Home

Obedience Training with the Tri-Tronics Remote Trainer

Teach the Command First Top

To get the best results when you start using a Remote Trainer, we recommend you teach the command first with a leash and check cord (a 20 to 30 foot rope, or "long line" as it's sometimes called), before you start using a Remote Trainer. After your dog understands what you expect him to do, he is ready to learn that the Remote Trainer can also reinforce your command, instead of the leash or check cord, and he'll learn quickly how to respond to the Remote Trainer. However, he doesn't need to be letter perfect on the command when you introduce the Remote Trainer. In fact, it can be better if he isn't.

You may want to consider ordering the BASIC TRAINING video (with the Tri-Tronics Electronic Collar) to augment the information provided below. If you decide to order a Tri-Tronics Remote Trainer, this video is included with the trainer, at no additional cost. Or the video can be ordered separately (videos can not be returned for a refund).

Before Using the Remote Trainer Top

Prior to commencing obedience training with the Remote Trainer, it is very important that you select the appropriate intensity level for your dog. The correct intensity for training is normally one that will motivate the dog, but not overwhelm him. Dogs are like people in that they all have individual sensitivity levels. Also, different types of training call for different levels of intensity. Additional information (tips) is provided with the Tri-Tronics Remote Trainer unit.

The "COME" Command with the Remote Trainer Top

To introduce the Remote Trainer for the "COME" command, combine the stimulus from the Remote Trainer with another form of correction the dog already understands, such as your tug with a check cord (long line). When the dog has made this connection, stop using the check cord and use only the Remote Trainer.

Find an area that is free of distractions like other dogs, children playing, family members, etc.

Procedure for introducing the Remote Trainer with the "COME" command:

Put your dog, wearing his Remote Trainer, on a 20 - 30 foot check cord. Let your dog wander around and relax.
Remind the dog one time about the check cord correction before you use the Remote Trainer. Call the dog and give a light pull on the check cord so that he turns and comes to you.
Let the dog wander off and relax again. Call the dog when he is looking away from you, and press the button of your Remote Trainer at the same time. Give a light pull on the check cord, causing the dog to turn toward you.
Release the stimulation the moment he turns and starts to come.
Praise him for turning and starting to come.
If he doesn't come all the way, press the button again as you call him again. Tug the check cord again.
Release the dog after he's come to you, and let him wander around and relax.
Repeat steps 3 - 7 a few times. Then end the session with some play time.
When you see the dog consistently responding just to the Remote Trainer stimulus by turning promptly and not needing the pull on the check cord, stop using the check cord. He no longer needs the guidance from it. You should see this behavior in your dog by at least the third session. Some dogs will respond even sooner.
Also at this time, you should stop using stimulation with the first command. From now on only use stimulation if the dog ignores your first command to come.

Now that your dog understands how to "turn off" the Remote Trainer by turning and coming toward you when you call, it is time to introduce distractions. Have sessions on "COME" in other training areas, and around gradually increasing levels of distraction.

When training "COME" around distractions, always give the dog one chance to respond to your command without pressing the button. Only use stimulation if the dog ignores the first command. Also be prepared to increase the intensity somewhat to overcome a distraction.

Always release the stimulation the moment the dog starts to come. If he doesn't come all the way or slows down and gets distracted, press the button again as you give another command to "COME".

The "SIT" Command with the Remote Trainer Top

Your dog should have already learned the "SIT" command before you introduce the Remote Trainer for reinforcing "SIT". If your dog doesn't already know the "SIT" command a procedure for teaching it is included in the Tri-Tronics Basic Training video.

For your initial training on "SIT" with the Remote Trainer, it's best to start in a training area that is already familiar to your dog from having done other training there. This area should be free from distractions like other dogs, children playing, family members, etc.

