2d • General discussion
Shock collars
Shock collars are an effective training tool, but I would never use one, here's why:
Shock collars are a form of positive punishment (positive meaning the addition of something, not meaning something good). So to stop unwanted behaviour, you add something bad (an inescapable electric shock around the neck).
As with all training tools, timing is key for the dog to make the correct association between undesirable behaviour and experiencing pain. The theory is that the pain means they won’t do it again, and for most dogs, they won’t.
We used to do the same thing with kids. Physical punishment, such as hitting, was used to deter children from misbehaving. But thankfully, once we knew better, we did better as research showed that kids who were given physical punishment, often had developmental issues.
And the same thing is now starting to happen with animal training. Zoos popularised treat training as an effective way to get the cooperation of large animals such as whales, for medical treatments. It’s also becoming much more common with horse training. So if we can control a whale or a horse with snacks, why are we electrocuting dogs?
I have a choice - I could give my dog an electric shock to stop him doing things I don’t want him to do, or I could give him treats for doing what I want him to do, both are effective, but the welfare implications aren’t equal. I choose treats because I want my dog to like and trust me. I want to have a partnership, not a dictatorship.
The human-animal bond is so much more than whether a training technique works or not. It’s a conversation between two living beings, with two nervous systems. If you use punishment, the dog will be forced into fight or flight, making it more difficult for them to learn.
If you are curious about improving the bond with your dog, start by putting yourself in their shoes. Do they understand what you are asking of them? What is their behaviour communicating?
If you’re not sure, feel free to reach out about 1-2-1 support.
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Shock collars
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