Electronic dog collars, good or bad

[Little buddy]

Originally Posted by ffishman

We have a 5 month old Lab. She is going to be a great dog. When I am around, she is a sweetheart. But, if I am gone, or even leave the room, and the wife is just there, the devil in her comes out. She gets into everything, from taking shoes, papers, cat litter, etc. She does not want to listen to the wife. Me on the other hand, she won't mess with. I am thinking about getting a electronic collar to stop the bad behaviour. The wife is against it because she thinks it will hurt her. We have never used one of these collars before. Are they good to use, or are they cruel?

I think these collars are way over used. Try actually training a dog instead of scaring and hurting her. Puppys are always going to get into mischief especially if she doesn't respect your wife. She needs to lower her voice as much as she can and handle her with some power. Have her flip her on her back and lay on her until she submits and quits trying to get up. Dogs are pack animals and she needs to realize her place in the pack, your 1, wife is 2, she's 3. Growling at a dogs neck while making her submit will work quicker. Sounds goofy but it works! Hard headed dogs get worse if they don't know their position. Your wife needs to establish dominance now before she gets bigger. I had to get rid of a dog because she would only submit to me, everyone else she was a idiot to. PS, I would recommend zapping yourself if you don't think they hurt. I did it on the highest level (WoW!)

[wildnorthern]

I dog train and run hunt feasts. Collars are extremely useful in the right hands and dogs can be ruined by not using them correctly. You train a dog, then collar condition the dog and then use it to enforce what it knows. It can be used for behavior issues. I won't say anything to my pup if it goes to the counter with front legs off ground and will nick her. A nick isn't a burn and lasts last then a second. The collar should be set to a setting so it doesn't hurt but is uncomfortable.

The dog doesn't listen because it doesn't view her as an alpha. She should walk the dog forcing it to heel. Make the dog sit physically if it doesn't first time told, same as lay. Attach a rope and remote sit the dog, then give it here/come command pulling dog towards you with rope. If your wife doesn't assume the alpha role, the dog will. That is nature

[REW]

There have been quite a few studies done where collars, if overused, can actually drive a dog insane.

I would really not advise that a collar ever be used.

If you want to use a collar, put one on yourself, and set it to the same level as what you have set it to for your dog.

Then, when you give the command to the dog, the same shock will be given to you. See how long you have it on before you go crazy.

------------
Bottom line, if someone is working with an animal and it is not working well, send the person to the dogs obedience school and have the person trained.
It is not the problem with the dog, it is the problem with the person not being trained to work with the dog.
Don't punish or make the dog fearful, because the person is in need of training.

Good luck
REW

[3M TA3]

Try it on yourself first, then on the wife. If you both agree, then follow through with your decision, what ever that may be.

[wildnorthern]

TALK ABOUT IGNORANT! Do you have any idea how much over use if even possible would cause a dog to go insane? Sounds like a study by peta. Performance dogs have a collar used on a regular basis and none of them are insane.

I suppose before you caught a fish you hooked yourself in the lip? What did you try on yourself before you decided where to hook a minnow??????? What kind of test did you do prior to fileting your first fish?

Get a grip.

An untrained person using a collar to punish a dog isn't a good thing, otherwise it is an awesome tool!!!!

[SteveJ]

Originally Posted by wildnorthern

TALK ABOUT IGNORANT! Do you have any idea how much over use if even possible would cause a dog to go insane? Sounds like a study by peta. Performance dogs have a collar used on a regular basis and none of them are insane.

An untrained person using a collar to punish a dog isn't a good thing, otherwise it is an awesome tool!!!!

Mike W1 hit the nail on the head with his comment. “Personally I think they're overused today by many. I bought one years ago to help cure a problem with my Lab at the time. Worked him diligently until he KNEW what he was supposed to do. He then got the command and I shocked him two different times. He never repeated the problem and I never used the thing again. I'd like to put the collar on a few guys that use them and give THEM a dose. Problem is usually the human not the dog!”

The shock collars tend to be used as a substitute for proper training. A good trainer will have little need for the collar. My wife has been raising English Springer Spaniels for over 40 years. Our primary competition is the confirmation ring, or what most would refer to as show dogs. We have also done obedience, agility and hunting (working dog tests for our breed). We have a shock collar and have NO idea if it still works. They can help in extreme cases, but are not a substitute for proper training. I will even go out on a limb and suggest that most professional use of a shock collar is not necessary, but may expedite the process. I agree with the poster that suggested the coller should be used on the trainer first.

[REW]

Steve,
That is essentially the point that I was trying to make.
i.e. anything can be used as a training device if used wisely and only on rare occasions.

I have just seen so many folks go out on the end and overuse things and end up abusing the creatures that they were attempting to train.

Take care
REW

[Leinie]

Our first lab was a handful for my wife. We signed them up for an obedience training class and it worked very well for us. For our second lab, I took her to class. It worked out well both times because it was as much about training the owner as it was training the dog.

Simple consistant commands,Lot's of praise for success, quick stern corrections, consistency.
I'm not against E-collars for well trained trainers, but they are not a cure all for people who have a dog that won't listen to them.

We have been working on the kids give proper commands and praise so they learn how to handle a dog.

[hemlock]

Training a dog properly is tough, and if you are asking questions about an e-collar I would highly suggest you consult a professional for help before you use it on your dog. Hopefully you have 15 long years with your new boy so put the time in now so you both can enjoy it as much as possible. Electronic collars can be very humane when used properly.

Check out this link.

Go to http://www.sportdog.com/Support/Manuals.aspx
and scroll down to SportDOG Basic Training Manual, It's a 19 page booklet that covers basic e-collar introduction and training. I have worked with hunting dogs for a long time and I still read this booklet which came with the new training collar. I found it very informative on how to work with a new dog.

[Suzuki]

I and everyone I know supports using e-collars. None of us wants to hurt our dog so overuse is not possible. They have been especially helpfull in the field when the excitement of the hunt takes precedence over obeying commands. Once dogs mature they are seldom necessary. That is how it goes in my hunting circles. Others may differ.