The first part of dog training is to decide which method to use. This post explains the main types of shock collars, how each one works, and why there are kinder, equally effective options for every one of those jobs.
PS: I personally do not advise or advocate the use of shock collars! I feel these are torturous devices and must be banned worldwide. No certified dog trainer will ever tell you to use shock to train your dog!
Before you start going through the types of shock collar, you need to understand:
Topics covered in this blog post
What is a shock collar?
A remote training collar or shock collar as it is commonly referred to, belongs to a family of dog training collars. There are various types of shock collars and they mostly deliver an electrical signal or vibration tones of varying intensity to the dog’s neck.
Earlier, shock collars only comprised of the shock function. However, currently there are different types of dog shock collars available. A few of these shock collars have vibrational settings or tones which can be used as either an alternative to the shock or these can be used along with the shock.
Some types of shock collars like the electric shock collars also come with internet mapping capabilities as well as GPS to help the guardian look for the dog in case the dog gets lost.
When were shock collars introduced?
Shock collars were first introduced in the 1960s for the purpose of training hunting dogs. These early collars were used to deliver very high levels of electrical impulses to the dog.
Back then, these types of collars were used to train dogs and to keep them in control even if they were far off running behind a prey. Back then, dog training was at its most aggressive. The guardians didn’t care how much shock or pain the shock collar delivered as long as the collar got the job done.
How does a shock collar work?
A shock collar contains two electrical points which are in contact with the dog’s neck. Therefore, when the guardian activates the collar, electrical stimulation is delivered to the dog through those two electrical points in contact with the neck. The newer types of shock collars are coming with a sound feature along with the shock. The purpose of the sound is to give a warning to the dog that if the unwanted behavior is not stopped, a shock will be delivered. Dogs being the super smart creatures that they are, they quickly realize that shock follows the beep. Therefore, after a few uses, only the beep is needed to curb the unwanted behavior.
As I mentioned before, shock collars are generally used by people to curb unwanted behavior in dogs ranging from food aggression to excessive barking. The shock collars are also used to train dogs to stay within the property line or to stay close to the guardian when they are off leash.
Shock collars work by punishment: making a behavior unpleasant
Most of the types of dog collars available currently come in many different types of enforcement as well as different levels of stimulation. This allows you to set the level of electrical stimulation or vibration you wish to deliver to your dog. Furthermore, many shock collars come with a warning beep or vibration before the actual shock is delivered.
When the beep or vibration occurs, you can pair it up with a verbal command like DOWN or NO to further disrupt the unwanted behavior. Your dog knows that a beep or vibration would be followed by a shock. Therefore if you say ‘no’ or ‘down’ with the vibration or tone, it may deter the dog from engaging in the activity you don’t want, to avoid getting shocked.
Now that you are aware of what is a shock collar and how does it work, the next point of discussion is what are the types of shock collars which are available and how do these different types of dog shock collars work? Finding and buying the correct type of shock collar for your dog can make a world of difference to the training process.
Types of shock collars
Shock versus non-shock types of shock collars
Most dog guardians prefer to opt for the type of shock collars which do not have the shock feature. These are considered to be the kinder and more humane option. These types of non-shock collars work on administration of two different kinds of stimuli which is a vibration and a beep. The beep is used as a warning to the dog to stop the unwanted behavior. If the dog still does not stop the unwanted behavior, then a vibration is used to deter them. The vibration is uncomfortable to the dog and is most likely to snap him or her out of the activity he or she was indulging in. Keep in mind that a vibration or beep used to startle a dog is still a punishment. The one gentle use of vibration is as a “look at me” cue taught with treats for a deaf dog.
Dog containment types of shock collars
This is the most common type of shock collar used when guardians want to keep their dog within the fence without actually putting up a fence. This shock collar is mostly used in places where the local home owners association or laws prohibit the construction of a fence around the yard.
To use these types of shock collars, first a ground installation is done of a wire system which connects to the collar. As the dog tries to cross the perimeter line, the dog is delivered a warning sound which advances to delivering a shock in case the dog does not follow the warning sound. This is to keep the dog inside the property without a fence.
Barking collar
Dogs have sometimes shown behavior like barking excessively when the guardians cannot figure out the stimulus. Unfortunately, there are also those dogs who in general bark a lot compared to others. If you are a guardian for such a dog, you might look into barking collars. A barking collar sends a mild electrical shock to the dog’s neck when the collar detects the vibration of barking. The barking collar comes with different levels of vibration and shock settings which can be preset to the acceptable barking levels.
Remote trainers or training collars
Training collars are normally operated by a hand held device like a remote. These training collars come with a large variety of functions and levels. They can give a varying duration of stimulus to the dog. They also come with varied vibration functions which can be used to gain the dog’s attention. The specific purpose of using this type of shock collars is to target the misdemeanor or aggressiveness of the dog. The shock intensity is adjustable and can be set to a specific range depending on the guardian’s choice.
Remote-controlled training collars come in many versions for different training needs of the guardian. Some remote collars have a large range, some operate on small ranges, while others can operate on more than a single collar. The remote collar can adjust to a wide range of needs of the guardian. However, the correction from the collar is not administered automatically. It is only sent to the dog when the guardian presses the button on the remote.
To go with a dog training collar or to not go with the collar?
A 2012 UK survey published in BMC Veterinary Research found that only 3.3% of dog owners used remote shock collars, and owners rated reward-based training as at least as successful for problems like poor recall and chasing. E-collar users were less likely to have attended puppy classes than owners who used other correction-based methods. A later controlled trial went further: dogs trained mainly with positive reinforcement responded better to “come” and “sit” than dogs trained with e-collars by the collar makers’ own nominated trainers.
Conclusion
I have never been an advocate of using negative training methods for training dogs. These methods may be effective for a short while but they are not a good option for a long term training. You should try to bond with your dog instead of trying to control him or her with the different types of shock collars. These will make your dog fearful towards you. It may even lead to an increase in aggressive behavior from the dog.
What to use instead
If your dog is becoming aggressive, please don’t reach for any punishment collar, including spray, citronella or ultrasonic ones. Aggression is usually driven by fear, pain or frustration, and punishment can make it worse. Start with a vet check (pain is a common hidden cause), then work with a veterinary behaviorist or a certified reward-based trainer. For pulling, try a front-clip harness or head halter. For recall, practice with a long line and high-value treats. For barking, find the trigger and add exercise, enrichment and training for a “quiet” behavior.
Veterinary behaviorists and veterinary organizations advise against aversive collars, including shock, prong and choke collars, for every kind of training. There is no evidence they work better than reward-based methods, and they carry real risks of fear, stress and aggression.
Shock collars are not the solution to any of the dog behavioral problems. They may provide you a quick fix, but scientific studies have shown that shock collars destroy the dog’s relationship with his or her guardian, makes them fearful and possibly more aggressive than before.
Some trainers still argue that a shock collar is fine “if used correctly”. But in a controlled study, dogs trained with rewards learned recall and sit faster than dogs trained by e-collar trainers, even experienced ones. There is no job a shock collar does that kinder training can’t do as well.
See you in my next blog post
Shruti
