e-collars?

[Eryn]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking into trainers and am considering a trainer, that many people have recommended. In fact, I don't know one person who has gone to him and not been satisfied. However, he does use e-collars to train. While he doesn't use it for his basic obedience package, he does use it for his higher level training for off leash control.

Now, I was one of those people that thought e-collars were inhumane and terrible and I thought it was crazy that people "shock" their dog. However, since looking into it and feeling the collar he uses on my own neck, I've realized that there are alot of misconceptions about them. I've also realized that there are correct and incorrect ways to use this tool. Based on my meeting with him, assuming I understand him correctly, he teaches how to use it so the dog pays attention to you and your command, and not about correcting a problem behavior.

I am looking for advice from people who have used or are using e-collars. Positive and negative experiences? 

[Jane Smith]

Both of my girls were professionally trained with e-collars.  After I researched the heck out of it, and met with the trainer, I sent my dogs to her 10 day camp and I got back two completely different dogs.  We have never had to use the shock part, but we do use the little "ding" button, that is just a sound, as a reminder.  That works better than the shock because they don't like the sound. 

 

My girls no longer pull on the leash, they can walk off leash, their recall is amazing.  When they are off leash and get ahead of us, we just way wait, and they both turn around, sit and wait for us to catch up.  Best money I ever spent. 

 

Good luck

[Eryn]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Do your dogs still wear them all the time, or do you trust them without the collars on now?

[Jane Smith]

We still use them for off leash, but rarely even turn them on.  When we bring the collars out, their demeanor changes and they know they need to be good listeners.

[F, Calla & Luca]

My trainer for Luca uses e-collars at times . I use one on vibrate with Luc occasionally mainly when he decides that, Herer, our recall command is to be ignored.

[Eryn]

And I believe that is what this trainer mainly uses it for. It will be wonderful to be able to have him off leash and have a reliable recall.... I think he will be a happier dog in the end. 

[Meridith and Lola]

My Lola had a very strong prey drive for bikers, skateboarders, roller  bladers and even joggers so it was very difficult to have her off leash.  I live in NYC and the off leash laws are actually quite liberal (dogs are allowed to be off leash before 9 am in Central Park). Having an off-leash dog was an important part of our quality of life in the city.  I did a lot of research on e-collars and actually found an amazing trainer through someone on this site.  We trained together and Lola learned very quickly to not chase these people and also to listen to my voice command (which she didn't before when she clicked into prey mode).  I still put the collar on whenever we are off leash but have barely had to use it for years.  I just prefer the security in case she goes after something again (knowing the collar is on may also, prevent her from reverting back to that behavior).

HOWEVER, not every dog needs to be trained with e-collars.  I think they are a good resource if all else fails.  For me, I tried a lot of different trainers but nothing seemed to work.  

If you have a confidence in your trainer, then I am sure you will have a positive experience.  In the right hands and for the right reasons, they can be very effective.

[Adina P]

I think they are totally fine.  People do have a lot of misconceptions about them.  People who use them properly generally use them as 'remote' controls...distance work and reminders/corrections at a distance.  It is not about giving a harsher correction.  There might be cases where strength of correction is a key factor, but not for general obedience training.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I would so love a strong recall at the beach or on a trail.  He is much better after working on "high value treat rewards" when he comes, but it is by no means foolproof.  Quincy trained in less than an hour for the electric fence knows exactly where he can and cannot go without problems.  I guess the e-collar is not unlike that training.

[Eryn]

Thank you for your responses everyone. I appreciate everyone's comments! :)

[Deborah Brown]

I'm actually surprised to see so many in favor of this.  I'm a strong advocate for positive ONLY training.  I don't want my dogs to behave due to fear of punishment.  For many of your dogs that are well adjusted and tempered, they will likely do fine with this type of training but there are some dogs who react very badly to punishment based training and develop deep seated fears and anxiety.  Please consider this carefully.

[F, Calla & Luca]

No doubt that can happen but I have never shocked Luca. I use vibrate only and I don't see it as really aversive.

[Eryn]

I agree with you, it is not for every dog, especially one with fear or anxiety. As I said in my post above, initially I was not in favor of this type of training either, but realized that after I did my research alot of the reasons I was against them, were based on a lack of knowing how they work properly. Even when I felt one myself, I realized it wasn't what I imagined. I thought it was like touching the wire of an electric fence or sticking your finger in a light socket. The newer models are not like that at all. It is more of a pulse that feels exactly like a TENS unit that a physiotherapist uses for therapy. On the collars that this trainer uses, the vibrate is more invasive than the first 25-30 levels. I myself didn't even feel anything until level 20, so the collar allows for such weak settings for even the most sensitive dog.

Having said all of that, I am still not sure I will use it and will most definitely consider this carefully and wouldn't dream of using this without the guidance of a qualified professional.

Thank you for your advice! :)