Re: [pyrnet] shock collars and calling dogs

[Reedialer1@aol.com]

i think i will try the citronella collar first and see how that goes. i saw 
one yesterday in a doggy catalog (i get soooo many of those). 
  as far as coming when called is concerned, when i first got mellow i 
practiced with him a zillion times a day and ALWAYS gave him some food when 
he came to me. i would stand and use a motion of my arm sweeping from out to 
my right, back against my body and say in my perkiest voice, "COME!" and look 
VERY happy.  when he would turn or even start toward me i would say "good 
boy, come"  again and then when he gets to me he sits in front of me and gets 
his treat. we "practice"  this informally still at different times, never 
more than once.  i may be anywhere in the house or yard and i will say his 
name and call him and then reward him. after i grab his collar and give him 
the food i release him to go and do what he wants.  i guess i am a fanatic 
about this because i also have to rescue greyhounds and there is NO WAY to 
get a grey back that wont come, these dogs accelerate to 43 miles per hour in 
4 strides!  i have practiced with the greys also almost every day.  i dont 
know if it would work if they were to be chasing a cat or squirrel but i dont 
use it then because i dont believe in asking a dog to do something you KNOW 
he wont do and then it proves to them that they dont have to do it when you 
cant enforce it. so far it has worked for both greys and pyrs even in the 
fenced ballfield where i let them lose to run. but so far, ha ha, doesnt mean 
i trust them one hair's worth, though! i always think of it as a 'better than 
nothing' measure.