a couple questions about shock collars

[BIGINNER]

is it hard to collar condition an older dog? (2 years old) 
i couldn't a fford a good collar for a while,  but now i'm going to get one, i was wondering if i will have problems collar conditioning my dog.

the tricky part is,... a little while ago, i got a cheep little shock collar because i wanted to curb my dogs instinc of running off to explore the neiborhood.  i knicked him once,  and i've never had to use the collar again on him.  he obeys all my commands, and i've never had a reason to use the shock collar, other than that one time when he would run off.

i don't want to use the cheep shock collar i ahve right now to collar condition him, because it doesn't have all the knick/continuouse options like a good dogtra or tri-tronics collar has.
the one thing i am worried about it when i will start collar conditioning him, that he will (on instict) try to run to me for protection. i think he might remember being shocked for not coming to me when he was told.   

am i worrying too much?
honestly i have no reason to use a shock collar on him,  the only reason i have one on him now, is if he chases something onto the street and ignores my "here" command,. 

[BIGINNER]

IMO the best way to use a collar is to make the dog uncomfortable until it stops the undesired behavior not to use it for pain. Let the dog get used to wearing the collar before you start using it and I think you should be fine with the age of your dog.

MY DOG HAS BEEN WEARING A SHOCK COLLAR FOR ABOUT,... 2 MONTHS,  I PUT IT ON HIM EVERYTIME I LET HIM OUT.  HE'S SO USED TO IT, THAT WHEN I OPEN HIS KENNEL DOOR, HE RUNS OUT, TRHEN LAYS DOWN AND WAITS FOR ME TO PUT IT ON,   I'VE ONLY USED IT ONCE ON HIM THOUGH, 

[KFhunter]

get some books that deal with collar conditioning

it's not as simple as putting it on the dog and zapping it when it doesn't do what you want.  You can mess up a dog with them.

this is a sample for reading
http://www.tritronics.com/content/dog-training-featured-article/the-ten-requirements-%e2%80%93-part-i-by-john-wick/

[RadSav]

IMO the best way to use a collar is to make the dog uncomfortable until it stops the undesired behavior not to use it for pain. Let the dog get used to wearing the collar before you start using it and I think you should be fine with the age of your dog.

:yeah:X2

[bearpaw]

I would suggest putting the new collar on for a while before you use it, he will know the difference.

After he gets used to the new collar, just using the tone can be very helpful. Soounds like that is all your dog will need most of the time.