That is improper use. Just like it is no longer commonplace to beat children it should no longer be commonplace to punish dogs in order to train them. I use the same approach with clients who’ve tried aversive methods. Unfortuantly you had a trainer that was not good if they were putting your dog in high distration areas and just “lighting them up” with the e collar. Some trainers like these tools because they can create a “quick fix” but they are doing more harm than good in the long run where positive training may take a little longer to see results but the changes are foundational and therefore real and long term. I also don’t think people who use these devices are idiots. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Studies have shown they increase anxiety in dogs even when not wearing the collars or being shocked. Morphine, for example can be used to relieve pain and help people heal from injuries and other damage to their health. I originally wrote and published this article on the blog back in November 2018. Our girl never showed any signs of stress, trauma, or pain. But I think it’s a great tool in good hands. Burns – many dogs suffer burns at the electric contact points. Most of them will shove their head in as fast as they can. Keep being positive and patient. Anyway, if used CORRECTLY, which a lot of people just don’t because they don’t know any better, like you, an e-collar is nothing more than a leash with a martingale collar or something like that just for long range. © Ruth Hegarty, Creature Good Dog Training 2021. All it did was let him know that some of his gear shocked him. The Utrecht study used scientific methodology to examine the effects of shock collars on dogs in every day training environments. The ‘constant’ button allows you to hold down on the button for ten seconds in case you need to adjust the level mid-shock. Dr. Mech who devised the study and proposed the theory has since come out publicly to say that he was wrong and no longer believes what he proposed back in the 1970s. The "electrical stimulation" is controlled by a remote control held by the owner/handler. The prong collar training gets a lot of attention from pure positive or force free dog trainers. I know that punishment/correction based training has been around for a long time but the most recent data supports positive training. I want to understand better so I help educate dog owners. some collars go off if the dog in the same kennel as they are barks. Do you think a whistle or vocal command from that distance has the same affect as a beep right next to their ear or a physical stimulus that they’ve been conditioned to? This of cause only works if you act like a pack leader, which does include setting up reasonable rules, that the dog can follow and enforcing them. I truly believe that no matter which side of the conversation someone is on, we all really do care about dogs and their well-being. Each brand and model e-collar has their own range of shock strength going from low to high. While they may suppress the unwanted behavior, they don't teach the dog what the proper behavior is and they can create anxiety and fear, which can lead to aggression. How else can we get our dog’s attention when they’re on a scent 400 yards out and oblivious to a threat that we become aware of? all you feel is your nerves being stimulated(also not dangerous). And the latest research from the UK adds yet more weight to the argument against using them. Hi! Shock training can be a very hot topic within the dog community. Shock collars are used to train dogs to stay in or out of a certain area, as in electric fencing; or to dissuade them from certain unwanted behaviors. An electronic dog collar is a particularly cruel form of punishment. "Campaigners who want to censor videos of dogs being trained with e-collars seem to be fearful that they reveal that the training is highly effective and not in the slightest bit cruel." I have not ever used the e-collars or anything more aversive than a slip/choke collar, relying on leash correction and positive reinforcement for desired behavior. Of cause you need to make sure that the dog actually knows what you want him to do (body language, commands that he learned with positive reinforcement etc.) Hi Ruth, There are many ways to use eCollars, some of which are actually not aversive. They are also used with pet containment (electronic fencing) systems. The e-collar did not change his behavior, not in the long term. I explain that there are several schools of thought in dog training (traditional, balanced & positive) and why we differ. However, if you have a high-drive breed and a covey of quail rushes across your path on the other side of a busy road, you’ll be glad you have that leash attached. The dog should be slowly introduced to distractions after it is accustomed to the e collar and trained on basic commands first with it. That was years ago—she’s never been anything but an absolute joy, no matter who we’re walking with and where they are—since we worked with her wearing the e-Collar. Putting a dog in a high distraction situation and putting the e collar on a high number to correct it when it looks at other dogs is not the correct way. They are also used with pet containment (electronic fencing) systems. In the hands of a trained professional or a dog owner who knows how to operate it, the electronic collar can be a both humane and effective training tool that can teach your dog to stay by your side, come when called, and ensure that he never runs away. Wolfs/ dogs are build to have relationships that are based on dominance and pressure, that’s completely normal for them. Even limited use is aversive as the studies on this device have shown. I know some people cringe at the sight of a prong collar, it looks barbaric and cruel. It might even be uncomfortable. An e collar trainer sold me the lie that it would fix her. This site is brought to you as a free service to help you better train and raise your dogs. