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or someone with a short temper.

Second, the collar should be a quality piece of equipment. Cheap collars found at the pet supply center aren't worth the box they're packaged in. Expect to pay $200 and up for a quality collar. It should be waterproof, easy to operate, have a range of at least mile (as the range is reduced in wet, wooded, or brushy ground cover) and made of quality materials.

Third, the collar should be used to reinforce commands the trainer has already thoroughly taught the dog, not to train the dog new commands. Using a correction when a dog doesn't know what is being asked is cruel and ineffective. It is the equivalent of whipping a child to teach him to write instead of showing him how, then correcting him when he does it wrong.

Fourth, the collar is used only as necessary. A good trainer may find that the dog goes hours, days, weeks, or even months without receiving a correction, and that is a good thing.

An e-collar can save a dog's life. Most dogs go through a stage in training where they pretend to ignore commands. Others are reliable most of the time, except when a person approaches, they see a deer or squirrel, or other distractions commence. In instances like these, being able to correct the dog for his indiscretions can mean the difference between an animal dead on the road or lost in the woods, and a happy dog that is rewarded for listening and staying safe. A few corrections with a well-used e-collar are far kinder than having a dog killed by traffic or lost in the wilderness.

Learn more about this author, Megan Kingsley.
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