by Megan Kingsley

Created on: June 03, 2009   Last Updated: June 04, 2009

The electronic shock collar, commonly termed an 'e-collar,' is one of the most misunderstood items used in dog training. In the hands of a knowledgeable trainer, an e-collar is effective, humane, and safe. However, there are right ways and wrong ways to use such a device.

An e-collar, like any training tool, is as strong as the trainer that uses it. Used incorrectly, it can be a source of confusion, pain, fear, and anxiety for a dog. Used correctly, it can save the dog's life and increase the animal's confidence and working ability. A dog that responds instantly and completely to a command to 'come' or 'lie down' can be saved from running across a road ahead of a car, or chasing a deer into the woods. The strongest argument for the e-collar is for training such lifesaving commands, and for use when working the dog off-leash. With population growth in most areas of the country, there are fewer and fewer isolated areas that can be used for training or working dogs. With a properly used e-collar, a trainer can have as much control, or more, of the dog as he or she could using a regular collar and leash, while still allowing the animal to move about at will.

An e-collar should be used only on a confident dog that is already trained. It is not intended to teach commands, but to reinforce them. For example, one does not use an e-collar to teach the dog a recall; instead the collar is utilized only when the dog ignores the command. The collar is activated by the trainer only when the dog chooses to ignore a command it is thoroughly familiar with. Often, the collar will have a 'vibrate' function as well as the 'shock' function. A vibrate works very well to remind the dog to pay attention or a stronger correction will be forthcoming. Used correctly, the collar's correction will elicit no more severe of a reaction from the dog than a leash correction. There is no need for the dog to respond negatively or to yelp in discomfort - that is misusing the equipment. The collar should be set at the lowest level necessary to get the desired response. A collar that allows the correction to be increased from the remote ensures that the correction level can be increased if needed without getting one's hands on the dog.

An e-collar is a very effective and safe training tool if some basic items are followed. First, the trainer should have a good knowledge of training and be able to 'read' a dog well. An e-collar is not to be used in the hands of a novice trainer

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