Electronic Training Collars (or E-collars)
There are three different types of electronic training collars. There are those with a remote control for use by the owner during training sessions and there are those designed to automatically correct problem barking and there are those attached to an invisible fencing system.
I do not believe that remote trainers are necessary for most types of training. I do feel they are useful when teaching a dog to avoid dangers like rattlesnakes or electric fences. These needs are specific. Otherwise I do not like aversive methods for training a dog because they are generally not efficient and can cause problems between dog and handler.
Invisible Fencing
This seems to work for some people but both my neighbors have them and both of their dogs still can be regularly found in my yard (usually pooping). The batteries die or the dog simply learns to duck through and take the correction but freedom is on the other side.
I do not think they are a good alternative to a fence and they will not protect your dog from traffic. But when a fence is simply not an option they are better than nothing. I still would not leave a dog unattended in a yard enclosed only by an invisible fence.
Barking Collars
Due to the hunting background of the cocker sometimes the cockapoo can really love to bark. While this should really never be yapping it can most certainly be annoying!
I recommend this bark-control collar only when you are absolutely positive that the dog is not barking because he is anxious or needs something. If a dog is under-exercised or is having separation anxiety issues (common reasons for excessive barking across all breeds) the fix is to work on those underlying problems to change the dog's state of mind.
An anxious dog needs to learn to associate being left alone with positive experiences. Using a correction collar on him during this time will make the anxiety worse, even if it effectively stops the barking. A dog with anxiety that cannot relieve his stress (a little) by barking will find other ways to relieve that stress. This can include digging, destroying your property or even harming himself.
But a dog that is barking because he likes the sound of his own voice can only be corrected with a static collar. There is no other way to prevent this type of dog from barking (unless he is leashed and next to you, then you can stop the barking sometimes).
Some dogs bark because they are excited (to see you, to see dinner, to see a friend coming to the door). This excited type of barking can be very high-pitched and particularly annoying. And other dogs might bark at squirrels, cats, birds or at the blowing wind. I also believe some dogs are simply more vocal than others and simply like to bark.
Barking is natural and normal for a dog and habitual problem barking can occur (and does) in every breed of dog. The cockapoo is not more prone to problem barking than the average dog breed. They should not be a "yappy" dog that is barking excessively in a rapid, high-pitched and territorial way. They tend to bark more at activity and for the fun of barking in general or in response to a neighbor's dog.
I do not believe that remote trainers are necessary for most types of training. I do feel they are useful when teaching a dog to avoid dangers like rattlesnakes or electric fences. These needs are specific. Otherwise I do not like aversive methods for training a dog because they are generally not efficient and can cause problems between dog and handler.
Invisible Fencing
This seems to work for some people but both my neighbors have them and both of their dogs still can be regularly found in my yard (usually pooping). The batteries die or the dog simply learns to duck through and take the correction but freedom is on the other side.
I do not think they are a good alternative to a fence and they will not protect your dog from traffic. But when a fence is simply not an option they are better than nothing. I still would not leave a dog unattended in a yard enclosed only by an invisible fence.
Barking Collars
Due to the hunting background of the cocker sometimes the cockapoo can really love to bark. While this should really never be yapping it can most certainly be annoying!
I recommend this bark-control collar only when you are absolutely positive that the dog is not barking because he is anxious or needs something. If a dog is under-exercised or is having separation anxiety issues (common reasons for excessive barking across all breeds) the fix is to work on those underlying problems to change the dog's state of mind.
An anxious dog needs to learn to associate being left alone with positive experiences. Using a correction collar on him during this time will make the anxiety worse, even if it effectively stops the barking. A dog with anxiety that cannot relieve his stress (a little) by barking will find other ways to relieve that stress. This can include digging, destroying your property or even harming himself.
But a dog that is barking because he likes the sound of his own voice can only be corrected with a static collar. There is no other way to prevent this type of dog from barking (unless he is leashed and next to you, then you can stop the barking sometimes).
Some dogs bark because they are excited (to see you, to see dinner, to see a friend coming to the door). This excited type of barking can be very high-pitched and particularly annoying. And other dogs might bark at squirrels, cats, birds or at the blowing wind. I also believe some dogs are simply more vocal than others and simply like to bark.
