Shock Collars - the shocking truth...

http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/shockcollars

"Shock Collars - The Shocking Truth
by Inga MacKellar and Mat Ward

There are many ‘quick fix’ products available to dog owners who wish to modify the behaviour of their pet. One such device is the electronic collar. The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors advises that the use of devices that rely on pain or discomfort to modify behaviour are inappropriate as they have the potential to seriously compromise the welfare of dogs, and ruin their relationship with their owners.

Shock Collar Risks

Despite advances in our understanding of dog behaviour and training, and the general move towards reward-based training techniques, some people still continue to recommend unpleasant or painful techniques as the best way to train dogs, or to deal with behaviour problems. While the pain or discomfort of shock collars can work to suppress behaviour, their use comes with risks, and often the underlying reasons for problem behaviour are not dealt with. Even in experienced hands, it can be difficult to deliver shocks at the right moment and to predict the level of discomfort or pain experienced by a dog; in inexperienced hands the use of shock collars can result in poorly timed intense electric shocks that induce fear and ongoing anxiety in the dog. Owners are often unaware of the high levels of pain that they may be causing their dog.

Aggression and Shock Collars

One of the most common behaviour problems encountered with dogs is that of aggression. In many cases, aggression is motivated by fear. When a dog is nervous or frightened, a natural behavioural strategy is to use aggression to get rid of the “threat”. Placing a shock collar on such a dog to stop it being aggressive can result in the dog becoming even more fearful of the situation, which can make the aggression more likely in the future. Imagine if you were scared of spiders or snakes and were shocked for trying to swat away a tarantula or cobra from your lap! The use of a shock collar to try and stop aggressive behaviour can also suppress the warning signs displayed by a dog before it is aggressive, which can make their aggression less predictable and more dangerous.

Linking the Shock with the Wrong Thing

Dogs learn by association - when using a shock collar there is a risk that the dog may associate the shock with something other than the behaviour that people are trying to stop. For instance, if a shock is administered for barking, there is a danger that the dog might associate a benign aspect of its environment (such as a nearby child) with the pain of the shock, rather than its own barking. This could lead to the dog developing distrust or even fear of certain locations, individuals, or other stimuli.

Generalised Anxiety

Another significant risk with the use of shock collars is that rather than linking the shock to the wrong thing, a dog may not be able to link the shock to anything at all! This results in a dog becoming totally confused, anxious and stressed as it repeatedly suffers the pain of the electric shock for no apparent reason. "

The sooner these damn things are banned the better.

Kuchar is the friendliest (if exuberant) dog you could imagine. Except for red staffies - there are two around here and fortunately our paths don't cross very often, but these dogs have both made very determined and aggressive attacks on Kuchar. Now, if he sees either one of them (and for all I know a red staffie at all) he goes into full attack mode, most unlike him normally, which is awful.

Now supposing I put a shock collar on him (not that I would, but just supposing) and activated it when he encountered a red staffie. Would he then think "Ouch, I'd better not face up to this dog who is yelling at me and back away" or "Ouch, this dog is causing me pain just like he's yelling he will - shall I run or shall I fight".

There is no way I would want to increase the stress to my dog by a shock collar.

Very good point, Lynda.

There's a strong chance of a dog associating the pain/shock of an e collar with whatever you're trying to stop, and maybe escalating the behaviour.

A better more well researched article is:
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-shock-collar-good-bad

I haven't read it all, but i will later.

So far it's reasonable!

I like the article, Theresa. Whether or not I agree with e-collars, it's unbiased.

There's some good reading on Shibashake

Is it a new site? I don't think I've heard of it before today!

Just skimmed through one of their articles about Dog Farts! Humour aside, it's good!

Shisa wrote:There's some good reading on Shibashake

I'll have a look see later on!

It's more someone's 'blog' I'd say.
They do very good research and is unbiased on many topics just noting the goods and the bads regardless of feeling. I liked their article on Cesar.

Unbiased research is always better, in my opinion

In my opinion as well. Give the facts truthfully for good or bad.

Eleanor wrote:Unbiased research is always better, in my opinion

Shisa wrote:In my opinion as well. Give the facts truthfully for good or bad.

How else can you reach a balanced opinion?

Most people write because they feel strongly for or against a subject and they will only give the facts supporting their claim.

Yes, and that's understandable. Also, I think everybody reads articles/treatises etc with their own bias and so two people reading the same thing will end up with slightly different conclusions about it - that's human nature.

But everyone should try to read with an open mind, although that isn't always easy!

Only this evening, I was taking Kuchar for a walk and turned into a narrow alley between two houses' gardens towards the fields. Coming towards me was a man with a large black dog (GSD cross, at a guess). The dog lunged towards Kuchar and was immediately swung off his feet by the collar, slammed against the solid wooden fence and screamed at to "sit" "down". The struggle continued for several seconds as I edged by, not wanting to exacerbate the situation, although horrified at the brutal treatment the dog was getting.

However, a few yards on I stopped (the fracas had stopped) and called back "Is your dog fierce, or ...?" "No" said the bloke "he just wants to say hello, but he's got to know who's boss". "Well let them say hello then" I said and he let the dog approach (which it did nicely) and he and Kuchar made friends, whilst I calmly said how upset I was to see his dog so distressed. (I wasn't feeling calm, I was furious but hid it well behind my cowardice). Dogs parted calmly.

But - I would hazard a guess that if this bloke had a shock collar he would have used it, such was the violence he showed to this dog (who is only 2 years old - I asked) in his efforts to show "who is boss". And that would have taught his dog - what?

That's one of the many reasons I think they should be banned. Idiots like that can get hold of them.

Poor dog.