by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: April 20, 2009   Last Updated: December 31, 2011

An electronic collar is a training, or better, behavior modification advice that uses electrical shocks. They should be used as an ultimate resource, after all other training methods have failed or for particularly severe behaviors that need halted quickly. The main purpose of the electronic collar should be not to inflict pain, but rather to correct the dog and allow a certain behavior to stop.

An example can be, an owner struggling with a dog that barks excessively. They have tried to tell him to stop, good and bad, and they even have tried consulting with a dog trainer. None of these have worked, so instead of dumping him to a shelter because of the neighbor's complaining, they decide to finally consult with a dog behaviorist/dog trainer that uses the electronic collar.

Electronic collars give jolts of differrent intensity depending on the severity of the behavior, the dog's response to pain and how deeply the behavior is radicated in the dog's mind. Usually, lower shock levels are tried and see what effect they have on the dog. If the dog seems to not react to it, the shock may be too low. If the dog yelps, then the voltage is too high.

Trainers know the shock is effective when the dog stops doing what it was doing before the shock. In the case of the barking dog, the dog will bark and the shock will be delivered. The dog will appear surprised for a moment. However, at this point the dog has not realized yet that the shock always follows when the dog barks. It takes a few attempts until the dog learns that 2+2 equals 4. The dog will therefore, in the future try its best to avoid barking in order to avoid the shock.

While the e-collar may be effective in the above scenario, the dog may need frequent ''reminders'' after a while. What happens is that after a while, the dog may resume barking for some reason and may notice that nothing bad happens any more. So the dog enjoys barking again, until the shock collar is put back on to enforce again a no barking policy.

Shock collars ultimately work in the same manner as electronic fences or scat mats, with the only difference that the shocks are delivered by a collar worn by the dog rather than being delivered by the fence or by a mat. A kinder alternative to the shock collar for problem barking is a ''citronella bark collar''.

As mentioned, shock collars should be used as an ultimate resource, when all other training methods have exhausted. Shock collars may lead to further problems such as ''superstitious behaviors'' or an exacerbation of the problem if it stems from fear or anxiety. More and more dog trainers are refusing to use shock collars, and rightfully so, there are many other ways to deal with problem behaviors without resorting to extreme measures. However, in severe cases, shock collars may save a life, and if that is the case, its use can be at least justified. 

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