E-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. In fact, most seasoned dog trainers are firmly against the technology, considering it to be a form of ‘cheating’. While others leave it in reserve, and will only consider the technology for situations where everything else has failed. Or in extreme situations, such as those where dogs have killed sheep and the alike.

Typical of today’s disposable society, so many people want things, ‘right here, right now’ without being prepared to put in any effort into their training, and so e-collars are increasingly being used by both lazy trainers and those with little empathy for their animals. Perceiving it to be their number one resource or ‘go to’ method of training and those looking for ‘quick fixes’.

E-collar training isn’t rocket science, there being principally two methods (1) ‘corrections’ (stim/shocks) when the dog does something 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’, so hopefully ‘learns’ from the experience. Advocates of e-collars tend to describe the stimulus as a stim, as it sounds far less offensive than shock. But it is well understood within the dog training fraternity, that poor e-collar training has ruined many good dogs.

I can clearly remember 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 thus duly shocked again when it yelped and so on. He ask for my help to remove the collar, and risk getting bitten at the same time! Well, this was an easy one for me to answer. I simply asked who recommended that he should purchase such a collar? His reply was music to my ears, a “dog trainer” he replied. I simply said, he should contact the ‘trainer’ that provided the advice – easy one!

While the Government (past and present) have been investigating whether to ban this technology from being used in the UK (already banned in Wales – ‘sheep country’) – the final outcome remains to be seen. However, it is 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. Since all respectable organisations with canine welfare at their core – the Royal Kennel Club, the RSPCA, The GSD League to name just a few – are all adamantly against this aversive method of training. Perceiving it to be cruel or cheating, as it forces animals (our friends) to work in a non-natural way. If you ever see a dog working like a robot, rather than having natural flow, then there’s a very good chance electric collars have been used. Described by fellow dog trainers as ‘remote control dogs’.

One of the big issues with using such technology is that it covers up 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 could 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 be able to work the dog safely…

E-Collars have been developed over the years to become yet more, and more covert with a hefty price tags to match. It could even be argued that the users are ashamed of resorting to the technology – otherwise why would you spend £000’s on covert equipment, hoping that you will not notice, and think what a wonder obedient dog they have. Typically these are 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 such as China and the USA. The individuals openly using the technology on YouTube and similar are usually located in Countries without a ban – but not always!