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Would You Still Use Shock-Collar Dog Training?

2011 ©Online Pet Accessories Page | 1

Arguments have run over the use of certain dog collars which use

electrical signals with associated pain in order to correct dog

behaviour. Some of these shock collars, which basically are

electric, can be obtained among comparatively cheap pet

supplies. The apparently easy way to acquiring these collars is often a source of justification for owners who would want the

“easy” way to train their dogs. But, would shock collars really

make the training easy? Or, wouldn’t the effects rather get

complicated when the behavioural response is the reverse of

what has been expected?

Of a truth, there still are a number of advantages with shock-

collar use, especially when dogs are under strict training.

Nonetheless, there also are a number of disturbing disadvantages

with these collar types. The discussion below will explore on these pros and cons.

Pain Control vs. False Association

One advantage to electronic collars is their adjustability. You can

actually control the amount of pain to be directed to the dog even

from a distance, as this can be set or changed from time to time.

For instance, the dog is restricted from going over the fence and

is just directed to stay in the front yard. A shock collar may be set to send a certain shot of pain onto the dog as he moves away

from his place. This exactly says that you don’t have to

constantly check on your yard if your dog is still there. That’s one

convenience.

On the other hand, the dog might then have a problem with false

association. With the more common, everyday dog collars, you

will have to be pulling the leash attached to the collar in order to

let the dog associate escaping beyond the fence to be something

you wouldn’t like him to do. With shock collars, though, the warning can be made without you being there, such that the dog

is less likely to associate the source of pain with you. That may

sound good news, but, with the apparent absence of a human

trainer, the pain received may then be associated by the dog to

2011 ©Online Pet Accessories Page | 2

some environmental distress. With the effect of fearing for

something unknown, the dog may then exhibit more complicated

and destructive behaviours in the near future.

Automation vs. Toleration

As shocks may be repeatedly received through an automated

setting, and as the delivery may be less accurate and sometimes

even exaggerated, the dog may then develop toleration. This, of

course, is rather fatal to your original intention of training.

Well, there are other non-pain-based training methods which

fundamentally eliminate the use of shock collars. These include

the giving of rewards such as new dog toys for a dog’s good

behaviour.