Is it worth to invest on your dog’s training? Yes. Is it worth to invest big time? On some occasions no.

It is perfectly okay to buy very expensive dog collars if you fancy doing so. There are a lot of choices for you. Starting from stone studded collars to fashion dog collars, you can get anything by spending a fortune. However, for some owners it is never practical to spend so much for an item that could be obtained at a lot lower price with the fundamental functions.

Dog training could be pretty stressful especially if your dog is highly independent and has a high level of curiosity which tends to yield problem behaviors to owners.

After investing for your dog’s training without satisfactory results– including the emotional and financial investment- many owners tend to cut down from spending too much on other things that contribute nothing to improving the behavior of the dog. One good example is the dog training collar.

For many owners it does not make much sense if the dog does not respond well to training and its accessories especially when the dog has begun nibbling on the corners of the dog collar. What is more important to them is the improvement of the behavior and not really on how expensive or sophisticated the collar and other accessories look.

While dog collars are instrumental in gaining better control and lesser unwanted dog behaviors, the expensive ones could still dent the budget of the owner. This is the reason why many owners resort to buying cheap dog training collars as good alternatives without having to sacrifice the function of the item and without having to add to the financial burden.

To get a cheap collar with good value it is best to first evaluate the product before looking at how much it costs. It is a common mistake among buyers to use the cost as the basis for assessing the value of the item based on its function and reliability.

Cost is a good margin for getting the right collar but it should not affect the way one sees the item. For example, an excellent collar could give the best value at its lowest possible price. However, since it is tagged with a low price the buyer would immediately conclude that it does not perform well.

Remember, we were made to believe that price equals quality. Items at the lower end of pricing have lower quality while those having expensive tags have the best quality. This usually happens but it is not always the case. So be sure to find the best bargains at their best prices.

Advanced technology integrated into the collar could often command much higher prices. The popular electronic dog collar is a good candidate. The price of this collar runs anywhere from $100 to $999 depending on the types of features installed in the item. You can expect a lot higher prices when more advanced technologies are used in making the collar.

Dog collar can cost a few hundred dollars and many people find it very impractical to buy items with outrageous tag prices. So if you are someone wanting to be practical while trying to get a cheap dog training collar, it is best to do your homework.

Another form of reward is known as a secondary reinforcer. This is something your dog must learn to love and be motivated by. Praise is an excellent example. Puppies are not born loving a phrase such as “Good boy!” After all, that means nothing to them. They must learn to associate that noise with love.

A popular form of secondary reinforcement is clicker training. A clicker is a hand held device that makes a distinctive clicking sound. That sound is basically a substitute for verbal praise. When used properly, your dog will learn to associate the clicking sound with love. Personally I prefer using verbal praise and not a clicker, simply because your voice is something you’ll always have with you.

Consistency is the Key

The most effective way to train your dog is to use a combination of primary and secondary reinforcers that are consistent.

If you use your voice, for instance, choose a phrase and use it consistently to convey the same meaning. Dogs are not people, remember? Words are just noise to them. They have no idea that “Good girl,” “Great job,” “Way to go Molly” or other phrases all mean they did the right thing.  Pick your praise phrase, and make sure you (and any others in your family) use that exact phrase or word every single time.

Then, several times a day, say your praise word or phrase and immediately give your dog the primary reinforcer (such as the treat you know he loves).

Do about five repetitions, two or three times a day, for two days. You can also use your praise word or phrase when rubbing her belly, when she’s eating his dinner, or any other time you’re sure she’s enjoying something she loves. Within a few days, she’ll learn to love the secondary reinforcer (the praise phrase or word) and will be eager to hear you say it.

During early training, the combination of the primary and secondary reinforcers will be extremely powerful and effective… more so than using either form of motivation alone.

Treats Won’t be Needed Forever

Don’t worry that you’ll have to carry treats around in your pocket all the time to get your dog to behave. As your dog learns, his obedience will eventually become a habit. You won’t need to consistently use treats or other primary reinforcers for those behaviors beyond that point. You will need to use them consistently, however,  whenever teaching something new.

It will always be a good idea to continue using the secondary reinforcer.

After you figure out the form of reward, the second key to positive reinforcement is timing. This is critical during early training: you must give the reward immediately after your dog performs the correct action. This means within half-a-second – immediately! Your response to his correct action needs to be clear and it needs to be instant. If you pause in stunned amazement that he actually did something right, you need to quickly snap out of it.  If you give him a treat several seconds later, you’ve blown it. You must train yourself to deliver instant gratification to your dog. Do this consistently, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your dog learns.