Procedure for introducing the Remote Trainer with the "SIT" command:

With your dog on leash and at your side, walk forward a few steps and come to a stop, giving the "SIT" command. Doing this at the start of the session without the Remote Trainer reminds your dog about the "SIT" command.
Repeat step 1, but this time after you say "SIT", press the continuous button on your Remote Trainer, then say "SIT" again.
Use upward pressure with the leash if you need to, to help the dog sit.
Release the stimulation the moment the dog sits, and praise him.
If he gets up before you release him, press the button again as you command "SIT". Release the stimulation when he sits back down.
Release the dog from his sit after a few moments, and walk him to a new place in the training area.
Repeat steps 2 - 6 a few times. Then end the session with some play time.
When you see the dog anticipating the "SIT" command by watching to see when you'll stop, maybe even dropping his rear as he walks (he is trying to "beat" the stimulation by being all ready to sit), he is ready to move on to distraction training. You should see this behavior in your dog by at least the third session. Some dogs will respond even sooner.

Now that your dog understands how to "turn off" the Remote Trainer by sitting quickly on command, it is time to introduce distractions and expect him to stay sitting even when distracted. Train "SIT" in other training areas and around gradually increasing levels of distraction. Having an assistant introduce mild distractions can be very helpful. During distraction training, correct the dog with the Remote Trainer if he responds to a distraction by standing up or moving away from where he was sitting.

Procedure for Distraction Training with the "SIT" command:

Have the dog at your side, on a check cord, and give the "SIT" command without pressing the Remote Trainer button.
After the dog is sitting, introduce the mild distraction.
If the dog moves, press the Remote Trainer button as you give the "SIT" command.
Release the stimulation as the dog sits back down.
If the dog won't sit back down, use your check cord and repeat your "SIT" command to get him to sit.
Calmly praise the dog when you see him make the right choice and resist the temptation to move!
Gradually increase the level of distractions.

Now that your dog understands the Remote Trainer correction with the "SIT" command and has had distraction training, he is ready to learn to sit at a distance from you. This is called the "remote sit." It is a very useful command, but it can be hard for some dogs to learn, because they want to come and be with you.

Note that your dog should already have been taught this skill without the Remote Trainer before you proceed with the lesson described below. If your dog hasn't already had this lesson, a procedure for teaching it is included in the Tri-Tronics BASIC TRAINING video.

Procedure for Remote "SIT" Training after the dog has been taught the Remote "SIT" without the Remote Trainer:

Put your dog on a check cord and let him wander about 8 to 10 feet away from you.
Give the "SIT" command.
If the dog sits, praise him, then walk over to him and release him and start another repetition.
If he does not sit immediately, repeat the "SIT" command and give a quick tap with the stimulation button.
Do NOT let the dog take any steps toward you before he sits. Walk toward him and have him sit.
During initial sessions, always walk over to your dog to release him rather than calling him to you. Later, when he is more experienced at the remote sit, you can release him or call him to you from a distance.

The "HEEL" Command with the Remote Trainer Top

Your dog should have already learned how to heel on leash before you introduce the Remote Trainer for reinforcing "HEEL." If your dog doesn't already know how to heel, a procedure for teaching it is included in the Tri-Tronics BASIC TRAINING video.

To introduce the Remote Trainer for the "HEEL" command, combine the stimulus from the Remote Trainer with gentle tugs on the leash, which is another form of correction the dog already understands. Use the intensity level you've pre-selected for your dog. You will use a quick "tap-and-release" of continuous stimulation for the initial lessons, or you may prefer to use momentary stimulation. Find an area that is free of distractions like other dogs, children playing, family members, etc.

Procedure for introducing the Remote Trainer with the "HEEL" command:

Begin heeling the dog on leash, and correct him a few times when needed, using the leash only.
Continue heeling and now, when a correction is needed, correct with both the leash and the Remote Trainer simultaneously. Use a quick "tap-and-release" of the Remote Trainer button at the same time that you correct quickly with the leash.
As the next step, correct with the Remote Trainer alone, without using a leash correction, but correct only when the dog is four or more feet out of heel position. For smaller errors, correct only with the leash.
As the dog gains experience, you can correct with the Remote Trainer for the smaller errors, too.
Praise your dog enthusiastically for moving into heel position even when you have corrected him.
Have sessions on heeling in different areas, and gradually increase the distractions.
When you see that the dog needs very few corrections, remove the leash and use only the Remote Trainer for corrections on "HEEL". Now your dog can become really reliable at heeling off-leash.

The "DOWN" Command with the Remote Trainer Top

Your dog should have already learned the "DOWN" command before you introduce the Remote Trainer for reinforcing "DOWN." If your dog doesn't already know the "DOWN" command, a procedure for teaching it is included in the Tri-Tronics BASIC TRAINING video.

