Lachlan is 10 1/2 months. We did the Good Puppy course at Wonder Puppy when he was little. He's smart and follows commands when he's interested in getting a treat. We love to take him hiking off leash and I want to work on his recall. When he senses a dog on the trail he takes off...could be a mile away. I'm thinking we need a method involving more than just positive/treat training (eCollar) and something like a whistle for when he's out of voice range.

Someone recommended the Koehler method but nothing turns up when I search this forum. Time is at a premium for us with 2 working parent and 2 teenage boys but we're determined to get on some more training.

This thread has a nice breakdown on how others have started their recall work with an ecollar.

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t13071-e-collar-usage-for-our-husky?highlight=shock+collar

This thread has some nice video links.

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t16764-e-collar-usage?highlight=shock+collar

I personally don't use an e-collar but have thought about it for one of my dogs as his recall is beyond horrible. All of my dogs are on leash 100% of the time and if they are off leash then there's been an accident. Even once you get solid with the e-collar stay aware of how far you let your dog get. Some e-collars will reach out nearly a mile but please keep your dog closer. Here starts my good neighbor spiel: As someone who has a dog aggressive dog and runs into off leash dogs that are out of their owner's view more often than I would like, keep your dog close. The most solid recall won't save a dog from something about to hurt them if the dog is too far away for you to know you need to call them back to you.

lI use an ecollar and sometimes walk the dogs off leash in our 25 acre woods. BUT...as Jenn says, I keep them close, watch them like a hawk and as soon as I see prey behavior (momentary stop or ears perked up or poised to run or...if I see the prey before they do) then, call them and if no response, hit them with a high correction. I do not want to be chasing dogs all over heck and gone!

Hi guys, I'm a super rookie when it comes to huskies and dog training. My last love was a yellow lab and she never would leave my side, at least not out of sight, and never wore a collar or leash. Bohdi is my new life partner, is only six weeks old and only goes out with his collar and leash on due to all the literature I've read about them bolting. He seems to be a natural at this age, won't walk in front of me on out very short forays, doesn't pull yet, or chew on the leash. But he's also a super small baby boy and only home so far for less than 48 hours. So things will obviously change.
Where I was going with all this is that I've read a few places that Huskies and e-collars don't go well together because of their independent personality and they take offense.
Sounds like that's not the case with all as each is unique. How'd Amy take it initially? and does she realize you're the one correcting from afar you think? Just curious, I think I'm going to need all the ideas I can get. Bohdi has trouble written all over him

Welcome to the forum Harvey! My best suggestion is to wait until he is older, closer to a year and then revisit the e-collar question. It is considered an aversive training tool, and you definitely want to find out what type of personality he has and if he will actually need one for training. Most dogs in general respond best to positive training techniques. I use an e-collar for my husky mix girl, but my gsd I haven't her personality is not suitable for one. As far as corrections are concerned and if Miya knows I am the one giving it to her, no she doesn't and that is part of the training, you don't want them to know it's you. Before deciding, and you do have several months before making the decision, I would read Lou Castle's http://www.loucastle.com/

Thanks for the response and the welcome Renee,
I'll read Lou Castle for sure as I have lots of time hanging with my "new born" LOL. Any other suggested readings for young puppy work are always appreciated. If that's Miya as your avatar, I can see her independent nature right away! What a good licker! Thanks again - Harvey & Bohdi

Thanks all! I've studied up on all the videos and links and I'm excited to integrate this tool into our training. I looking at SportDog collars where I can get a discount. The rep recommended the SD-825 with 1/2 mile range. Lachlan has a really thick coat and neck and this one has extensions for the contact points.

I'll be ordering soon so if anyone thinks this is not a good choice please let me know.

Thanks!
--Jason

The sport dog doses not have enough levels to fine tune. You are quite likely to find one level not enough and the next level too high. I started with a sport dog and returned it. My other major complaint with the sport dog is that, at least the model I had, stated it had 14 levels. Well, it had 7 levels each on a low range and a high range and changing between levels was cumbersome. Especially when a squirrel or such was involved.

Ideally, you would use an ecollar that had 100 levels or more. I use an ecollar technologies mini educator and love it. Fits well in my hand, intuitive to use, rechargeable and customer support is excellent.