Shock collar. Irritated.

3964 Views 20 Replies 14 Participants Last post by PoppyKenna, Apr 27, 2020

KodaKeet

Discussion Starter · Apr 10, 2016 (Edited)

I hate that my sister glorifies shock collars. I've tried so hard to convince her that they are not okay. So of course she goes on telling my parents they should get them for our dogs and telling them all the good things.

For one, Rookie already has some kind of trama. We don't know where it came from. But she's already nervous.

For two, I keep trying convince them the collars arnt okay. When my sister had her dog here and she tried calling her off the steps the dog just started shaking and refused to step off them.

This is more of a rant than anything. I'm irritated, obviously. :/

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firefox497

· #2 · Apr 10, 2016

If you wouldn't put it on your kids why would you put it on your best friend?! People looking for a quick hands off fix ai think.

https://youtu.be/_T9qiGCq5sk

You're either teaching them not to warn people (leading to bites) with a bark collar, or potentially creating an invisible one way fence with an invisible fence where they cleared it to chase ______ but are now stuck outside of the line. Plus whether or not you agree with her methods, Victoria Stilwell brings up the point that you can cause lifelong psychological trauma with even the first shock.

Reactions: 1

KodaKeet

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 10, 2016

firefox497 said:
If you wouldn't put it on your kids why would you put it on your best friend?! People looking for a quick hands off fix ai think.

https://youtu.be/_T9qiGCq5sk

You're either teaching them not to warn people (leading to bites) with a bark collar, or potentially creating an invisible one way fence with an invisible fence where they cleared it to chase ______ but are now stuck outside of the line. Plus whether or not you agree with her methods, Victoria Stilwell brings up the point that you can cause lifelong psychological trauma with even the first shock.

I absolutely love Victoria. My dad told me not to worry because we can't afford the collars anyway. But my sister got a lemon tree and when my mom asked how she'd keep the dogs frm eating it my sister mentioned the collars. It makes me mad. I try to defend the dogs but it doesn't work. I love my sister but this always gets my blood boiling.

I try to tell my mom how we can train the dogs but she basically laughs at me.

Laco

· #4 · Apr 10, 2016

I consider shock collars, training by torture. Dogs hate pain, and quickly become very fearful of any source of pain. If they can't determine the source, they become fearful of everything.

firefox497

· #5 · Apr 10, 2016

I love her too, it's amazing watching her try to contain her rage with bad owners on the show.

Of the studies I found (by DEFRA) it usually comes down to the people who buy these collars: they had no reason to get one in the first place, didn't bother reading the manual, and crank the voltage to max. Not to mention that the dogs they studied were stressed, anxious, and tended to be anti-social with the researchers and others dogs. PETA hates them, the Humane Society doesn't like them, and I welcome the US banning or restricted them to professional trainers. Wales does.

Ursie

· #6 · Apr 10, 2016 (Edited)

Pet dogs usually don't need electric collars. Seriously, if your dog doesn't need it, why get one? Recalls can be taught with a long line.
Personally, I have no problem with working dogs (hunting, police, protection) wearing electric collars, but the average pet does not have a need for one.
It seems people here have little knowledge of their use, seeing as they describe it as torture. No decent handler would ever use a shock collar in a way that would injure a dog. If you traumatize your dog with the first shock, you are using it incorrectly (setting it to high, for example) or the dog does not require one.

firefox497

· #7 · Apr 11, 2016

Ursie said:
Pet dogs usually don't need electric collars. Seriously, if your dog doesn't need it, why get one? Recalls can be taught with a long line.
Personally, I have no problem with working dogs (hunting, police, protection) wearing electric collars, but the average pet does not have a need for one.
It seems people here have little knowledge of their use, seeing as they describe it as torture. No decent handler would ever use a shock collar in a way that would injure a dog. If you traumatize your dog with the first shock, you are using it incorrectly (setting it to high, for example) or the dog does not require one.

Precisely. I'm a little uneasy about working dogs using them, but the professional trainers are trying to illicite a 2 year old GSD to do a specific reaction to a specific event at a precise time. Whereas a middle-aged housewife trying to get her 4 month old bichon frise housetrained unsupervised with inappropriate use is rediculous.

PoppyKenna

· #8 · Apr 11, 2016

Ursie said:
Pet dogs usually don't need electric collars. Seriously, if your dog doesn't need it, why get one? Recalls can be taught with a long line.
Personally, I have no problem with working dogs (hunting, police, protection) wearing electric collars, but the average pet does not have a need for one.
It seems people here have little knowledge of their use, seeing as they describe it as torture. No decent handler would ever use a shock collar in a way that would injure a dog. If you traumatize your dog with the first shock, you are using it incorrectly (setting it to high, for example) or the dog does not require one.

I think a difference too is that high caliber working dogs tend to have rock solid temperaments (kind of a requirement). It's much easier for a softer, pet dog to be traumatized, even with a low setting.

And, as you said, totally unnecessary.

