Non-stop barking. Aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs. Destroying your shoes or furniture. These are some of the behaviors that some dogs display and some owners struggle to change. This is where shock collars come in.
Despite its negative reputation and the controversies surrounding it, shock collars continue to be available and used by trainers and pet owners for training purposes. But are shock collars safe? Here are the things you need to know before using a shock collar.
What Are Shock Collars?
Shock collars are remote dog training tools that send electrical currents that serve as signals to your dog to stop a behavior or action. They’re often used for training as an alternative to standard rewards-based dog training and with shock collars, you use electrical currents to teach the desired behavior.
Are Shock Collars Safe?
Modern shock collars have been designed to be safe for use, but the same can’t be said for old shock collars. Now, using shock collars can be safe but only under the following conditions:
- Your dog knows how to follow basic obedience commands.
If your dog understands the basic commands, it already knows how to follow instructions to a certain extent. So when it’s time to use the collar, it’ll be able to grasp the training session quicker.
- You know how and when to use shock collars.
The currents from shock collars nowadays are not dangerous and won’t cause any lasting physical harm. However, shock collars are often used to correct bad behavior and for obedience training, not for teaching your dog new tricks. Know when it is needed and when it’s not.
- You don’t abuse the shock collar’s power.
It’s easy to abuse the power of the collar. Even though it won’t cause any permanent physical damage, it still delivers a form of physical stimulus that can scar your dog emotionally. Its improper use or overuse can cause fear and anxiety.
If you know how to properly use a shock collar, it can be one of the most effective ways to train and curb unwanted behavior.
Different Kinds of Shock Collars
Shock collars come in different variations to address specific unwanted behavior. Here are a few that are currently available in the market.
Training Collars
These are the most common shock collars that are used to train, change, or modify specific behaviors. Because shock collars offer fast results, pet parents sometimes resort to using shock collars to get those quick results.
Traditional dog training using stimulus, response, and positive reinforcement takes time and patience. Some pet parents have time to go through this, but some don’t. This is where the shock training collar comes in. This accelerates the training time, using electrical currents to teach new commands or modify bad behavior.
Anti-bark Collars
Some dogs bark more than others. Whether it’s the breed or their personality, excessive barking can be a problem especially when it’s causing serious disturbance to other people. The collar works by delivering a low-level shock current whenever the dog barks to discourage the behavior.
Unfortunately, the shock is delivered on the throat which is a serious cause of concern and criticized by many anti-animal cruelty organizations. As such, this type of collar has been banned in some countries like Australia.
Invisible Fence Collars
This type of collar is designed to keep your dog in an enclosed space or property. The collar is strapped around your dog’s neck while device sensors are placed at the border of a specified space. When your dog goes near or tries to cross the border, it will trigger the collar to send an electrical current to teach the dog not to go near or past the invisible fence.
6 Things You Need to Know Before Using Shock Collars
Don’t go buy a shock collar just yet! Before using this training method, here are 6 things you need to know to make sure you use it properly and in the most effective way.
Advantages of Shock Collars
You Get Fast Results
Some pet owners swear by shock collars and how they’ve been able to change unwanted behavior after a few sessions. If used properly, shock collars can really be an effective means of training. However, this will also depend on your dog’s personality and how stubborn they are.
2. Adjustable Intensity Levels
Major improvements to shock collars have been made since their creation. Some brands give pet parents the flexibility to use a warning beep or an electric current with an adjustable shock level. This adds to its safety feature, allowing pet owners to modify their training in the most effective and safest way possible.
3. Presence Not Always Required
This provides pet parents the opportunity to train or correct behavior even when they’re not around. Anti-bark collars will function automatically even when you’re away. The same goes for invisible fence collars, but this would require some prior hands-on training to make sure your dog understands its boundaries.
However, given the nature of the device, it’s always recommended to use the collar with supervision. If something goes wrong with the collar, it’s safe for you to be there to fix the problem.
Disadvantages of Shock Collars
The Electric Shock
Even though the electric shock doesn’t cause any serious harm and that the shock level can be adjusted, this form of training is still troubling for some pet owners. Because we treat our pets like our own babies, shock collar use is still considered harsh and unacceptable by many.
2. Can Instill Fear
Inflicting any form of consistent pain will teach dogs to fear that person, object, or situation. With a shock collar, it’s easy for uneducated owners to overuse and misuse the device. This can cause them to feel great fear which can lead to anxiety, stress, or destructive or aggressive behavior in response.
3. Lack of Reward
Like people, positive reinforcement goes a long way with dogs. Unfortunately, using shock collars doesn’t offer such opportunities by itself. Yet it doesn’t mean you can’t. You can still offer a treat or a reward when your dog does the desired behavior because of the collar.
Shock Collar Alternatives
Shock collars aren’t always the answer to change every dog’s unwanted behaviors. Here are some alternatives you can take if you need to train your dog without having to use shock collars.
Build Trust With Your Dog
When your dog trusts you, it will be easier for them to follow your commands. You can do this by doing things like:
- Staying calm – Especially when greeting your dog, stay calm, and speak softly. This avoids overexcitement and unwanted behavior like jumping or barking.
- Being helpful – When your dog feels fear, is thirsty, or needs help removing something from their backside, be there for them to give their emotional or physical needs. Be their hero and they’ll treat you like one.
- Eliminating excessive noise – dogs have very sensitive hearing and eliminating unnecessary and excessive noise, especially at home, makes them feel safe and calm.
Exercise, a Lot!
Having excess energy often leads to unwanted or destructive behavior. So one way to curb this is to direct that energy towards exercise. They’ll be too tired to bark or chew on the furniture to do anything else.
Hire a Professional Trainer
If you really don’t have time to train your dog or if the unwanted behavior is getting out of hand, hiring a professional trainer is your best option. They have the experience and knowledge to handle problematic behavior without the need for shock collars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are shock collars used for?
Shock collars or electric collars are mainly used for obedience training or to modify unwanted behavior in dogs. These devices deliver an electric current to signal the dog to stop the action or behavior they’re displaying.
These are commonly used to contain your dog within a confined space or property, reduce excessive barking, or modify any other behavioral issues like aggression.
Despite its controversial method, shock collars continue to be used today by pet owners and trainers alike. However, much has been improved with its use to make it safer for dogs.
Do shock collars hurt dogs?
If not used properly, shock collars can hurt dogs. Most of the collars available allow you to adjust the collar’s intensity level, making it safer and more humane. Shock collars are now designed to deliver a jolt, enough to cause some discomfort and catch their attention but not to harm.
However, there are still collars that allow you to give a high level of shock that can hurt your dog. It should never be used that way. It’s unsafe, inhumane, and can result in aggressive behavior towards you should they feel extreme fear or pain from your actions.