Electric dog collars are primarily used to curb a dog's penchant for excessive barking. The idea behind the collar's use is to provide consistent, negative feedback to that action. Over time, this feedback gradually eliminates the behavior. There is substantial confusion about the use of these collars. Some professional trainers support their use and offer case studies that prove the collars' effectiveness. Other trainers support the widely-held belief that their use is cruel and abusive. In this article, we will provide an objective perspective regarding how electric dog collars work, as well as the pros and cons of using them.
How They Work
Electric collars work by identifying the vibrations emitted from a dog's vocal cords. When your dog barks, the vibrations stimulate the collar through probes attached to its inner portion. These probes are in continuous contact with your dog's skin. When vibrations from barking are identified, the probes deliver a short, electrical charge. The shock is typically low-level and causes no lasting damage to the dog.
Benefits Of Electric Dog Collars
First, electric collars can curb excessive barking. Many dogs are prone to "nuisance barking" (i.e. incessant barking without obvious reason) which can be frustrating to their owners. And specific breeds are more prone than others. These collars can effectively modify this behavior. Second, while nuisance barking can arguably be eliminated through other training systems, the use of an electric collar is usually less maintenance for owners. Third, due to how these collars work, an owner does not have be present or in close proximity to the dog. The collar enforces the new behavior even if the owner is absent.
Potential Drawbacks
While there are obvious benefits to using electric collars, there are also a number of drawbacks. First, dogs typically learn new behaviors more effectively through positive reinforcement. A treat given for good behavior promotes that behavior more reliably than punishment doled out for poor behavior (i.e. barking). Second, owners often have a difficult time understanding why their dog is barking. Dogs bark for a number of reasons that include territorial dominance, response to perceived threats, or anxiety. If an electric collar is used indiscriminately to curb the barking, a dog may become confused about how to express itself.
Making The Decision
Using an electric dog collar continues to be a controversial issue. While some experts argue that their use is inhumane to dogs, others contend that the collars are an effective tool for behavior modification. That said, as with any tool, they can be used inappropriately, causing lasting damage. In the end, your decision should be made by considering your dog's reasons for barking and consulting the opinion of experienced professionals.
Electric Dog Training Collars
Usually a dog training collar will emit a small shock when the person offering the training presses a button on the remote control. When the dog feels the shock, applied usually to the throat, and hears the negative command, chances are they will stop the behavior that resulted in slight pain. Once the dog understands that a firm no means a shock is coming, the dog training collar may not be needed.
If your dog barks a lot a dog training collar can shock the dog everytime the dog barks. Normally the dog will learn pretty quickly that if it barks it will be shocked and will decide that barking is not worth the pain. For those who shy away from shocking their animal, a no-bark dog training collar has been developed that emits a short spray of a lemon scented mist towards the dog's nose. Its unpleasant odor will remind the dog not to bark, without the electric shock.
Shocks Can Help Guide Your Dog
Some dog owners and professional trainers are using electric dog training collars as part of a training regimen to help the dog learn new tricks, and not just to stay off the furniture and not to jump up on people. Usually if you slap your leg and tell the dog to come, you will probably get a dumb look. If you tell him to come and he gets a slight unpleasant shock, he may listen a little better.
If you are using a radio fence containment system you must make sure it is installed correctly and there is no threat of serious injury to your pet. Keep in mind that once your dog when wearing its dog training collar knows where its boundaries are even if you shut off the power to the underground fence, the dog will be reluctant to cross that line, even at your urging.
You should also keep in mind that a dog training collar is not something the dog needs to wear its entire life. Once their behavior can be changed by the issuance of verbal commands, the collar has done its job.
Both Lawrence J. Reaves & Benjamin Brook are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lawrence J. Reaves has sinced written about articles on various topics from Anger Control, Home Management and Death. Find the best and at. Lawrence J. Reaves's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
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