My dad likes to spout about shock collars too. I think a lot of people believe them to be an instant fix and don't realize the problems that can be caused. He's never used one and I doubt he ever would. Not while my mom's around at least

KayWilson

· #9 · Apr 11, 2016

I just can't back shock collars regardless. There is always a less painful solution to training a dog, working or otherwise.
@KodaKeet my sister is the same. She uses shock collars on her 15 lb mutt and 80 lb lab, it saddens me ever time I see them. When I dog sit, the collars are the first things off.

My sister repeatedly has tried to convince me that a shock collar would be the solution to Tessa's reactivity and barking - she's very much a "demand" barker and she likes to sing the song of her people to pretty much anyone who has ears, but she does stop once ignored and has come a long way in training.

DriveDog

· #10 · Apr 11, 2016

KodaKeet said:
I try to tell my mom how we can train the dogs but she basically laughs at me.

Two questions, how will you train the dogs if you have your way and two, why haven't you already started?

If you train the dogs using whatever method you decide and get results, this problem you are having will no longer exist.

travelingswift

· #11 · Apr 11, 2016

I'm not completely against shock collars. Like any training tool, they have their time and place for use. The problem with them is that 90% (made up statistic) of people who use them are in neither the right time or place nor know how to use one properly even if they *were* in the right time and place.

Definitely sounds like your sister is one of the 90%. For a nervous/unconfident/fearful dog, a shock collar is the absolutely wrong training tool.

jagger

· #12 · Apr 11, 2016

Last time I came across a dog with a bark collar, it was on a JRT in a store. Dog alert barked then proceeded to start screeching. The more it screeched, the higher the level. Poor dog was a shaking, shivvering mass when it finally calmed down. "Just trying to get him to stop barking" was her response. I told her to try it on for size.

I have friends that use e-collars for training their hunting dogs. Whether I like them or not, not my call but they defend to the bitter end.

Samson5261

· #13 · Apr 11, 2016

A guy I use to work with adopted a pit from the local shelter. He's to lazy to walk her so he turns her put loose. Well first time he did this she took off. So his solution was putting a shock collar on her. Says it was an instant fix and tells everyone who gets a dog to get one. He also said if he could get away with it he would put it on his kid to train her&#55357;&#56882;.
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KodaKeet

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 11, 2016

DriveDog said:
Two questions, how will you train the dogs if you have your way and two, why haven't you already started?

If you train the dogs using whatever method you decide and get results, this problem you are having will no longer exist.

My DF friends here have given me a lot of resources in the past that have helped tremendously. I've taught my dog everything she knows and my brother taught his as well (Rookie). I use PR, so clickers and treats. Molly does everything I ask of her when walking, sitting, waiting to eat her food, those kind of things.

Im not sure how id go about the barking itself. I usually distract them with something. But my mom is persistent that we need shock collars so our dogs will no longer have to be fenced. It's redicious.

For one, if they run off and attack someone's pet, it wont be illegal for that someone to shoot the dogs. That's not illegal here. Im trying to protect my dogs by telling her they shouldn't be off leash at all. They used to stay in the yard but even then I was upset about it.

I want to work on recal with a partner. Like hiding and having someone hold the dog on a leash, then me calling the dog. The dog gets a treat when they find me. But I get put down for any suggestions. I will look into one of those long lines though.

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Onnie Meltz

· #15 · Apr 25, 2020

I hate it when my family talks about putting a shock collar on our beagle when she runs away for a little bit.
I mean, she’s cooped up in the house all day, (she belongs to my sister, and my sister works all day,) and she’s a pure bred beagle! That breed LOVES to run!
I guess my point is that a bit of freedom for our furry friends shouldn’t be punished. A family member said, “That dog has a mind of its own.” I was livid. Have humans already forgotten that dogs aren’t just things to have, that they aren’t little playthings to breed and put into competitions and tie up and sell?
Pretty sad.

Pertalote

· #16 · Apr 26, 2020

Laco said:
I consider shock collars, training by torture. Dogs hate pain, and quickly become very fearful of any source of pain. If they can't determine the source, they become fearful of everything.

I'm new here, but I have a question. Are we talking about shock collars for training, or invisible fence?

Mad Murphy

· #17 · Apr 26, 2020

This is a very old thread but please be aware many people here do not advocate the use of shock or prong collars and in many countries they are illegal.

Pertalote

· #18 · Apr 27, 2020

Mad Murphy said:
This is a very old thread but please be aware many people here do not advocate the use of shock or prong collars and in many countries they are illegal.

The thread is old but Onnie Meltz posted a few days ago so I wanted to clarify what type of shock collar is she talking about. Onnie, is it a shock collar or an invisible fence collar? I am interested in how people feel about these things.

JoanneF

· #19 · Apr 27, 2020

As a forum, we take an anti-aversive tool stance. There are far more effective and far kinder ways of dealing with any behaviour. We allow discussion but not promotion of these sorts of things (see rule 13 for detail) .

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Was there anything in particular you wanted to know about them?

Onnie Meltz

· #20 · Apr 27, 2020

Laco said:
I consider shock collars, training by torture. Dogs hate pain, and quickly become very fearful of any source of pain. If they can't determine the source, they become fearful of everything.

I’d rather have a dog that obeys me in respect and loyalty, (though I honestly don’t get why dogs have to follow every single little order we give,) than a dog that is to scared of me to jump into my lap.

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