Advantages and Disadvantages of Remote Dog Training Collars
Whether you have a puppy that's barking persistently, or you want to train your dog to stay in the yard, you've probably heard that shock training collars are a popular method to do so. As with any method for modifying behaviour, there are advantages and disadvantages, so it's up to you to decide what method will work best for you and your dog. In this article, I'll talk about the facts of remote electric shock dog training collar methods and what you need to do in order to pick the right collar for your dog.
Electric shock dog collars are an aversive training method used initially in the 60s to train hunting dogs. Nowadays, they're also used to correct a large range of unwanted and stubborn behaviours in family dogs, from food aggression to excessive barking, etc. Contrary to what many people believe, a remote electric shock dog training collar isn't intended as punishment, but rather a deterrent to unsafe or negative behaviour. The theory is that the dog will associate the uncomfortable jolt with the unwanted behaviour and stop doing that until they no longer need a reminder.
The shock administered by shock collars is safe. It's just enough to get its attention and deter specific behaviours without doing any lasting physical harm to the dog. With most types of collars, there are a few levels of enforcement that you can choose from to reprimand the unwanted behaviour accordingly. For instance, many collars will administer a vibration or beep as a warning before delivering a shock. The beep also gives you time to get a verbal command to disrupt the unwanted behaviour beforehand.
Once the collar is set to shock mode, there are varying levels of intensity delivered by a two-pronged device that's attached to the collar. If you're using the collar as a barking deterrent, it will respond to the vibration of your dog's vocal cords. On the other hand, if you're using it to deter other behavioural issues like leash aggression, food aggression or jumping, you can use the remote control to administer the shock. And keep in mind, using a shock collar won't make you a bad owner, and it doesn't mean you're torturing your pup. It's highly unlikely that the shock collar will damage your relationship, and in fact, shared training sessions can improve your bond instead.
Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to using shock collars. Knowing what they are will help you use the shock collar properly to minimise the disadvantages.
Most modern collars let you adjust the intensity choose between vibration mode, warning beep or adjustable shock level. This can be comforting to people who are hesitant on using a collar. There are also alternative collars, such as spray collars that administer a foul-smelling odour that's harmless but gets the message across. Furthermore, shock collars have shown to provide fast results in correcting unwanted behaviour. In fact, you may only have to use a shock just a couple of times before switching to vibration and beep warnings. Shock collars are a great way at keeping your dog in the confines of your home, keeping it safe while providing it freedom at the same time.
Additionally, you don't have to be present for the collar to work. For correcting chronic barking, the collar can do the job on its own. This can be helpful if your neighbours have complained about your dog being loud in the past. The same applies for collars used for boundary control. But personally, I don't leave my dog unattended with the shock collar as I want to be present, observe and adjust to the situation if needed. Plus, I don't like leaving my dog unattended outside for long time periods, with or without the collar.
The disadvantages of shock collars is that even with the ability to control the intensity of the shock, it's still an aversive modification of behaviour. Most dog trainers will tell you that positive reinforcement is the better option out of the two. Additionally, shock collars may instill fear into your dog, and you never want to train your dog with fear. The dog may become fearful of people, situations or objects they associate with the collar. Over-correction can also be an issue, especially if you aren't there to observe. The unnecessary shock can confuse your dog by correcting a problem that doesn't even exist.
And lastly, shock collars don't provide a positive reinforcement reward, such as verbal approval, affection, or treats. So while it may work great in deterring negative behaviours, it doesn't reward positive behaviour such as obeying commands. As with any type of training, reinforcing positive behaviour with rewards of affection, treats and playtime are always highly recommended. But at the end of the day, a trained and obedient dog is a happy dog, so you should look to find the best way for you and your dog to go through the training processes.
Electric shock dog collars are an aversive training method used initially in the 60s to train hunting dogs. Nowadays, they're also used to correct a large range of unwanted and stubborn behaviours in family dogs, from food aggression to excessive barking, etc. Contrary to what many people believe, a remote electric shock dog training collar isn't intended as punishment, but rather a deterrent to unsafe or negative behaviour. The theory is that the dog will associate the uncomfortable jolt with the unwanted behaviour and stop doing that until they no longer need a reminder.
 |
| Source: theguardian.com |
The shock administered by shock collars is safe. It's just enough to get its attention and deter specific behaviours without doing any lasting physical harm to the dog. With most types of collars, there are a few levels of enforcement that you can choose from to reprimand the unwanted behaviour accordingly. For instance, many collars will administer a vibration or beep as a warning before delivering a shock. The beep also gives you time to get a verbal command to disrupt the unwanted behaviour beforehand.
Once the collar is set to shock mode, there are varying levels of intensity delivered by a two-pronged device that's attached to the collar. If you're using the collar as a barking deterrent, it will respond to the vibration of your dog's vocal cords. On the other hand, if you're using it to deter other behavioural issues like leash aggression, food aggression or jumping, you can use the remote control to administer the shock. And keep in mind, using a shock collar won't make you a bad owner, and it doesn't mean you're torturing your pup. It's highly unlikely that the shock collar will damage your relationship, and in fact, shared training sessions can improve your bond instead.
Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to using shock collars. Knowing what they are will help you use the shock collar properly to minimise the disadvantages.
 |
| Source: dogmaster.com.au |
Most modern collars let you adjust the intensity choose between vibration mode, warning beep or adjustable shock level. This can be comforting to people who are hesitant on using a collar. There are also alternative collars, such as spray collars that administer a foul-smelling odour that's harmless but gets the message across. Furthermore, shock collars have shown to provide fast results in correcting unwanted behaviour. In fact, you may only have to use a shock just a couple of times before switching to vibration and beep warnings. Shock collars are a great way at keeping your dog in the confines of your home, keeping it safe while providing it freedom at the same time.
Additionally, you don't have to be present for the collar to work. For correcting chronic barking, the collar can do the job on its own. This can be helpful if your neighbours have complained about your dog being loud in the past. The same applies for collars used for boundary control. But personally, I don't leave my dog unattended with the shock collar as I want to be present, observe and adjust to the situation if needed. Plus, I don't like leaving my dog unattended outside for long time periods, with or without the collar.
 |
| Source: k9deb.com |
The disadvantages of shock collars is that even with the ability to control the intensity of the shock, it's still an aversive modification of behaviour. Most dog trainers will tell you that positive reinforcement is the better option out of the two. Additionally, shock collars may instill fear into your dog, and you never want to train your dog with fear. The dog may become fearful of people, situations or objects they associate with the collar. Over-correction can also be an issue, especially if you aren't there to observe. The unnecessary shock can confuse your dog by correcting a problem that doesn't even exist.
And lastly, shock collars don't provide a positive reinforcement reward, such as verbal approval, affection, or treats. So while it may work great in deterring negative behaviours, it doesn't reward positive behaviour such as obeying commands. As with any type of training, reinforcing positive behaviour with rewards of affection, treats and playtime are always highly recommended. But at the end of the day, a trained and obedient dog is a happy dog, so you should look to find the best way for you and your dog to go through the training processes.
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