The next time the friendly dog sees any child, it may turn aggressive and try to scare the child away in fear of getting shocked again. This leaves us with a need for positive reinforcement. Then, you ask the child to try again. So what does this mean, exactly? Moreover, it seems that most dog owners sincerely believe in the safety and efficacy of these dog training devices, especially when they are so commonly used with police and hunting dogs. Though data demonstrating the exact damage that can be potentially caused by using choke and prong collars is incomplete, experience has shown that soft tissue injuries are common and, as is the case with any harsh training method, the damage to the animal-human relationship results. These days, people often use shock collars to curb a variety of stubborn and unwanted behaviors in family dogs, from excessive barking to food aggression. Thank you for your important article. Once set to shock mode, there are usually varying levels of intensity delivered by a two-pronged device attached to a dog collar. The remote control is a small device that fits easily in the palm of the dog trainer. Only dogs can hear this sound and is completely silent to humans. Shock collars allow for none of these positive actions. According to canine experts and behaviorists, the collar does more harm than good. He has been pummeled by EMFs for the last 4 years. With boundary training (often marketed as an invisible or wireless fence), the shock collar is triggered by GPS location-tracking or wires placed underground along the property line so the dog learns exactly how far they can go before they reach the boundary. Schilder, Matthijs BH, and Joanne AM van der Borg. The Surprising Connection Between Pet Collars and Seizures - Mercola.com They both work in a similar manner. You are absolutely right. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. When a dog crosses an invisible line, barks or doesnt respond to a command, its time to shock them with an electronic fence or shock collar. Here is a summary of the pros and cons of shock collars for dogs. The experts' opinion on the use of dog shock collars isn't consistent, however. I have always wondered about shock collars. Shock collars range in price from $30 to $250+, depending on features such as remote control, adjustable warning/shock levels, a range of distances (usually 30 to 400 yards), and the number of collars included. Do Electric Shock Collars Harm Dogs? - Whole Dog Journal Any excessive barking dog needs treatment or training but no shock collars. Hi! Ultrasonic bark control is a much humane alternative. Obviously, it's possible that the perception of a training method could've influenced dog owners' opinion and view of the efficacy of training methods. Shock collars, which use simple static electric shock, do not cause seizures when used correctly. So cool! As a result, she and I are out walking rain, sleet, snow and shine! However after reading through your post, I am leaning towards not having dogs wear shock collars. If youre using the collar to deter behavioral issues like food aggression, jumping, or leash aggression, a remote control allows you to administer the shock or other corrective mode in conjunction with the unwanted behavior. Can a shock collar damage a dogs vocal cords? These collars can be used on dogs weighing 10-110 lbs and a single charge can last up to 20 days. For me, I think if you teach them what to do, with time, they will adapt to it other than exposing the pet to other risk like cancer. He's not learning to stop doing the unwanted behavior. The unconditional love we give and receive from our dogs transcends all space and time! I've thoroughly reviewed Blackwell's study andseveral accompanying papers, have taken an extensive look at all claimednegative consequences of dog shock collars and whether there's some good scientific evidence on the pros of using dog training collars aside from the arguments made by author Steven R Lindsay. Youve confirmed what I was already thinking. You are absolutely correct its no excuse to hurt or traumatize them. Sure, he curbed the barking, but at what cost? "It seems obvious that the collar actually pushes on the throat exactly in the area of the thyroid gland," he says. This sound was designed to annoy a dog and not harm them. Thank you for this very informative article. Shock collars are a type of aversive training initially used in the 1960s to train hunting dogs. Think we will go with the fence option so they can have a yard without getting shocked. Through barking of course, and giving them electric shocks through shock collars is actually killing their rights to talk. The reason we opted for an underground fence was due to wanting her to be free all day every day. I know of a person who used an shock collar on his Beagle to correct her over vocalizations. This dog started out as a fun loving, affectionate and happy pooch. I think an actual fence is the best way to go I agree, but in the case where that is not financially feasible, then an electric fence is preferred over the shock collar. It gets rave customer reviews, performs well, and has most of the features youll need as long as you dont require a long range (its range is roughly 330 yards). Regardless of what the manufacturers try to sell about shock collars, it does incite pain or at the very least, discomfort.