To introduce the Remote Trainer for the "DOWN" command, combine the stimulus from the Remote Trainer with another form of correction the dog already understands: typically this will be a downward tug with your leash.

Use the intensity level you've pre-selected for your dog. Use continuous stimulation for the initial lessons. If your dog is very sensitive, you may prefer to use a series of taps of momentary stimulation.

For your initial training on "DOWN" with the Remote Trainer, go to a training area that is already familiar to your dog from having done other training there.

Procedure for introducing the Remote Trainer with the "DOWN" command:

Have your dog on leash, and in a sitting position.
Command "DOWN" and press the button on the Remote Trainer.
At the same time, guide the dog down with your leash.
Release both the stimulation and the leash pressure the moment the dog lies down, and praise him.
If the dog gets up before you release him, press the button again as you command "DOWN." Release the button when he lies back down, and praise him.
Release the dog and move to a new place in the training area and repeat steps 1 - 5.
End the session with some play time.
When you see the dog anticipating the "DOWN" command and lying down very quickly (he's trying to "beat" the stimulation), he is ready to move on to distraction training. Generally you should see this behavior in your dog by the second session on "DOWN."

Now that your dog understands how to "turn off" the Remote Trainer by lying down quickly on command, and how to keep it turned off by staying down, it is time to introduce distractions. Train "DOWN" in other training areas, and around gradually increasing levels of distraction. Having an assistant introduce mild distractions can be very helpful.

Procedure for Distraction Training with the "DOWN" command:

Have the dog on a check cord, and give the "DOWN" command.
After the dog is lying down, introduce the mild distraction.
If the dog moves, correct with the Remote Trainer as you give the "DOWN" command.
Gradually increase the level of distractions.
When the dog responds reliably to the corrections, remove the check cord and use the Remote Trainer only.
Praise when your dog resists a temptation and stays lying down.

Using the No-Stimulation Signal Tone for training Top

Several models of Remote Trainers come with an independent no-stimulation signal tone. This feature has various possible uses.

Two ways the Signal Tone can be used:

As "praise" for the dog, signaling him at a distance that his decision or action was correct.
OR as a substitute for a verbal or whistle command.

Before you can use the tone, you must follow a conditioning process with your dog. The process will give the tone a certain meaning to the dog.

Conditioning the Tone as Praise:

First introduce it during play, and other things he enjoys. This step gets the dog used to the tone.
After he is used to the tone, watch for situations in training when he naturally feels successful. Press the tone button at these times, so that the dog associates the tone with his feelings of success.
Also watch for situations in which you could normally praise the dog during training. Use the tone a second or two before giving verbal praise.
After the dog has made this association, you can use the tone during training to signal him when he is correct.
Avoid wiping out the praising power of the tone by following it shortly by a reprimand or correction. The tone should signal to the dog that he made a correct decision and can therefore relax.

Alternatively, you can train your dog to understand that the tone means the same thing as a verbal or whistle command. It can be useful when verbal or whistle commands might not be heard because of distance. Also, you can use it when you don?t want others around you to hear the command.

Here is a procedure to train the dog that the tone means the same as the "COME" command. You can substitute the command of your choice for "COME" so long as it is one that the dog already knows and can be reinforced with your Remote Trainer. Don't expect the dog to learn that the tone means many different commands. It is usually best to reserve it to mean just one command.

Conditioning the dog that the Tone means "COME":

After the dog has been introduced to the Remote Trainer with the "COME" command, begin pressing the tone button just before you give the command to come. For several sessions, do this every time you call the dog.
After several sessions, use only the tone to call the dog. If he does not respond right away, immediately reinforce a verbal "COME" command with a Remote Trainer (you must release the tone button before activating stimulation.)
You can now use either the tone or your verbal command to "COME." They both mean the same thing to the dog.

The training information provided in this Remote Trainer series is abstracted from the BASIC TRAINING WITH THE TRI-TRONICS ELECTRONIC COLLAR booklet provided with Tri-Tronic Remote Trainers. Tri-Tronics, Inc. owns the copyright for this information (all rights reserved), and has graciously granted permission for us to provide it to you.

FREE SHIPPING!
for orders over $99