heel and recal

Question
Hello Dr.Hogan,One month ago today we got a 6 month old Doberman,from someone in the military that could not keep him.He was crate trained,and belive he was not let out much,we owned 2 Dobes for 10 years and know they are a high energy breed but Chase is a bit more of a handful than they ever where,but very smart and food driven,he has learned sit,down,(stay to a certain point and come)also knows touch but this is all when there are no distractions,but the 2 things Im struggling the most with is loose leash walking and recalls.For the walks I have been stopping for a minute when he starts pulling also I try to let him run of leash for a while before walks to burn of energy but the problem with this is recalls,he will act like he is running back but goes right by me,I bought an ecollar to use ONLY when he is of leash running with sound and after trying it on myself have it set to level 3 out of 7 which dosnt seem to faze him and I do not feel comfortalbe rasing it any more. Any advise or different methods you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
I realize it is a difficult decision to make to use an e-collar but evidently you have been frustrated to the point of purchasing one so do not be afraid to use it.  No matter what BS you read or hear elsewhere it is no more in-humane to use than using food as a lure.   First let me tell you that using an e-collar will require that the collar itself be fitted very tight right behind the ears.  It is very common for these collars not to work because they are too loose and the probes do not make consistent contact.  I would outfit the collar with the long probes that came with it when you purchased it and then fit it very tight.  Make sure you check the tightness when the dog is standing not sitting.  It may be tight when sitting but when the dog stands and elongates his neck it will become loose.  Dobermens are generally real susceptible to even low levels on the collars.  So my guess is going to be that the collar isn't being fitted properly.  When using the collar it would be best to use it in a "negative reinforcement" manner instead of an "extinguishing" manner.  NR is where you apply a low level shock as you ask the dog to do something it as already been taught to do and then remove the shock as the dog initiates the behavior.  This level should be just high enough that it makes him act a little nervous but not yip.  The most common problem when someone uses an e-collar is they think the dog magically knows what to do when it feels the shock but reality is that you have to teach it what to do regardless of the apparatus you may use.  It is also common for people to forget to reward and praise the dog for demonstrating the correct behavior.  Always look for things to praise your dog for.
You mention "food drive".  If you choose to go this route in training it is very important that you understand it is one of the most difficult methods to use and get full results.  It requires a complex transition phase that most trainers never emphasize.  Otherwise you have a dog that respects, honors and performs for the food but not necessarily for you.  It is not good training if you have to carry around treats for the rest of your life to get your dog to listen any more than it is to have to shock the dog all the time to get it to listen.  One evil doesn't justify the other.
Which ever method you choose to use you need to understand and implement the ONE, TWO, GOOD DOG! protocol for quick easy results.  Please take the effort and purchase my booklet that will explain and teach this protocol in easy to understand language.  Find the booklet here:
http://invincibleservices.com/html/one__two_good_dog_.html  (copy and paste)
See my explanation for walking on a loose lead in this previous answer: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dog-Training-3333/2010/1/walking-4.htm

If I were training your dog personally I would not use an e-collar nor would I use food.  My booklet will give you everything you need to communicate with and train your dog.  You can get just the booklet (10.95) or the booklet and the in-disposable "Whisper String" (18.95).  These are the exact methods and tools I use when training professionally but explained in simple english and targeted towards a simple 5 minute teaching process.
If you need further assistance please call Dr. Hogan 509-991-0385 until 10pm pacific time