E-collar Course: Quiz #1

This quiz is for students of the Thriving Canine E-collar Course. I strongly believe that E-collar training should never be taught without in-person coaching, therefore, nothing I share regarding E-collars is intended to be used as a D.I.Y. training program. It is only intended to be food for thought or supplementary to in-person training with Thriving Canine. Before reading this, or anything else I share on E-collars, please watch this video to get a foundational idea of my E-collar philosophy.  Chad's E-collar on Vimeo

1. Collar wiseness means the dog has become aware of the E-collar and/or the handheld transmitter. 
   1. ​True
   2. False 
2. Collar wiseness is great because the dog behaves better just by having the collar on.
   1. ​True
   2. False
3. The best way to introduce the E-collar is by using continuous, low-level stim over multiple commands. 
   1. ​True
   2. False 
4. The purpose of the E-collar is to provide the highest level of freedom, safety & control. 
   1. ​True 
   2. False
5. The beauty of the E-collar is it can stop unwanted behaviors without the hassle of training the dog or fulfilling the dog’s needs. 
   1. ​True
   2. False 
6. It is generally a good idea to start with minimal distractions so you can use low-level stim to condition the dog to the E-collar. 
   1. ​True 
   2. False 
7. We use low-level conditioning to teach the dog to “Look” when they feel it.
   1. ​True 
   2. False 
8. E-collars were being developed in the 1950-60s but didn’t start getting good until the 1990s. 
   1. ​True 
   2. False  
9. The E-collar should be layered over known commands rather than for teaching something new. 
   1. ​True
   2. False
10. The E-collar is the best tool because it is the harshest, most painful punishment available. 
    1. ​True
    2. False 
11. The dog should be settled down, adjusted to the environment and in a cooperative state when first conditioning to the E-collar. 
    1. ​True
    2. False 
12. E-collars are often better than old school, traditional methods because they ____.
    1. ​are more accurate
    2. are more efficient
    3. are less harsh
    4. can be associated with behaviors, areas or objects rather than the trainer. 
    5. All of the above
    6. None of the above

Answers: 

1. Collar wiseness means the dog has become aware of the E-collar and/or the handheld transmitter. ​True
2. Collar wiseness is great because the dog behaves better just by having the collar on. False - It may be true that the dog behaves better with the E-collar on but this is BAD because the magic has been lost and the dog will be less well behaved when the collar comes off.  
3. The best way to introduce the E-collar is by using continuous, low-level stim over multiple commands. False - I only mention this because it has become a common practice but I do not think it is good. We will only be introducing the E-collar with the dog’s name and for Leave It. This can be discussed at great length, let me know if you have questions. 
4. The purpose of the E-collar is to provide the highest level of freedom, safety & control. True - in exchange for an occasional microsecond of discomfort, the dog can have a lifetime of off-leash freedom and we can avoid the hazards of letting an untrained, uncontrollable dog off-leash…such as running into the street.    
5. The beauty of the E-collar is it can stop unwanted behaviors without the hassle of training the dog or fulfilling the dog’s needs. True - I wouldn’t call it “beautiful” but it can be done in an emergency or in desperate situations. However, people who use the E-collar only to stop unwanted behaviors are often trying to suppress the behavior of an unfulfilled and untrained dog rather than take the time to care for the dog properly. This class is designed for people who want something greater than that. (see previous question)   
6. It is generally a good idea to start with minimal distractions so you can use low-level stim to condition the dog to the E-collar. True  
7. We use low-level conditioning to teach the dog to “Look” when they feel it. True - That’s it, just look and get a reward, no sit, no down, no place, make it super-fast and easy to get that positive association going. Once the dog gives you attention, the rest is easy. 
8. E-collars were being developed in the 1950-60s but didn’t start getting good until the 1990s. True - The microchip, it was a game changer. 
9. The E-collar should be layered over known commands rather than for teaching something new. True
10. The E-collar is the best tool because it is the harshest, most painful punishment available. False - It is not the harshest punishment available and looking for the harshest punishment is the wrong mindset in the first place.  
11. The dog should be settled down, adjusted to the environment and in a cooperative state when first conditioning to the E-collar. True 
12. E-collars are often better than old school, traditional methods because they ____. All of the above - assuming it is used correctly.