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. (But aren’t they all?) When she sees me going in to my sock drawer, she gets a big, dopey grin on her face and starts running up and down the hall way with her tail wagging wildly. It is unlikely that an electronic training collar would destroy your relationship with your dog. Sidman qualified as an I.D.F explosive detection dog handler and was certified in Police K-9 Training by the Eastern States Working dog Association (ESWDA). Studies have shown that the anxiety these cause when used remains with the dog even when the devise isn’t in use. The short answer is, yes. And it goes without saying that no conclusive studies have shown that e-collars have any lasting physical or psychological effects on dogs who have worn them. I like to think of e-collars like pain medication. I do regret it and I threw the e collar away. In fact, the purpose and consequence of both is the same. It’s the easiest way to teach the dog what he needs to do and it’s a lot of fun for the dog. Much better to motivate our dogs by providing rewards than punish with pain/neck jerks. I 100% do not advice or condone their use. He is the best dog and has responded to positive training so well. I have experienced level 20 on myself which is barely even causing discomfort and I work my dog at level 5. The world needs all the positive trainers we can get! All day, she watches me for the “getting ready for a walk” signs. It truly stands out among all the folks who think I am just using e-collars wrong. I also believe that training through punishment, which the use of this device qualifies as, is a lazy way of training. She probably did receive detectable aversive until over a year old. Many pet owners would rather use positive reinforcement on their dog instead of a shock collar. Many swear by its efficacy, while others denounce it as cruel and abusive. Don't bother with squirt collars and collars that shoot scent. Cause that isn’t true, either. With a couple weeks, it didn’t even take any effort on her part—she was walking calmly and happily, able to focus, and we were barely touching it after a month or so. The pulse from the e-Collar just brought her attention back to me just long enough to be aware of me again. Once everything is activated (refer to your manual), wait for the dog to commit his favorite sin (for example: ignoring the ‘come’ command, playing with trash, or harassing other people.). Using an E-collar does not mean any freedom. No, that’s overkill. If you use a collar correctly, it should stimulate the nerves in the throat area just enough so the dog realizes it (if he is chasing a squirrel, the dog is more focused, and his brain will ignore a lot more of the things going on around the dog than if the dog is sitting on a sofa doing nothing), roughly simulating a correction from another dog (the light throat biting i mentioned above). You are a problem spreading this type of news people are looking for a real answer and not your Garabage opinions, it is right for some applications but must be used correctly, it is crazy to say it’s all bad. The trainer can administer a … First of all, if you are not familiar with an electronic collar (otherwise known as an e-collar, remote collar, electronic collar or shock collar), I’ll give you a brief description. Hi Victoria, I wholeheartedly disagree with you on this. Browse our competitively priced & durable e-collars today to find out how we can save you money on the best dog training equipment online! The best e-collar training is combined with treats and praise. You can rebuild your relationship as you see is starting. They rarely work. The least humane and most controversial use of the shock collar is as a training device. There is a huge difference. Do some research on their negative effects and see if that doesn’t change your mind. It sounds like you are talking about ecollar use that either uses cheap equipment with not enough graduation in the settings, and or just heavy handed, ignorant use. Remember, some of these dog’s behavior was so bad that they would have been given to the pound or euthanized if it weren’t for the remote collar. For example, one dog in the study who was shocked when receiving the “heel” command, yelped in pain when next required to “heel” even though he had not been shocked that time. Give him 2-3 seconds to heed your command. He was my first dog and a troubled dog and I didn’t know any better. I know many traditional and even balanced trainers use them but the latest science points overwhelmingly to their use causing more harm than good. I am not saying, that positive reinforcement is bad or something. The real freedom is when your pet understands itself what to do and what not to do. Not only do they cause physical and mental harm to dogs. This study dispels that myth.). Like many posters, I had only known them to be used aversively and to “light up” dogs. Setting the Record Straight. They are dangerous to dogs both emotionally and physically. Your email address will not be published. All of