Electric dog collar

Electric Dog Collar | 22 years ago, when I brought an electric dog collar for training back to the country, it was something unique and unheard of here. After a few years, the market for electric collars has grown significantly and, in addition to training collars, you can also buy electric collars for bark control or collars with an electric fence. In this post, however, I would like to focus on the pros and cons of using an electric dog collar, leaving the ethical question for you to decide for yourself.

Electric dog collars – what are they for?

An electric dog collar can have many uses, whether when working with defence dogs, companion dogs or hunting dogs. Most modern electric training collars also feature an audible alert, an audible alert combined with an electric pulse, and some newer-generation collars also include a vibration function. An additional feature worth mentioning is the LED light, which makes it easier to work with your dog in the evening. Collars available on the market usually have a range of between 50 and 800 metres, depending on the model, brand and price.

What exercises can you do using an electric dog collar?

When it comes to obedience training, an electric dog collar can be useful for:

• Preventing your dog from running away
• Teaching your dog not to take food from strangers
• Preventing the dog from taking food off the ground
• Curbing aggression
• Walking off-lead

When training guard dogs, an electric collar can be useful for:

• Recall during periods of high arousal
• Releasing the decoy on command whilst the dog is highly excited
• Reminding the dog to return to the location of the object being guarded
• Facilitating training in escorting a criminal

Of course, there are many more applications, and every trainer will likely have their own ideas on how to use the collar, but in my opinion, the ones listed above form a set of techniques that can be confidently implemented during training sessions with an electric training collar.

Electric dog collar with an audible signal

The audible signal in the collar is effective when combined with a pulse. This is precisely how the dog learns that a signal precedes the pulse. After a while, the dog develops a conditioned response, meaning that its behaviour can be corrected using the audible signal alone. This feature works well for dogs that run away and which we wish to train out of this habit. In the initial phase, we use the signal plus the shock for training; later on, the shock alone is sufficient to achieve the desired result.

Common mistakes when using an electric collar

• The owner does not know how to use the electric collar properly. It is used at the wrong times and the dog does not understand the stimulus.
• A shock that is too strong or too weak may cause harm or simply be ineffective.
• The quick results mean that the owner uses this method even when it isn’t necessary.

Is an electric collar safe?

I don’t think there’s a clear-cut answer. First and foremost, not everyone should buy one. It is a tool for a qualified trainer who knows how to work with an electric collar and understands the type of dog they will be working with. Using an electric collar on dogs that are mentally fragile, fearful or have very sensitive skin will usually end badly or very badly. Anxious dogs may become even more confused, whilst dogs with sensitive skin may suffer physical injuries to the skin around the neck (severe irritation causes small wounds to appear, followed by scabs). Mentally strong dogs respond well to training using this method.

Please bear in mind that this is an electrical device. Before fitting it around the dog’s neck, it is advisable to test the strength of the pulse on your own hand to ensure you do not harm the dog. A pulse that is too strong can cause harm, whilst one that is too weak will yield no training results.

Summary

The purchase of an electric collar by an inexperienced person may result in its misuse, which in turn could lead to serious physical or psychological injury to your dog. However, if the collar is used for training by a level-headed person who knows their dog and is familiar with the techniques for working with an electric collar, it may prove to be a wonderful, indispensable tool that will help you achieve your dog training goals.

See also another article on working with electric collars.

Have you bought an electric collar and aren’t sure how to use it?