"Jim Pflaum" wrote in message
oups.com...
I was hoping to get some worthwhile training tips, not a lecture.

I gave you a "training tip": you need to teach this dog a call-off.
I also gave you the "training tip" that you need to monitor her behaviour
and body language very closely, so that you can see when she is getting
*ready* to chase the deer, and call her off before she gets started.

However, the *process* of teaching a call-off to a dog whose behaviour of
chasing and killing deer - and ignoring your attempts at call-off - is
firmly entrenched is something that can't be covered by on-line "training
tips".


We don't live in or near a city.

? That has no relation to anything I said. Dogs get shot and run over in
the country as much or MORE than dogs who live in the city - especially dogs
whose owners have made the mistake of allowing them to start running deer.

Ali never leaves our property, even when she's
chasing deer.

So far, she hasn't. What would happen if she started a deer near the edge
of your property, and the deer headed for the hills?
I assume there's a public road that gives access to your 43 acres? What
would happen if she started the deer near the road, and the deer crossed the
road?

And what will happen if someone witnesses her killing a deer, and reports
you to the game warden?



She's been
reward-trained and she's an absolutely wonderful and obedient dog,
except for her deer chasing.

And as several others have pointed out, that's a very clear indication that
chasing and killing the deer is more rewarding to her than anything you can
offer.

Again, my "tips" to you a
1. You need to teach this dog a call-off, and until you have done so, you
need to leash her.
2. Call-offs can be taught on-leash with rewards, but I seriously doubt
that reward-based call-off training is going to be sufficient, because she
has already learned that chasing the deer is more rewarding than any treat
you can offer.
3. E-collars are not inconsistent with reward-based training, and the fact
that she's had that sort of training actually means that the e-collar work
can be made more effective.
In fact, when using an e-collar strictly for call-off/recall, you can have
the training be almost entirely reward-based - you reward the dog for
responding to the collar signal.

In any case, the fact remains that until the dog is taught a reliable
call-off - with or without using an e-collar - she needs to be leashed;
every time she ignores you and rewards herself with running and killing deer
will reinforce the behaviour.