the relevant research shows that the use of e-collars, whether by experts or amateurs, results in heightened stress in dogs. Boy was I wrong. I’m on a bit of a crusade against the use of e-collars – also knows as shock collars. When the dog reacts to the shock (he will often jump sporadically), you will know that you are at the right level of shock for training your dog. She associates other dogs to a shock now. Are they a good solution to training issues? I wish we’d tried it sooner. If he listens, don’t touch any buttons on the remote. What’s this Electronic Collar you speak of? Old habits are sometimes difficult to completely replace and I admit I fall back when I am a lazy trainer or run short on time. I thought, well, if e-collars are recommended by trainers, they must be fine. This certainly debunks the argument that the effects of shock collars are temporary and easily forgotten by the dog. For me, the solution is to eliminate the use of e-collars all together and focus on positively training dogs to come when called from longer distances. Most shock collars come with two types of buttons ‘nick’ and constant’, The ‘nick’ button will give your dog a split second shock. So I put a shock collar on my dog. I agree that I was not educated in the use of these devices but educated cruelty and ignorant cruelty result in the same harm. For an example of how reward based training works, download my No More Pulling ebook to teach your dog how to walk politely on leash so your walks are far more fun and no longer frustrating. I highly recommend reading The Art of Training Your Dog by the monks of New Skete. The operator can give the dog an electric shock from long distances anytime he presses a button on the remote control. The dog will not like the pressure on their neck. There is also no need to train dogs through punishment when you can train them more successfully through positive reinforcement. I saw first hand the damage these can cause and now know better. I’ve learned it doesn’t have to be used like that in any way, shape, or form, nor do they have to be used for life. I also checked out your website and love the fun happy feel of it. stress only occurs, when can’t do anything about the weird annoying feeling, or at least thinks that he has no influence on it. I was desperate, so much of what I had already tried hadn’t helped. This means, that the best way to get your dog to listen to you is to have a strong relationship with your dog, where you are the pack leader. It is not right to generalize good trainers who have trained hundreds compared to the one you admittedly didn’t know how to train properly. Years ago, when I was struggling to get my dog, Jake, to behave appropriately, I didn't know that e-collars are cruel. There is a big difference between a person feeling the shock and a dog because the person understands what is going on and is in control, the dog doesn’t and isn’t. Positive training may take longer up front as you point out but it lasts a lifetime because it is changing the underlying causes of the behavior rather than suppressing an unwanted behavior through pain and intimidation. I’m pretty sure that this was a bit incoherent in a few places because i can’t concentrate anymore but i hope it’s not that bad. admin. E Collars and Shock Collars are CRUEL, DANGEROUS and Should be BANNED!? Keep in mind, using a shock collar doesn’t make you a bad pet parent, and it doesn’t mean you are torturing your dog, especially when used on the lower non-shock levels. A shock collar is a collar with an attached electronic device with a couple of metal prongs that directly touch a dog’s skin and is designed to deliver an electric shock when triggered to do so. For modern hunting dogs, an e-collar is the best safeguard we can ask for. The purpose of the dreaded cone is to deter your pet from licking, biting, rubbing, or traumatizing a sensitive area. It sounds like you fundamentally misunderstand the purpose of e-collars in the same way many people misunderstand the purpose of a leash. I have had dogs for many, many years, and have recently come to understand training from a positive reinforcement only approach through a professional dog training course. Prong and Shock Collars and Electric (‘Invisible’) Fences. the first one is starving the dog so he will do it for food(not nice) or you can make him soooo crazy about his favorite toy that it’s basically the only thing the dog ever thinks about. I’m not here to make friends. She was praised profusely each time, and that tail was STILL wagging. It means fun things are about to happen. Train your dog to do the things you want them to do without those fear and punishment based methods and you will be a lot happier and so will your dog. Oh Emma, your comment made me cry. What I don’t believe in is punishment so a shock or yank on a leash or shouting or anything that is meant to punish bad behavior doesn’t work for me for training dogs. Your and my story are the same. Thank you for writing this article. In the wild, wolfs will correct lower ranking members of their pack with “aversive” behavior, a lot of the time they will even “bite” each other in the throat. There are better, more effective ways to train a dog. I want to share their findings with you because, lately, I’ve been seeing proponents of this device claim that there aren’t any studies that prove shock collars are harmful and that is simply not true as this study shows. But in the hands of a drug addict, morphine can be quite damaging to their well-being.