I know some people love these, and some find them unacceptable, but both sides of the coin seem to argue from an emotional standpoint winstead of a practical one.

Are electric collars dangerous if they don't deliver anything but a very mild shock?

Is this like a bark collar? They will get zapped when they bark? or like a invisible fencing collar? where if they cross the line they get zapped?

We have invisible fencing- and the dogs know where they can go- leading to not being zapped.

I haven't ever seen the bark collars.

I think training a dog using harsh force, like an electric shock, is really unacceptable. Electric fences are one thing - the dog will run up against it once, maybe twice, and learn its lesson, but a bark collar or a collar controlled by a shock from a human? That seems like torture to me.

yeah really...I just can't see ever using one of these on my babies. I know they have some annoying habits, but surely there's another way to deal with them. Also, what if it malfunctions and really hurts the dog? Nope...I'd never use one!

(26-08-2008 06:39 PM)mandiees Wrote:  I think training a dog using harsh force, like an electric shock, is really unacceptable. Electric fences are one thing - the dog will run up against it once, maybe twice, and learn its lesson, but a bark collar or a collar controlled by a shock from a human? That seems like torture to me.

It may be better than a human holding a rolled up newspaper, though. If controlled from a distance, the dog doesn't associate the stimulus with their owner, but with their own behavior.

I would never use this method however I know of people who have. I just can't do that because I find it too painful for the animals not to mention I would not do this to my children so why would I do this to my dog.

(01-09-2008 05:07 PM)DianaR Wrote:  

(26-08-2008 06:39 PM)mandiees Wrote:  I think training a dog using harsh force, like an electric shock, is really unacceptable. Electric fences are one thing - the dog will run up against it once, maybe twice, and learn its lesson, but a bark collar or a collar controlled by a shock from a human? That seems like torture to me.

It may be better than a human holding a rolled up newspaper, though. If controlled from a distance, the dog doesn't associate the stimulus with their owner, but with their own behavior.

If you think beating your dog into submission is the only way to train it you should not have a dog.

(25-08-2008 09:35 PM)DianaR Wrote:  I know some people love these, and some find them unacceptable, but both sides of the coin seem to argue from an emotional standpoint winstead of a practical one.

Are electric collars dangerous if they don't deliver anything but a very mild shock?

Dogs have died from them, so yes, they can be dangerous.

---

My sister was forced into using one once, for her bassett hound. She absolutely hated it, but he barked all the time and neighbors were complaining. It got to the point that she had no choice.

I have a crappy neighbor behind me who was complaining about my golden retriever in her later years. He kept harping on those collars. Well, the thing is, she was deaf and half-blind by then. All the experts said she wouldn't understand what was happening with a bark collar, or even one of those ones that spray stuff on the dogs instead of the electric stimulus.

I can't tell you how much I have despised those neighbors for making an issue out of it. They were new, bought the house from his folks, and they knew going in that Tina barked. I finally challenged him on his windows, that he was sleeping with his windows open. Close them, idiot! Grrr.

Okay, I'm going to calm down now. Those people had no compassion though -- none.

I have never used barking-control collars, and I don't like the idea. I would sooner use one on some idiot relatives I've got, at least those know exactly what they are doing wrong and yet they keep doing it.

I think it is not good to force dogs, they should learn slowly it will be alot better.