Shock Collars For Dogs
Shock Collars For Dogs have been subject of significant controversy. Some are calling them inhumane and go as far as to call to outlaw these bark collars.
And yet the authorities in the field of dog health and dog training such as Veterinarians And Dog Trainers do recommend these collars!
And this brings us to perhaps the most interesting question: “If these collars were inhumane and cruel why would they recommend them?”
Or, perhaps, we should ask: “Are shock collars for dogs really inhumane and cruel?”
We thought you might find the article below very helpful:
The Facts About Modern Electronic Training Devices
Today’s technology is surprisingly subtle, more effective“We Recognize That Older Products Were Often Unreliable And Difficult To Use Humanely.
But We Feel That New Technology Employed By Responsible Manufacturers Has Led To Products That Can Be And Are Being Used Safely And Effectively To Preserve The Safety And Well-Being Of Many Dogs And Strengthen The Bond With Their Human Companions.”
Randall Lockwood, PhD
Vice President For Research
And Educational Outreach
The Humane Society Of United States
How Do Shock Collars For Dogs Work?
Shock Collars- Then And Now
Shock Collars For Dogs, also called e-collars or dog training collars have been around for some 30 years. Some early models that have been used for hunting dog training (Shock Collars For Hunting Dogs) were rather very powered and that had caused a lot of concerns.
The word “shock” because of its implication to “electrocute” keeps many dog owners at unease.
In addition, it seems that as it is with other products on the market as well, that competition did use this to market their products as “ better products” causing even more damage to the “image” of these e-collars.
However, a lot of has been changed and a lot of improvements have been made. As it stands now, it seems that most of dog problem behaviors except for aggression, fears and anxiety related behaviors may be very well addressed by dog training collars.
Shock Collars For Dogs-The Scientific Studies…
With that in many scientific studies have been conducted to educate general public about their use and safety. In order to gain better understanding of the safety and application range of these collars we’ll look into very the interesting e-collars study conducted at Tuskegee University College Of Veterinary Medicine.
At the end of four week study of adult shelter dogs physiological and behavioral responses to bark control collars Janet Steiss D.V.M., PhD and her team concluded that bark collars were not only effective at controlling the excessive barking but also didn’t have any lingering adverse physiological effect.
The study shows that amount of barking did significantly reduce starting with the 2nd day of wearing bark collar. It is also interesting to point out that as per study, the mild yet statistically significant increase of blood cortisol level was registered only on the first day of wearing the collar.
Shock Collars- The Improvements
One of the major differences between the early and modern e-collar models is that the modern training collars allow us to emit a very mild electrical stimulation at lower levels.
In addition most of these collars offer a whole range of stimulation levels so that it could be easily adjusted for pets of different sizes, temperaments etc.
It needs to be pointed out that these collars are battery-powered and they draw their static stimulation from the battery.
Therefore the effect of this stimulation is very much like the ESD that most of us have experienced when we touch some metal object after walking across carpet.
Benefits And Advantages Of Using Shock Collars
As it stands the use of dog training collars offers some advantage over some other training methods such as:
Improved Timing (Speed)
The owner/trainer can now deliver training signal without any delay such as we would have by offering dog a food treat.
Training Collars Are Effective For All Sizes Of Dog Owners And Their Pets
This becomes so obvious if we think of all those dog owners who own rather large dog and if they were to use so-called leash training method it would be very challenging for them and for dogs as well.
Very Consistent
Some dogs are only motivated by jammy treats and will not do anything if there is not treats available. However, with dog training collars, the owner is in position to correct or reward the dog instantly.
Distance Is NOT The Issue Any More
Dog training collars allow dog owners to have their pet under control at all times, even off leash. This is very good for many reason including dog safety.
What To Expect When Using Shock Collars?
It is recommended not to leave our pet alone first few times when he receives static correction.
While most of dogs will very quickly associate static correction with the barking some dog may get into so-called bark-correction-bark-correction cycle. If this is the case it is recommended to reassure our pet with a calm soothing tones.
When dog relax he will realize that there is no correction if he is quiet and usually if there is such a reaction it is usually only for the very first time.
The bark reduction is noticeable within first few days but it is important to keep in mind that dogs over the time become collar-wise and will test this new experience which usually happens the second week.
Any Shock Collars Side Effects?
While Bark Collars are safe for use it needs to be pointed out if not use properly it could lead to a condition called Pressure Necrosis which is described as a devitalization of the skin due to excessive and prolonged contact against the contact points.
To avoid this it is important to follow the steps outlined in the user guide provided with each product. These steps usually include ensuring the proper fit and examine your pet daily for any signs of rash and sore. For more information always consult the user guide!
Recently Added Reviews:
Ultra Min-e 2090™ Bark Trainer
Ultra Min-e 2090 Bark Trainer is the smallest bark collar in the world. It offers 8 levels of correction with Vibrations Sensor. Read Full Review
