Off-Leash Freedom

The wide-open world awaits.

Let’s face it, we’ve all seen (or been) that person who has let their dog off-leash before they were ready. It’s understandable— innocent, really. Give them a taste of freedom to let them run and play in a park or on a trail. What’s the harm?

It’s all fun and games until you decide it’s time to leave. Or worse, they’ve discovered something far more interesting and are leaving you.

Your dog’s name is called to no avail. Mountains of treats are promised to get you close enough to grab their collar. But of course, they slip away and the chase ensues.

What started off as good intentions could quickly turn dangerous (or even deadly) with the wrong set of circumstances. The heart of the matter is off-leash freedom is an earned privilege. If you want your furry companion to join you on the hiking trails or be able to play ball without chasing down every dog in sight, proper recall must be established.

E-Collar Technology

Owners often hesitate when they consider using a dog training collar because they mistakenly confuse it with archaic “shock” collars. Unlike “shock” collars—the cheap devices you’ll find on Amazon that produce a sharp, static shock—the e-collar delivers a TENS unit-type muscle stimulation, the same technology used by chiropractors and acupuncture specialists to trigger muscle reflexes.

The e-collar is completely adjustable to you and your dog’s needs. It offers three modes: a tone, vibration or patented “blunt pulse stimulation”. The stim has up to 100 levels and can be locked in place to avoid the risk of accidental over-stimulation. This wireless tool allows you to communicate with your dog in a range of 1/2 mile up to 1 mile (depending on the model you choose), making it the perfect training tool for off-leash recall.

Training with the E-Collar

Like any powerful piece of technology, it can do more harm than good in the hands of an uneducated owner. At K9 Academy, our trainers teach you and your dog how to communicate humanely and effectively with the e-collar. By the end of this training program, your dog will recognize the stimulation as a reminder to “stop, look and listen”, no matter the situation.

This is achieved by:

• Ensuring the dog’s obedience foundation is strong before introducing the e-collar

• Integrating the LOWEST level of stimulation into foundational training exercises

• Understanding the best methods of e-collar training for your specific dog (NePoPo, pressure on/off, pairing with leash correction, or slow introduction).

• Employing safety measures, such as:

  • Ensuring proper contact points

  • Keeping the leash on at ALL times (during the first 2 weeks of training)

  • Staying in low-distraction environments and gradually increasing distractions.