Many dog trainers use training aids to control dogs, but is the training of dogs through pain a good method? There are lots of dog training aids out there, electric shock collars, prong dog collars but do they really train your dog?
In August 2007 the English government looked at the sale and use of electric shock dog collars and found that there was a lack of evidence to ban the sale or use of them. Have things moved on since then? In 2010 the collars were banned in Wales and recently a man was fined £2000 plus £1000 costs for using one on his dog.
This blog post isn`t going to go into the do’s or don’ts for collars but is a starting point for discussion. The big three dog training aids are the electric shock dog collar, the prong dog collar and the citronella collar.
Lets start with the least invasive, the citronella dog collar. These are mostly used to prevent barking but are also used as a training aid to refocus the dog. A scented spray is released just beneath the dogs nose (the release can be remotely triggered on demand or in the case of bark collars activated by noise), the spray isn`t pleasant and stops the dog in its tracks. The idea is that if the dog gains a bad association with certain behaviour it will stop that particular behaviour.
A similar device is the electric shock dog collar. This is a standard dog collar with a device attached, the device typically has two metal prongs pointing towards the dogs neck. The collars usually have varying shock levels to increase/reduce the intensity of the shock. Similar to the citronella collar they are intended to be used during undesirable behaviour to create a bad association and prevent the dog from repeating that behaviour.
A less technical solution is a prong dog collar, or pinch collar as they are also known. These are dog collars usually made of metal that consist of a series of spikes. Aimed at promoting good lead behaviour, when the dog pulls the collar digs into the dogs neck and trachea, or windpipe causing much discomfort and pain. Again a bad association is created, hopefully preventing any pulling.
There is a simple answer to this, I don`t honestly know as I have never used them. There are two common dog training practises, correcting bad behaviour and positive reinforcement of good behaviour. Well known dog trainers such as Cesar Milan use corrective methods whereas Victoria Stilwell (of ‘It’s Me or the Dog’ fame) uses positive reinforcement. Both trainers appear to succeed during their programmes so I guess both techniques work.
Personally I train my own dogs using positive reinforcement. I don`t like scaring my dog or causing them harm but this training takes more time and dedication as you have to wait for a good response, or provide a fun alternative to the bad behaviour as I described in my previous post on how I stopped my terrier dog from chasing.
The Dogs Trust stated on BBC News that the electric shock dog collar is ‘unacceptable, unnecessary and ineffective’ whilst the RSPCA called the collar a ‘barbaric device’.
Whilst I wouldn`t use these collars myself, I understand that some dogs are more extreme than others and owners/trainers may feel that they have no other methods left to try. Would you use these types of dog collar? Have you used them in the past? Did you wear it yourself to experience what the dog will experience? Let us know using the comments below.
As soon as I let my dog off the lead he barks, and doesn’t stop. He gets over excited and by the time i’ve caught up with him to chastise him he’s already forgotten what its for. I’ve tried the citronella collar.. that worked, for a total of five minutes and then he was off barking again, completely ignoring the spray going constantly in his face! I feel that the only thing I can do now is to try the shock collar.. I really didn’t want to, which is why I paid £40 for the spray collar as I thought it would be kinder.
How is the spray collar going Anna?
Well I have tried possitive reinforcement on my dog who is very dominant, clicker training that has not worked. It works for a little while until she sees another dog,she gets aggressive and tries to bite me to let go. I have a bite mark on my arm to prove it. She cant get on with a mussle she breaks them as she is sensitive round the muzzle. So I think her last result would be the correction collar