Dog Training with a Shock Collar

Why don't you decide after you wear a shock collar for a couple of days and live within an electric fence.

My BIl thought it was a great idea until he himself tried it and as the lead attorney in a major company in the US, he said there was no way he would be that cruel to any animal.

They opted for a training program.

We have a 6 yr old poodle. They are very smart and proper training is very effective.

I'm a veterinarian. I believe that shock collars are not cruel if used correctly. In fact, they are essentially an invisible leash, and they can save a dog's life. However, it is easy to use them incorrectly, and working with a professional trainer is ESSENTIAL. My parents were against the idea of shock collars until their dog bolted and got hit by a car. Fortunately she was ok, but after her body healed, she was trained using a shock collar with a professional trainer, and my parents are really pleased with the results.

You can buy a system (Innotek, I think) at Mills Fleet Farm for less than $100. If you train the dog well (as instructed), they work beautifully. I feel that training your dog and keeping them safe is a very loving thing to do for your dog. I "shocked" myself with the collar to see what it was like - I thought that was only fair! - it was like a big static shock. Once they learn to avoid the shock, they are perfectly happy to stay where they're supposed to, either in the yard or with you holding a remote to shock them if they're trying to dash out the door. You're keeping them safe - that's your job as a parent.

poodles are extremely smart. have you tried training classes? she just doesn't accept you as alpha and doesn't think she has to do what you say, that's why it's not working. maybe some research on dog psychology (no, i'm not joking lol). it really helps to get inside their minds. with our dog, it was getting ridiculous the way she's barrel out the door to go potty and basically trample anyone in the way. so we trained her NOT to move until we told her it was okay. we got between her and the door, told her to sit, made her stay there until the door was wide open. and THEN we released her to go potty. but i never let her potty off the leash until i knew she was going to stay in our yard.

my aunt raises/trains dogs and has for 30 years. the only time she has ever advocated a shock collar is for excessive barking. from what i understand, that's really the one thing that is very hard to "train" them not to do.

It sounds bad, M.. But just because it sounds bad, doesn't mean that it is. A shock collar is like an invisible fence. You are keeping your dog from getting lost, stolen or hit by a car. My sister's poodle did the same exact thing. She ran out the door, my sister was in her underwear and couldn't go after her, and she never saw that dog again.

Don't let anyone shame you into not using one. Talk to your vet and see what he or she thinks, and what type is best for your size dog.

Good luck,
Dawn

I have 5 neighbors who use them with great results. They use them with an electric fence in the yard, and the people who installed the fence participated in training the dogs to prevent the shock. The dog learns where the boundaries are and gets a warning sound about 3 feet before the "shock" part. They only have to get shocked once or twice before they avoid that. It's not a huge electric current that is going to mess her up - it's just unpleasant. But the training is KEY and involves a lot of positive reinforcement, so be sure you don't skimp on that.

I don't use one because I have a small dog who cannot be outside alone anyway - we leave on the edge of a forest and there are coyotes, so small dogs are not safe outside alone anyway.

We just block our dog from going out, and everyone knows to watch when they open a door. I think most dogs will take off outside if they aren't restrained in some way.

My BIL uses one. I personally think they are cruel and would not use one.

The way I got my dog to come EVERY time I called him was to give him a doggie treat every time. If your dog thinks that every time you call him/her into the house, he/she is going to get a treat, he/she will come running EVERY time!

My neighbor used a shock collar on his dog to stop it from barking. He didn't watch the dog. When he finally did, the dog had to be taken into the vet to be treated for burns on his neck. Please take a training course but do not be so cruel to the dog.

I also would go with training vs a shock collar. It will make the dog listen and respect you and will not only solve this problem but many other possible problems as well. I have a 5mo old lab mix who just finished basic training and even if he knows we're going for a walk, he sits by the door and waits for his leash to be connected and for me to say "let's go". It's amazing. I've never had an actually class trained dog before and wouldn't have thought a 5mo could do so much. We really enjoyed the classes. We will be doing more intermidiate and advanced classes this Spring and Summer. I highly recommend you check into some local classes, you might like it.

I would rather stay by the front door ALL day correcting her, until she got it, than go with a shock collar.

