with a 100-yard range, allowing immediate correction from any part of your yard. It has eight levels of stimulation, the lowest of which is tone only, a feature all SportDOG collars share.
The second collar is the SportDOG SD-400 Field Trainer. The SD-400 collar provides a bit more features and functions than the SD-105. The SD-400 has a 400-yard range, great for dog owners who require obedience off-leash in the field. This system is expandable; you can add collars (available separately) to control up to three dogs. The SD-400 has 16 levels of stimulation, which provides the finer tuning desirable in a multi-dog system. It also comes in a snazzy camouflage version.
2. Introduce Your Dog to the Collar:
The training collar is worn in addition to your dog’s everyday collar. The best way to introduce your dog to the collar is to put the collar on him, and stop there. Let him wear his collar—during the day, just like he will for training—for at least a week. This will give him time to become accustomed to the collar and prevent him from becoming collar-smart, only behaving with the collar on.
3. Find Your Dog’s Correction Level:
To find the correction level suitable for your dog, be sure your dog doesn’t see the handheld device. Set it to the lowest level of stimulation and activate the collar. If he doesn’t react at all, increase the stimulation one notch at a time. You are looking for his first visible reaction, which may be as minor as a twitch of his ear or a slight shake of his head. A good rule of thumb here is to find your dog’s correction level, that is, the lowest level at which he has a visible reaction to the stimulus, and then back off a notch. You always want to be working with the lowest effective charge. The object is to correct your dog, not punish or frighten him.
4. Use the Collar to Reinforce Your Commands:
Let’s imagine you have the most common problem, excessive barking. You are in the yard with your dog, perhaps relaxing in a lawn chair. When your dog barks, command him: “Quiet!” If he doesn’t obey, repeat the command, simultaneously pressing the correction button on your handheld, only for a second. The moment he hesitates in his barking, call and praise him. In the dog’s mind, something unpleasant (the stimulus) happened when he barked, and something pleasant (praise and petting) happened when he stopped. If he doesn’t respond the first couple of times, turn the level up one notch and try again. Continue in this manner until he stops barking immediately upon your command. Most dogs will need only minimal adjustment. He will soon respond to your command and the tone, and then to your command alone. How long this takes depends on the dog and on your consistency. A general estimate is a few repetitions to a few days. Once you are confident he is trained, let him wear the collar for a week without any stimulation at all before you remove it, so again, he doesn’t connect the collar and the correction.
Repeat the training routine with each behavior you want to change. You will be astonished and delighted by the transformation in your dog!
Tags: Blog · Dog Training · Pet Accessories
Our pets are as much a part of the family as our children, and as such, their safety and comfort is just as meaningful to us. As the weather becomes cooler,
pets and children will be spending more time indoors. With the holidays around the corner, people will be in and out and a lot of unaccustomed activity will be taking place. To make sure your house is a pet safe one, we’ve created a list of helpful tips to ensure everyone in the family, including your pets, is taken care of.
Your Dog’s Viewpoint
The first thing you’ll want to do is try to see your home from a dog’s point of view. Get down on your hands and knees and go crawling through your rooms. What do you see that would be fun and interesting to chew on/tear apart (remember, you’re being a dog)? Be sure to instill this thinking around beds, in the kitchen, and in the yard. Many animals think the best way to find out if something is edible is by trying to eat it. For a pet with this philosophy, twist ties, paper clips or toys with small parts become hazardous.
A House Full of Chew Toys
Another potential problem is electrical cords, which a puppy will nearly always test for snack potential. To protect your electronics and your dog, cord organizers are available from your local office supplies store. If your dog is still inclined to chew, you may need to use a repellant spray, such as bitter apple, to fend off chewing. One of the most effective methods is to redirect the dog with a chew toy.
The Other Water Bowl
While this particular tip is rather icky to contemplate, your dog doesn’t know the difference between a water bowl and a toilet. However, some cleaning chemicals are toxic if ingested. In consideration of that and of the Eeew! factor, keep the lid closed, and remind guests to do so too. With some determinedly thirsty dogs, you may have to use a pet gate or close the bathroom door.
Providing A Safe Area
With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it may be easiest to provide a safe area for your pet. Dog gates ensure your pet is in a safe area while you’re baking, enjoying dinner, or have small children around. One of our favorite gates is the Richell Tension Mount Pet Gate, which is a sturdy, highly adjustable, walk-through gate.
For those needing a portable gate, the Gold Zinc Exercise Pen is unbeatable. Available in X-Small to X-Large sizing, this gate can fold up in case you need a gate for your travels.
Here at Pet Super Store, we want all of your seasons to be safe and healthy. If you have any tips, feel free to add them to our comments.
We will look forward to seeing you!
Tags: Blog
Fall is here, and with it Halloween!
Be sure to celebrate a happy and safe Halloween with your pets, as this spooky holiday can scare them. While all of those noisy, costumed kids running around might be cute to us, your pet might disagree. Frightened pets may hide, bark incessantly or even run away—perhaps putting themselves in grave danger (Halloween pun intended).
On the other hand, most dogs are more likely to handle the commotion and participate in the costume celebration! Dress your dog up, take him along; create a themed look for both of you! You’ll find tons of creative, fun and border-line scary dog costumes available on our website.
Before you dress up your pet, take them to parties or answer the door for those cute goblins and ghosts, make sure you keep safety in mind as there are a lot of treats and situations that may cause more harm than fun.
At Pet Super Store, we believe in safe pet costumes. Common sense and personal experience indicate that you shouldn’t put a mask on your dog’s face. Interfering with his natural senses is distracting and confusing to him. He could easily hurt himself in the attempt to remove a mask, or put himself in a position for something else (like a car) to hurt him. You’ll have much better luck with a hat. Your buddy is more likely to tolerate it, and it won’t compromise his safety.
