Dog Training And Electronic Shock Collars
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There are many training options to get your dog to walk on loose leash, and some options work better than others. Regardless of which option you choose, there are definite rules that you should adhere to:
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- I would start by putting him on a really long leash - something like 5 or 6 yards of clothes line. Take him somewhere secure and fenced in and take with you a bag of treats. Loose the line as if he was being let off the leash and almost immediately call him back and give a little tug on the line to make him stop. Keep calling him and pull the line in till he gets back to you. Then praise him and give him a treat. Repeat this several times until he starts to get the idea.
After a while (this could be several days/weeks depending on your dog and time committments) let him off the line in the secure fenced area. Rustle the treat bag while you call him back close enough to hold his collar. Praise him, give him a treat and let him go away again. If you put him straight back on the leash he will associate coming back with being restrained. you want him to associate it with praise and treats.
Keep doing this until he is recall trained. If necessary go back to using the long line to remind him what you want. When it comes to letting him off somewhere new, I'd be inclined to use the long line to begin with.
Good luck. - This is going to be very difficult with the Beagle part of him. He was bred for hunting small animals. It's in his blood which makes the training harder, however with consistent training, not impossible. You'll want to start with the "leave it" command. Use his favorite things (such as food, toys, etc), walk him past it on leash and as soon as he starts to look at it, give a gentle correction and say "leave it". Do this every chance you get until he gets the idea. Once he has that down, expand to a longer lead (I use a 10 - 16 foot) and repeat the process. This gives him the feeling of freedom while keeping you in control. Use it in the house while off lead as well. Take walks on lead and use the command "leave it" when he shows interest in other animals. He may never be completely reliable off lead due to his breed, so for his safety, you may want to confine his off-lead time to a fenced enclosure.
Good luck. - Obedience training class might help to refocus him on watching you at all times for signals, but at that age you might be better hiring a dog trainer as that mix is sure to be both intelligent and single minded.
In the meantime try taking his favourite squeaky toy out with you in order to redirect his attention to coming back to your call. Also have some of his very favourite treats with you and let him know you have them before he runs away off leash. You might need to condition him for a while on a long extending lead or rope in a park or other safe place (never use an extending lead on the road, they can wrench it out of your grip, twirl and get caught up with disastrous results).
I have often found that when you make friends with another dog and it's owner, then your own dog is much keener to keep an eye on you. - No dog, especially a herding or prey animal should ever be allowed off leash until it has the emergency recall command mastered 100%. This can not only save another animals but save your dogs life. Practice around your house first (I use a 30 foot training lead) where the dog is most familiar. This is one of those commands that can not be a "once in a while does it right" thing. You must make this the most important command your dog ever uses. Start close. Give a command that you don't normally use like come....try "here" , "home", or any other easy to use one syllable word and only use it for instant recall (you can use the come word for every day use but it is equally important to use. The second your dog comes to you reward it like you have never rewarded anything else. This is used for emergency recall only and if you over use it then it will loose its effectiveness.
Practice this 2-3 times a day until the dog can go to the end of the 30 feet and instantly come. Start backing off to 1x a day then 1x a week to 1 x a month....keep up with practicing the everyday "come" and praise word. Move to a large outside area and practice....use the come word and only use praise as a reward, save the recall word and use the yummiest food treats your dog has ever seen. Only use it once a day to start then back off that as well. Your dog should be associating come as a great thing and will come 95-100% of the time the moment you call him but as soon as you use your recall word it will associate it to the greatest thing since chasing rabbits. This is why you make it the one word that in an emergency or to call your dog off running away you can save it. Every time you use this recall it will loose effectiveness so spare it.
If you have been practicing daily the normal "come" command your dog should be very proficient in listening and responding immediately. My aussie got to put this to the test when her snap came off and she took off after some geese. I was so amazed that she stopped dead in her tracks and ran back to my side. I didn't have her great treats but I made it a huge deal for her and praised the heck out of her. Good luck, shepherds are amazing and beagles are challenging so be patient and consistent and you should have great responses from him.
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