The Advantages and Disadvantages of employing a Shock Collar to train Your Pup

Your four legged friend has been driving you crazy with his bad attitude; he barks at everything, including a doorbell on your favorite Tv program, runs after the mailman, harasses the neighbors’ cats and won't allow a visitor to cross the doorstep. You’ve tried everything from training classes to bribery with no lasting effect. If your dog's bad behavior has you at wits end, you may be considering using a shock collar. Before you snap such a device around the neck of your beloved pet stop and ask yourself if you're really well informed on how a shock collar works. Is it really a safe product and will it help or just make his bad behavior worse?

Electronic canine training equipment has been around for a long time. Like most technology there has been significant improvements over the past decade or two. The early versions of this tool really did fit the term, shock collar. The units had very few levels to choice from and those levels were basically a "zap" or "mega zap!" that was used as an aversive punishment to deter a dog from bad behavior.

Recent advances allow the user to make very fine adjustments to the level of stimulation. The technology is virtually identical to that of a TENS unit, which is used by medical professionals to for rehabilitative purposes, and to relieve pain. These are not really shock collars anymore. We now, more appropriately, refer to them as remote collars or e-collars (electronic collars). Remote collars can gradually range from not being perceptible to feeling a strong sting. Adjusting the levels is similar to adjusting the volume on a radio. Even with the highest level, the amperage is minimal. So, you are not putting your dog at risk of being burned by the stimulation.

It is a myth that e-collars can burn a dog's neck. The gruesome pictures of necrosis and severe skin irritation are caused, more likely, by improper wear. They are caused when the collar is too tight and worn for too extended a period, often by simply leaving the collar on your dog all the time. This causes pressure ulcers, which resemble the bedsores found in hospital patients who are not moved often enough.

An electronic training collar is not the same thing as a shock collar. They are safer and more effective. Of course, they require education in correct use. A lot of people still think you put the collar on and just shock the dog when he is bad. This is an outdated myth that gives this particular training tool a bad reputation. However, an electronic collar shouldn't be worn continuously for longer than eight hours. Ideally, the collar should be rotated every few hours, to avoid rubbing from the contact points.

Knowledgeable users know that a collar conditioning should be utilized. This means teaching your dog to pay attention and follow commands by using low levels of stimulation. The dog can be taught to obey commands such as "Heel", "Come", and/or "Stay". To properly achieve this, a shock collar should not be used. The levels of stimulation need to stay low, similar to a tap on the shoulder that is used to get someone's attention. Rewards such as food, toys, and praise are liberally administered. The result is a low stress, and enjoyable, training experience for the dog.

When the dog has learned how to respond to this low level tap, the e-collar can function as an invisible leash. The dog can enjoy off leash freedom and be managed in a safe and stress free way. People who love dogs can truly enjoy an enhanced relationship with their dogs. There is no need for the shock collar techniques of the past. The tools are much more refined and the education is now available to help solve those annoying behaviors and replace them with a well-mannered, happy dog.