~But I am the kind of dog owner that sets up 'traps' or scenarios for my dog just so I can have a learning opportunity!

When my dog was a puppy and we were potty training, I purposefully trained him in the front yard so that he was used to it and wouldn't run away....and we can leave our door & screen wide open and he lays at the top of the stairs and just watches the outside....BEST.DOG.EVER!

Tell your friends that before they use a shock collar on their dogs, they should use one on themselves. I have never had someone who actually tried it on themselves want to use it on a dog.

I would instead call up the local SPCA/Humane Society or talk to your vet about dog training. Our poodle loved to run, too, and we never took him to obedience so he eventually got out and got hit by a car. If I had a do-over, I would have done obedience with him. Further, some dogs are runners. You should never let a greyhound off leash in an unclosed area, for example. So you might want to look up tips for greyhound owners to see what works for them.

Shock collars should only be used by dog owners who have been trained by a professional on the proper use of the collar. (this would account for about .05% of all dog owners in America.)

Using a collar improperly will ruin a dog for life. Please re-read this line a thousand times!

Your dog may 'know the basic commands' but your dog isn't obedient yet. Knowing how to stay means that the dog will STAY when commanded when the door is open. A dog that moves after you've told it to stay does not truely know the command. A release word (we use 'free' should be the only way to get a dog out of stay. Knowing how to come means the dog will COME with one command even when chasing a cat or the mail man.

I would strongly suggest that you revisit the stay and come command with your dog. Even when on a leash, your dog should never go through a door before you or without being given a command. Our dogs are trained to sit at the door and only move when we say 'free'. Repetition is the key here. Put her in a stay while you are in the kitchen, living room, etc. Leave the room. Walk around her. Cause distractions. If she moves, put her righ back in the sit and carry on.

One more thing - use one command only. Telling Fido to "Sit, sit, sit" will teach Fido to sit only after you've demanded it 3 times. Telling her to "Stay" after she's released herself from "Stay" will teach her that you weren't serious about the first stay.

We only ever use shock collars on our dogs for their work. They are hunting dogs, and the shock is set low enough that it does not hurt them. (We have both tested the collars on our necks so we know what they feel like.) We've been trained by professionals on how to use them. They might get one shock in three trips to the field. Our dogs go bezerk when they see the collars come out because it means WE'RE GOING HUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like a kid in a candy store x 100!

How cruel can you be. There are other alternatives. Check at your local pet store orbgetbthe drs Stern and Foster catalog. I think that is the name.

I see that most of the answers are against shock collars for the cruelty.....however, we had a yellow lab that I resisted for years against getting one for her. She did the same thing and would take off and not come back. Finally we did get one and all it took was one shock and she got the picture! We would have the collar on her and when she heard the tone she was next to us. So for 6 years she has been shocked one time, and the range for intensity was is 1-10. Her level was a 2. For her safety I am glad we got the collar. She has never been hit by a car.

Would you put a collar around your kid? No, you would take however many weeks or months it takes to teach them. You get a dog, you sign up for the work.

Train your dog, not shock into a fearful submission. Pu that collar on yourself on the very lowest setting, and see just how it feels. Don't take the mean, lazy way out. Just keep working.

Well, I have never used one - BUT I will say there is a difference between "shock" collar and a "vibrating" collar. No way in hell I'd get a shock collar - but I'd be willing to try the vibrating collar. It doesn't hurt them, it just vibrates a little when you press the button or whatever. A friend of mine used that to train her dog. It worked, he never listened but to get his attention she'd use the vibration to get his attention then tell him him command and it worked. Maybe try one of those instead.

Answer this,Is a shook collar going to teach the little one, or being hit by a car going to do the trick?

Late chiming in here, but I have an Australian shepherd puppy (9 months). We have trained her to come with it. It isn't painful. That is why there are different settings. My husband and myself both tried it on ourselves first. It feels like a buzz. It gets your attention, but certainly doesn't hurt. The shock is designed to grab your dog's attention. Many times I only use the warning beep when she takes off and she will turn around and come to me. It isn't cruel, but it can keep your dog safe. Good luck!