Barking is natural and normal for a dog and habitual problem barking can occur (and does) in every breed of dog. The cockapoo is not more prone to problem barking than the average dog breed. They should not be a "yappy" dog that is barking excessively in a rapid, high-pitched and territorial way. They tend to bark more at activity and for the fun of barking in general or in response to a neighbor's dog.
This collar is great because it allows you to use vibration instead of a static correction if you want to. It has a gentle static correction (yes, I absolutely tried it on myself) and it has a progressive feature that stimulates the dog only as much as necessary.
It is fully waterproof so you can send them outside to potty in the rain without worrying about ruining the collar or hurting your dog.
It has an automatic shut off feature if the dog just won't stop barking. This prevents the collar from over-correcting when perhaps the dog is barking due to a genuine problem (the only time a dog will not stop barking despite a correction is when something is really wrong and requires immediate attention).
The collar cannot be left on the dog day and night or the small prongs may rub on the dog's skin excessively and cause an abrasion or pressure sore. The collar shouldn't be left on the dog for more than 8 hours total.
Usually a dog will get one or two corrections with this collar and will quickly learn that when this collar is on he should not bark unless he feels it is truly necessary. And the dog doesn't forget. Every time you have to bring out the collar he will know barky-time is over and will get quiet.
But he may start barking again when the collar is removed (he's no dummy). I have often heard from friends and trainers that they use the collar on the dog without batteries or without it being charged because they don't need to anymore. The dog will stop barking just because the collar is simply on them. One company even makes a "dummy" collar so you don't have to risk your expensive collar for wear while you're away at work and cannot supervise the dog wearing the collar.
I have used several types of these collars for my stud dogs. Unfortunately when you separate a female in heat from her mate he will object quite a bit. This situation is a tough one because there is no way to correct it without giving the male his mate. Since I must allow the females to have a resting period between litters I have to separate the two. The female doesn't mind a bit but the stud is certainly unhappy about the whole thing.
He will bark even with me standing right next to him. These collars are an instant-fix to the problem. We also use extra exercise during this time to help distract our poor male's one-track mind :-)
A dog that likes barking because he loves his own voice or gets overly excited to see you, loves chasing squirrels, birds, cats and just barks at the wind in the trees... these dogs are very successfully trained with this collar in only one session.
It is fully waterproof so you can send them outside to potty in the rain without worrying about ruining the collar or hurting your dog.
It has an automatic shut off feature if the dog just won't stop barking. This prevents the collar from over-correcting when perhaps the dog is barking due to a genuine problem (the only time a dog will not stop barking despite a correction is when something is really wrong and requires immediate attention).
The collar cannot be left on the dog day and night or the small prongs may rub on the dog's skin excessively and cause an abrasion or pressure sore. The collar shouldn't be left on the dog for more than 8 hours total.
Usually a dog will get one or two corrections with this collar and will quickly learn that when this collar is on he should not bark unless he feels it is truly necessary. And the dog doesn't forget. Every time you have to bring out the collar he will know barky-time is over and will get quiet.
But he may start barking again when the collar is removed (he's no dummy). I have often heard from friends and trainers that they use the collar on the dog without batteries or without it being charged because they don't need to anymore. The dog will stop barking just because the collar is simply on them. One company even makes a "dummy" collar so you don't have to risk your expensive collar for wear while you're away at work and cannot supervise the dog wearing the collar.
I have used several types of these collars for my stud dogs. Unfortunately when you separate a female in heat from her mate he will object quite a bit. This situation is a tough one because there is no way to correct it without giving the male his mate. Since I must allow the females to have a resting period between litters I have to separate the two. The female doesn't mind a bit but the stud is certainly unhappy about the whole thing.
He will bark even with me standing right next to him. These collars are an instant-fix to the problem. We also use extra exercise during this time to help distract our poor male's one-track mind :-)
A dog that likes barking because he loves his own voice or gets overly excited to see you, loves chasing squirrels, birds, cats and just barks at the wind in the trees... these dogs are very successfully trained with this collar in only one session.