Why We Do Not Use E-Collars

We all want results when we begin dog training and some may try to convince us that E-collars work well. in 99% of the cases, we will NOT use E-collars to train our dogs. We feel that dogs are results-driven, we’re looking for the quickest and most efficient ways to achieve those goals. But how we chose to get there, will make a world of difference for the dog and for his relationship with his owner. E-collars can sometimes be effective in stopping problematic behaviors, in the short run, but can also have many side effects that could be worse than the behaviors they’re trying to address. I’ve been training dogs for so long, I have used shock collars before and I understand the reasons why people use them.

I have read many reports advocating for the use of e-collars. E-collars are sometimes compared to Their advocates have claimed they are a gentle and perfectly appropriate teaching tool; leading to a happier dog and contributing to enhancing the relationship between dogs and owners.

As much as I believe that today’s e-collars are meant to be safe in normal uses, we feel they may also cause some fear-driven behaviors as a bi-product of this method. The reason why e-collars can be effective is that they are so unpleasant that the dog will think twice before repeating the behavior that got punished. We have seen many dogs shocked by other trainers that end up with us and their aggressive behavior is not gone its just hidden, we then notice other behaviors like crouching and fear-based behaviors when the previous trainer was shocking the dog.

I have seen these devices work, however, I have also watched many dogs get stimulated for no reason at all. Many dog owners will not trigger the device at the right time and therefore will not create the intended behavior modification. They may stimulate the dog by accident, thus making the unpleasant sensation random and unavoidable.

Even in the best of worlds, if only experts were to use such devices, I would still choose to stay away from them. With today’s advances in animal behavior science, we can no longer accept the simplistic interpretations of so-called dominant/aggressive reactions. Most aggressive behaviors are emotional responses to what is considered a threat to what they value, including their own safety. So punishing in any way will only increase the underlying fear. If we apply a very strong inhibitor, we will stop the behavior, but we haven’t taught our companion that the situation is safe, on the contrary, we have just made it worse. The quick fix now has the potential to create even more problems down the road. The dog may one day put teeth on the intruder without prior warning since barking or growling has been inhibited.

When it comes to training the dog to come when called or stay on a property (in the case of invisible fences), the application of punishment, even when effectively used, also has side effects, as it will also generate stress and negative emotions about the situation itself. Those dogs will continue to show signs of stress anytime the owner is present, even outside of the training situation A relaxed dog that is not on the constant lookout for an unpleasant feeling will be less likely to display many problematic behaviors, including those we’re trying to stop.

 

E-collars can Create Fear in Dogs That Is Not Easy To Reverse

Technology can often support our training and give us quicker results, but let’s make sure of its positive effect on the dog before we adopt it.

We need to step away from the old disproven belief that dogs learn best when shown who’s boss through means of punishment and examine the true effects of e-collars. Since our understanding of canine psychology has vastly increased over the past 10-15 years and has given us more effective ways to treat behavior or training issues, we can no longer justify the use of e-collars. Such devices have been shown to affect the dog’s well-being as well as our relationship with them. Like many others today I never want to use e-collars again.