Another important tip is don’t make your training lessons too long. Like humans, dogs can become bored by repetition. Bored students don’t learn very well and bored dogs do not either. So to keep the training sessions effective and don’t make them outlast your dog’s attention span.

Each dog is different, so you’ll need to be alert and notice when his attention starts wandering. Begin with a 10-minute session and see how that goes. Shorten it if necessary. Never make it last longer than 15 minutes. Repeating a short session two or three times a day will be much more effective than having one long session each day.

Keep in mind that you too will most likely get more impatient and maybe even grouch if the session goes to long. Your dog is tired or bored, you are grouchy and impatient, and the two do not mix. Don’t drag it out. Quit and play with your dog. Have some fun and you both will be happier.

Your first task is to figure out what kind of reward will best motivate your dog.

Food Treats

All dogs are unique individuals. Most dogs are motivated by food that tastes and smells good to them. Food treats can be very small, which is handy for keeping them in your pocket or a pouch to use during training—and most importantly,  helping to  maintain your dog’s caloric intake to healthy levels.

Be certaine what you’re giving your dog is good for him. Now don’t rely on the packing of store-bought treats to tell you “Your dog will love it!” Strong-smelling meat and cheese treats are usually winners, but many store-bought treats are made primarily of other ingredients. Your dog may not appreciate artificial colors, tastes or smells, so be sure to read the label.

Small morsels of cooked chicken are a very popular home-made treat. But keep in mind that what motivates other dogs may not motivate yours. Experiment and find out what he loves to eat. Buy a small amount first and see if your dog likes it or rejects it.

Non-Edible Rewards

Maybe dog isn’t motivated by food? You’ll have to find something else that motivates him. You may think a couple of pats on the head are a great reward, but your dog may not.  In fact, he might not even like it!  Try scratching his belly or some other form of petting.  Once again, you need to experiment to find out what your dog loves.

Another form of reward that might work is play. Tossing a ball, playing tug-of-war, or playfully chasing your dog for a few minutes may be his idea of heaven.

The Best Reward

Let your dog show you what he truly loves. He’ll do this with his reaction to the reward you offer. Your job is to pay attention to how he responds. Just because he accepts a piece of kibble doesn’t necessarily mean he loves it. Watch him carefully when you’re giving him a treat. If he looks away or walks away, he probably isn’t all that thrilled about what you’re offering. But if he gets excited, stays close and begs for more, he’s showing you that he loves it and will be willing to work for that reward in the future.

When you first begin to train your dog or puppy, it is highly recommend you try using a food treat as the reward. It’s the easiest to work with and gets the fastest results … just make sure your dog really likes it!

There are some rules you will need to follow once you decide to begin the training. These are important. They are also proven.

1. Be patient. Each dog is unique, and can only learn at his own pace. Some dogs learn quickly; others take more time. Patience is, without a doubt, a virtue when it comes to effective dog training!
2. Be kind. This goes hand-in-paw with “Be patient.” Don’t lose your temper if your dog doesn’t “get it” right away, or seems to be ignoring you. You do not want to punish your dog for not learning quickly enough. Actually, many dog trainers will tell you that you don’t punish your dog at all. There are other more effective ways to stop or prevent inappropriate behavior—without punishment.
3. Be flexible. If your dog is struggling to learn, be willing to change your training routine. The location may be too distracting. The time of day may be too close (or far away from) feeding time. The length of your training session may be too long or too short. The training exercises may need to be broken down into smaller, simpler steps. It is important to remember that each dog is unique. Be flexible and willing to do whatever you can to help your dog succeed.
4. Be generous. Be generous with your rewards and your time. Always reward your dog’s correct responses generously. Don’t be stingy with the treats — he’s worked hard and deserves a generous reward! And be certain to commit ample time to your training lessons. We’re all busy these days, but this is “quality time” for you and your dog. You’ll both enjoy and benefit from the lessons, so make sure your schedule is adjusted accordingly!

I’ve had 4 dogs in my lifetime so I know training a puppy or a dog can become pretty frustrating. My first couple dogs – I didn’t do that very well and regret losing my temper along the way.

Even though it is frustrating and time consuming, it can also be very rewarding when it pays off. Follow some of the lessons you learn from me and you might also consider some of the various product out there that can cut your training time considerably.

If I recommend something to you, rest assured it is because I feel it will be of great assistance in getting that puppy or dog trained correctly.