Hello Margaret, Conor & Damien,
I'd like to congratulate you on a top-quality Podcast! Like one of your other listeners, I too put the lessons on my iPod and listen in bed and in the car.
They are so informative. I made a CD copy of your podcasts and gave it to the trainer where I'm currently taking my German Short-haired Pointer to Puppy Kindergarten.
I'll see her on Friday to get her impression. I'm sure it will be a great review.
OK, my problem. I did read your answer to a listener regarding digging. You mentioned cayenne pepper, or the dog's feces buried at the digging site. I haven't tried either yet but I did see a product at Petsmart that I thought might help and I'd like your opinion please. It's made by Petsafe and it's called the Remote Spray Trainer.
The dog wears a collar ( like an e-collar, which I'd NEVER use ) and you press a button on your transmitter when she's digging and a " harmless " lemon or unscented spray comes out just under her nose. Oh yeah, I forgot. Before you spray, you press a " negative tone " button. Eventually, the dog will hear the tone and not need the spray to stop digging. So say the directions. There's also a " good or positive " tone button that you can use when your dog's being good and then treat her.
There's also another gadget I saw on the internet made by a new company.
Unleashed Technology makes 3 different e-collars. One of them, ( the only one I'd consider ) uses only vibration, 15 different levels, like a cell phone to get your dog's attention. The other two models use vibration and/or electric stimulation or correction ( aka: shock ) to get your dog's attention.
What are your thoughts on these collars? I know that Ultrasound is also available and would be my least expensive option but I have an African Grey parrot and I googled some info regarding Ultrasound & birds and I found that it drives them crazy. Some people actually use Ultrasound to rid their yards of birds. Glad I checked!
Please keep up the excellent podcasts and lessons. I'm going to take your first course when I finish puppy kindergarten and look forward to your future courses.
Thank you for your generosity ---- others may have charged quite a bit for the information that you're giving away.
Michael Kozusznik, Brick, NJ

Thank you for your question!

Thank you for your kind words about our podcasts. Our mission is to help dogs by educating people. Podcasts are a great venue for educating. Hearing positive feedback helps keep us going!

My question to you is how long is your puppy alone in an area where it is possible to dig? Since you mentioned puppy kindergarten I am assuming she is a puppy. Both devices that you mentioned will deter behaviors that you do not want. I would first recommend that you not leave a puppy in an area where she can dig without your direct supervision.

A long line and your verbal ‘leave it’ command with a collar correction is more effective then remote devices. The problem with remote collars of any kind is that you need to be present to use them. If you are present then proactively train your puppy with your voice and a long line.

If your puppy is living outside then a remote device can be useful since you can correct the pup from inside the house. I would use the spray collar before the vibration collar. Take advantage of the negative tone before the spray. The vibration collar will get your pup’s attention. My concern is that you might have to increase the intensity of the vibration as she becomes accustomed to the feeling. Even with the levels she may learn to just tolerate the sensation.

I am currently training my 15-week-old Golden puppy, Annie to her underground fence. I have a chain link fence in my back yard and an underground fence in my front yard. She hears a beep before receiving a mild electric correction. I put the collar on my wrist to feel the correction myself before allowing her to feel it. She understands the beep and turns from the fence line well before she feels anything. I think it would be great if the underground fence companies would come up with a spray fence collar!

I have heard that birds react poorly to ultrasonic devices. Thank you for reminding me of that and alerting our community!

Please keep us posed on your progress! Again, thank you for your kind words, Margaret Davis

Margaret,
Thank you for your reply. I've decided to take your advice regarding the long line correction when my pup begins to dig. She's very strong willed and just kinda looks up and then resumes digging. I'll continue for awhile longer though and hope that she gets the message.
If not, I'll try the spray collar. Again, thank you for a great website and podcast.
Michael K.