Here’s a fun video of a Pet Super Store costume in action:
Marty Bee-ing Adorable
Don’t get us wrong as we don’t want to scare you—but we want you to be aware and careful as we love pets just like you. An artificial sweetener called “Xylitol” has found popularity with the manufacturers of sugar-free gums and candy. While it seems safe for people, it is one of the most dangerous things your pup can ingest. Within fifteen minutes of consuming a tiny amount of Xylitol, a dog’s body experiences a marked drop in blood sugar caused by a sudden release of insulin into his blood. Within thirty minutes, your dog may display a loss of coordination, general weakness and lethargy, quickly worsening into collapse and seizures. Without immediate veterinary attention—which doesn’t guarantee survival—the next phases are irreparable brain damage and possibly death.
How much Xylitol is deadly? Let’s just say “any.” You don’t want to give your dog anything that might hurt him in any amount. It isn’t worth the risk. Just three grams of Xylitol—about the amount in three or four sticks of gum—can kill a 65-pound dog! A little dog could die from getting hold of one stick of gum! Just in case, you should always have the number for the Pet Poison Helpline: 800-213-6680. In an emergency, they can tell you what to do.
We know you love your dog. Show him by not sharing your people treats. Celebrate with him by stocking up on some of our great dog treats, instead. We have peanut butter, beef, chicken, pork and even salmon flavors. Check here to see some of the many healthy dog treats we have at Pet Super Store: http://www.pet-super-store.com/pet-supplies/dog-treats/.
Cats —especially black cats—may be considered fair game for tricks by some just plain-old-mean people. Quite frankly, it’s likely Kitty would rather just skip the whole holiday if you ask her. Do her a favor and put her in a quiet, comfortable room with her dishes and a favorite toy. No worries for you about her darting out the door when you open it for trick-or-treaters.
Wishing you and your pets a safe and happy Howl-o-ween!
Tags: Blog · Seasonal
Halloween is right around the dark and scary corner. With all the parties, events, and gatherings, don’t you think it’s time to upgrade your dog’s wardrobe to join in the festivities?
You and your dog will be the life of the party dressed up in one of our creative, fun and just plain-old-cute Dog Costumes. Whether answering the door for trick-or-treaters, strutting down the sidewalk together or hanging out at a party, your dog will be the coolest cat donning their new Dog Costume. From Dracula to Bumble Bees, Pirates and beyond, we have a wide variety of dog costumes and dog apparel to bring a smile to anyone’s face this holiday season–including your dog.
10% Off Promotional Offer Until October 21, 2011
No tricks, only treats with this offer. Order your stylish dog costume before October 21st and receive 10% off until October 21st. Simply enter the promotional code SPOOKY in the “Have a Promo Code” box during checkout to receive your 10% discount right off your order. (Note– make sure to enter code in all CAPS as shown).
Treat yourself and your dog to one of our stylish Halloween Dog Costumes today. Visit us at Pet Super Store to pick out a costume you, your family and friends will love.
P.S.Make sure to take a few pictures or videos of your pet and email them to us at [email protected] We’ll pick out the coolest ones and feature them on our blog!
Happy Halloween from your friends at Pet Super Store.
A few fun examples:
Bad Boy Dog Costume Available at Pet-Super-Store.com
Bumble Bee Dog Costume Available at Pet-Super-Store.com
Luau Dog Costume Available at Pet-Super-Store.com
Superman Dog Costume Available at Pet-Super-Store.com
Tags: Pet Accessories · Seasonal
Tracking, training and tree stands just got easier with the new TEK Series Tracking and Training Products from SportDOG.
The great outdoors is calling. So, turn off the game and grab your dog because it’s time to hit the woods. Regardless of the game you hunt, you and your dog need to be prepared. Whether hunting in the woods, the bush or wide-open plains, tracking your dog is critical as he searches, tracks and retrieves your prey.
That’s why we’ve added the new SportDOG TEK Series to our already great lineup of SportDOG hunting, tracking and training products. Like you, SportDOG TEK Series tracking and training collars are rugged, waterproof and built to withstand whatever Mother-Nature throws at you.
The woods are waiting, but your game won’t.
Hunt confidently knowing where your dogs are at all times with the new
SportDOG TEK Series Training and Location System. This 2-component, hand-held modular system is waterproof, submersible, mounts on a standard dog collar and provides a 7-mile tracking range. Plus, it has a built in compass so you know where you are going too! This reliable tracking collar is designed for dogs 8 pounds and over.
Have multiple dogs that like to Hunt? No problem. Add an additional
SportDOG TEK Series Add-On E-Collar to train and track up to 12 dogs simultaneously. Designed as a supplemental training system for use with your SportDOG TEK Series Location System, the SportDOG TEK Series Add-On E-Collar gives you the increased ability to select up to 100 levels of stimulation and correction from a quick ‘nick’ (momentary) to constant and rising stimulation levels using either vibration or tonal modes. If your dogs are within a 7-mile radius, you can be sure they’ll be paying attention. And for those long hunts, a single battery charge will last 20 hours or more.
The
SportDOG TEK Series Location Only Collar is perfect for more experienced hunting hounds that don’t require extensive training. This location collar is waterproof and submersible up to 25 ft. deep.
New break-through technology from SportDOG! The new
SportDOG TEK Series Handheld enables you to track and train your dog simultaneously! Work up to 12 dogs simultaneously and know exactly where they are up to 7 miles away with the back-lit LCD screen—even in the darkest of nights. You can create “way-points” as you go to make back-tracking to camp or the quad a lot simpler and safer. It’s fully waterproof, and submersible in the murkiest swamp water up to 5 feet deep.
Tags: Dog Training
