Thoughts on man being fined for using a Shock Collar

[Jennifer and Jack]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14181927

 

 

Apparently these are illegal in his Country. I personally am not a fan of shock collars or electric fences unless the owner really really knows how to use them and train their dog accordingly. Then I think they are fine as long as the dog learns quickly and is not continually shocked as in for training purposes

 

Do you think that someday they will be illegal to use in the US, do you think the humane society will step in?

 

http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14181927 

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

I may become unpopular on this one.  If an e-collar along with training can help a dog keeps its home instead of being re-homed or worse euthanized.  I would want the RIGHT to be able to use one.

IMO e-collars can be a very useful tool if used correctly.  Which most people do not use them correctly.  That is way there is a big need to for people to be educated on them.  I'm not trying to advocate e-collars, but from experience I know it is important to train a person how to use one before ever putting it on a dog.  A good trainer using an e-collar uses it to get the dogs attention not to cause it pain.  IMO if you have ever touched something and got a static shock it is similar.  Stim therapy used by my physical therapist hurts more IMO. 

Once again I'm not trying to advocate for the use of e-collars.  but I do not want my RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY to use one if I choose too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree with you. But shock collars can deliver a very strong shock so people do need to be aware of this.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Well I am about to get an electric fence and plan to train accordingly (our yard is NOT condusive to traditional fencing and would cost me 6 months salary due to its size) and I hope no one jumps down my throat about that. 

I agree with Adina. If these were outlawed, I think it is just the government taking more control than they already have.

But I also agree some people misuse shock collars.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

There have been many posts on "invisible fences", we have one.  The best advice is to make sure they are trained and not to trust them for at least 3 months after you think they are well trained.  We have had great sucess with ours.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, we are having it professionally installed and they are coming to evaluate the dogs next week. They won't ever be outside without us home (and usually outside). It's so we don't have to leash them every time we go out.  Most folks I have talked to never use the shock.

Sorry but for us it is simply not an option to have a 100% reliable dog to just "stay in the yard".  DH and I work full time it's not going to happen (especially with deer, other dogs in neighborhood, etc..).

I just think it's easy for people to judge the use of these items.....come on!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with others that these collars are only tools, and like any tool they need to be used properly.  I believe firmly that dogs need motivation to learn.   For some of the "softer" dogs (like my Guinness), that motivation can come in the form of positive reinforcement (treats and affection).  For other stronger willed dogs (like Murph) the positive reinforcers are just not enough for him to alter his "bad" behaviors....doing "naughty things" is more reinforcing to him than getting a treat.  His motivation came from getting a correction....he behaved because he did not want to get the correction.  I used a choke collar with him at the beginning of his training, and I had training in how to actually administer the correction so that it would be motivational but would not injure him at all.  It worked well (although it took some time), and now I don't have to use this collar at all.  He will respond to a quick tug on a slip lead to let him know he's made a mistake.  I could have used a prong or an ecollar to accomplish the same thing, and IMO all of these options would have been fine (when used appropriately with the right degree of "correction").  It was all about teaching him what was expected and letting him know when an action was not the "right choice".  Without the right training, Murph would have been a very difficult dog to own, and he would probably have lived a horrible life.  He would not have been able to be out in public with strangers or other dogs.  The training program and the ability to use a motivational tool has resulted in him being a calmer and way more "well adjusted" dog.  I would hate to think that any law would prevent me from having the availability of a training tool that produces results without inflicting injury to the dog.  If you start with the ecollar, what would be next...a prong or a choke collar?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Well said.

[ClarkP]

I think prong collars and choke chains are both much less painful than an ecollar can be.  For me personally, the ecollar is the deterrent of last resort or only to be used at a high level of dog training.  I would hate to see anyone start a training program with an ecollar without first having done LOTS of basic obedience.  Once that is complete and you are doing off-leash distance work, then the ecollar would be a good tool to use if the trainer knew how to use it properly.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree with this Clark. But I wonder if some people use it in an attempt to circumvent  the hours, weeks and years that proper training requires? Is it part of our society's need for "instant gratification" that leads people to use these collars? Thinking they can train their dog quickly and get it over with?

 

I know people who are extremely frustrated that their 6 month to  year old dogs are not perfectly behaved and haven't "gotten it" yet.  They choose not to put in the time or have the patience to do the "repetition, repetition, repetition" that proper training requires. I know...  if that is the case they shouldn't own a dog but they do... and that's a whole other discussion!

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree which is why I made the comment about using the ecollar correctly with the right degree of "correction" for the type of "mistake" and the particular dog.  Most ecollars can be set to different levels.  I absolutely think that a qualified trainer should be guiding the process.  Used incorrectly they can do way more harm than good IMO.  I also think that's somewhat true of other training collars as well.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Jane, I think your last statement makes a good point. Perhaps that is why training collars came to be referred to as "choke collars". They don't come with any instructions that I know of and could easily be misused.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

I agree that it can make things worse if used incorrectly.  If someone is using an e-collar to correct unwanted behavior lets say "chasing cats".  If that is the only time a correction is given the dog will associate being corrected with the cat and hate it even more.  If given the chance would probably hurt it.  To prevent from making things worse the e-collar needs to be used with all corrections.  IMO it is best to start training as if the dog doesn't know any commands at all.

Being able to use the right level of correction you need to invest in a good collar with multiple levels of stimulation.  Collars sold at Petco or Petsmart usually only have 10 settings.  This type of collar is usually ineffective because the level of stimulation is either to low or to high.  I'm talking about using a collar the has anywhere from 1-127 levels of stimulation.  When using the right level of stimulation the average person will not see the dog react.  IMO e-collars should not be sold at big box stores by uninformed sales staff.