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If used properly and humanely, a shock collar can be a very effective way of training a dog. Modern collars now feature different settings such as a warning beep and varying levels of shock that you can increase or decrease on a dial located on the controller. This allows the trainer to adjust the severity of the punishment as the dog's behavior changes. At first a stronger jolt may be necessary, but then as the dog begins to respond, a lighter pulse may be used and then perhaps just a warning beep. You can also start out with a warning and if the behavior continues, let them have a zap.

Older shock collars contained a chip that had to be installed to adjust the level of zap a dog would receive. This was very un-handy and didn't allow for immediate adjustment depending on the dog's behavior. Today it is very possible to humanely train a dog with a newer-make collar.

My husband, Alan, recently purchased his first shock collar to use on two different dogs. His dad's dog Cody, a husky/German Shepherd mix had been causing trouble on the farm, killing cats and an entire flock of chickens. He is now spending his life on a zipline, which isn't much of a life. My husband thought with some re-training, Cody could once again learn to be off leash on the farm and be of some actual use on the place, rather than just a burden.

Another reason for his purchase was the fact that his dog Charlie, a golden retriever/chow mix was recently hit on the highway and we do not want our new pup, Remington to meet the same fate. Right now Remi, a 12 week old German Shorthaired Pointer, is too small for the collar, but as it becomes time to train him for hunting it will come in handy. Also, we have a farm and our dogs are quite temped to follow a tractor, 4-wheeler or team of horses across the road or any place Alan might go. Charlie never did stay home and that is partly why he got hit on the road, that and the deer that was hit in front of our house.

Getting back to Cody, well let's just say he's lost his appetite for chicken. Al let him off his zipline and he predictably made a beeline for the flock of guinea hens on his dad's farm. After ignoring commands to come back, he received a substantial zap via collar and actually ran the bird over trying to get away from it!

Can shock collars ruin dogs by being misused, yes, but if used with the proper amount of force (the least amount necessary) a dog can be taught not to kill birds or cats and to stay off the highway. I don't know about you, but I would much rather give a dog a powerful zap with a collar than to see him killed on the road.

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