I never used one before, are there any does or don'ts that I should know ??

Don’t shock a dog until he knows the command and break him in easy when you introduce a shock to reinforce a command. I start my dogs on the collar once they know what HERE means. I introduce the collar while they’re still on the check cord and hit them with it when I command HERE while pulling them to me with the cord. You don’t want to hurt a dog with the collar and use the least amount of burn to get his attention that you can. I’ll let them run around with it and stop turning it up when you see a reaction, just a head turn. That’s your setting for that dog. Turn it up as is necessary. Once a dog knows the collar and the command I only tell them once and then they feel the collar if they don’t comply.

My lab minds pretty good until she gets out about 50' from me and she goes deaf and doesn't come back till she gets ready,

When using it, make sure you girlfriend has a safe word or phrase.

she is 7 months old and has spent 2 months in obedience school

You probably paid someone a Grand to obedience train your gyp. Why didn’t you ask him how to operate a shock collar?

Please get a video on collar conditioning. Bill Hillman uses them as a training tool. If you are going that route, get his videos on the subject.

An E collar is just another tool to use in the training process. Low pressure for teaching and more for re-enforcing a known command.

Thanks for the advice !!

Educate yourself first, or you will ruin your dog. This is a good dvd.

Don't use it unless you are using it within a proven program or getting help from a pro.

This post gives me tired head.

I have a half lab, half vizsla and he's usually 200-300 yards away checking fence lines, farm equipment, etc. for birds and rabbits. I started with the collar on the lowest setting and would just tap it and call his name to come. On occasion I'll have to move the collar up to 2-3 to get his attention but almost all of the time it's on the lowest setting. He can be out of sight and I hit the button and he comes running. That's all I use it for, to get him to come to me when he's too far out.