Electric Collars

It has been said that even a chimpanzee can train a dog with a shock collar (e-collar), as it removes much of the skill from the trainer. As a point of act, most seasoned dog trainers are firmly against the technology, as they consider it to be a form of ‘cheating’. While others leave it in reserve and will only consider the technology, as a very last resort for situations where everything else has failed. Or in extreme situations – ‘life and death’ – such as those where dogs may have killed sheep etc.

However, typical of today’s disposable society, so many people  want everything, ‘right here, right now’ without being prepared to put in any effort into their training. As a result, sales of e-collars are rapidly rising as lazy trainers, and those with little empathy turn to the technology, perceiving it to be their number resource as they look for a ‘quick fix’.

E-collar training isn’t rocket science, and the people using it aren’t always the brightest.

Principally there are two methods (1) ‘corrections’ (stim/shocks) when the dog does something that is perceived to be wrong by the trainer or (2) The dog’s action stops the stim/shock being delivered, whereby the dog learns to ‘make it stop’, thereby hopefully ‘learning’ from the experience.

Advocates of e-collars tend to describe the stimulus as a stim, since it sounds less offensive than a ‘shock’. But it’s well understood within the dog training fraternity, that poor e-collar training has ruined many good dogs. In fact I have seen dogs with pressure necrosis (looks like burn marks) on their necks and dogs with a tendency to jump or flinch in anticipation of receiving a ‘shock’.

One story I can still clearly remember is the  one guy who called me out of the blue with an apparently ‘trained’ Rottweiler Guard dog that was going nuts. He had fitted an electric bark collar to his dog, and each time the dog barked, the animal was shocked, causing the animal to yelp in pain, and was duly shocked again and again. He ask for my help to remove the offending collar, while risk getting bitten. Well, this was an easy one for me to answer. I simply asked who recommended the collar? His reply was music to my ears, a “dog trainer”. I simply replied saying he direct his request to the ‘trainer’ whose advice he followed – Simples! an easy one!

While the Government (past and present) have been investigating whether to ban this technology in the UK (already banned in Wales – ‘sheep country’) – the final outcome remains to be seen. But like everything the Government investigates it’s like ‘going through treacle’.  However, it’s felt by most ethical dog trainers, that it’s not a case of whether e-collars will be banned – it’s a case of when. As all respectable organisations with canine welfare at their core – the Royal Kennel Club, the RSPCA, The GSD League to name a few – are all adamantly against this aversive method of training. Perceiving it to be cruel, and even cheating – since it forces animals (our friends) to work in a non-natural way.

If you’ve ever seen a dog working like a robot or having very ‘sharp reflexes’ (flinching), rather than having a natural flow, then there’s a very good chance electric collars have been used. Described by fellow dog trainers as ‘remote control dogs’. What is arguably surprising is there are lot’s of so-called ‘Sports Dog Trainers’ that are heavily reliant on e-collars. The overarching argument is whether you can ‘ethically’ call something ‘a sport’, when the trainer has to rely on this aversive technology, just to compete in a trail to try and acquire a qualification by forcing their animal to do something in the name of ‘sport’ is open to conjecture. But many of these individuals if unsuccessful will simply ‘sell on’ or rehome animals that don’t ‘make the grade’ – such is the nature of the human ‘ego’.

There are countless examples of where military dog handlers use e-collars to recall their animals from life threatening ‘high-risk’ situations, but it should be remembered here, that these are neither ‘civilian environments’; pets or ‘sports dogs’.  

One of the big issues with using such technology is that it covers up (hides) underlying flaws in both training and genetics. If an poorly educated dog breeder witnesses a dog that he or she perceives to being doing well in competitions, and thinks, A-ha this is what I need to introduce into my breeding program. It could be hiding character flaws that can so easily be passed onto future generations.

One of the reasons, incalculable numbers of dogs are seen on YouTube etc wearing e-collars – is that without them, the owners have little control, and might not even be able to work their dog safely…

E-Collars have been developed over the years to become more, and more covert with hefty price tags to match. It could even be argued that these users are ashamed of resorting to the technology – otherwise why would you spend £000’s on covert equipment – hoping that no one will notice, and will hopefully think what a wonder obedient dog they have. Typically these have wide colourful collars, masking the electronics hidden beneath. Ring finger controllers, rather than overt remote handsets. Even phone apps that can remotely switch between shock and vibrate.

Whether you chose to use e-collars or not is your choice, but remember, more and more Countries are banning the technology on animal welfare grounds such Germany, Austria, Switzerland. The Countries where the technology is allowed, generally have a poorer animal welfare standards (e.g. China and the USA). The individuals openly using the technology on YouTube and similar are usually located in these Countries without a ban – but not always! 

When thinking of what path you wish to follow remember what Josh Billings once said:

‘A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself’  

Do you really want to shock your best friend?