Question:
What are some side effects of the use of shock collars for dogs?
Dr. Bean
2008-06-18 10:44:58 UTC
We have a unruly coonhound that likes to wonder off when off the leash. Someone had suggested a shock collar because it worked for them under similar conditions. I am at ends because part of me believes the shock might make her a mean dog. Anyone have any experience or comments concerning this issue?
Eighteen answers:
Patient Paws
2008-06-18 10:50:32 UTC
As a trainer, I think its best to seek professional help prior to putting your dog through any physical harm, even if it MIGHT correct her behavior.



Off leash roaming is easily cured by proper training, and even more so by keeping her on a leash.



Remote collars are difficult to train a dog with because you have to be extremely consistent, and where this is a roaming, and not jumping/barking problem, its less likely to work. Keep her on a long leash, give her full walk, and slowly decrease the lead length. If she pulls, pull her back towards you and tell her no.



Any qualified, experienced trainer can help you out with this one, but until you seek help, I would strongly discourage the use of a shock collar of any kind.
vanderhoof
2016-08-09 07:35:22 UTC
So long as the purpose is to be ready to stroll the canine well with a flat collar, then it's a coaching instrument. If the canine will not stroll well without the choker, it's a manipulate software, and the dog is learning nothing. There are various "stubborn breed" of puppies out there, so that isn't an excuse for this kind of coaching software. If your coach proposal there have been detailed occasions involved in your unique canine that warranted this type of assist, then exceptional. In case your trainer told you that Mini's were a stubborn breed and required them, i'd rethink and do extra study. No good trainer generalizes like that. I need to say that if in case you have finished the learning and the dog will still no longer stroll nicely on a leash, the teacher failed and the dog wishes extra training! There is nothing more irritating to me in canine training than seeing someone having to use the "tool" for the lifetime of the dog, for the reason that the device was once used to control, and not to train.
melissa k
2008-06-18 10:55:01 UTC
The shock collar itself is not likely to make her mean. However, when using any punishment, there is always the concern about what the dog is going to believe led to the punishment. For instance, you might shock him when he starts to dart off, but what if at that time a stroller is going by him? He could potentially associate the pain of the shock with children in strollers.



Why not just use a long leash to contain him or invest in private training lessons to really work on a recall?
♥shelter puppies rule♥
2008-06-18 10:55:10 UTC
The problem with the shock collar is association. You can create an aggressive and fearful dog by shocking them in the wrong situations or shocking too late just off by seconds.



Example:

Dog runs away and sees another dog. You shock him for running away. Does he have ANY clue why he's feeling intense pain??? But he sees another dog. Other dogs are now associated with pain. That means he must attack another dog in the future because he didn't like and fears the pain.



Solution:

Do not let your dog off the leash in an unenclosed area. Why risk his life? Use a long rope or retractable leash to allow him more freedom until you train the recall better. there's no simple solutions like shock collars or any other punishment tool.



btw I'm not against e-collars when they are necessary and taught how to use correctly..but you could shock her all you want for running away, but eventually she will become desensitized..you'll be increasing the shock level..and she'll still be running IF you don't do any recall training. so might as well just do the training and avoid the ecollar all together!



at first training seems like it's getting no where sometimes with unruly dogs, but just the time you spend training strengthens the bond..and increasing her likelihood of listening to you in the future. get a clicker and any clicker training book! you'll be glad you did, and not create any additional problems.
deuell
2016-10-02 12:58:20 UTC
as long because of the fact the objective is to have the means to stroll the dogs suitable with a flat collar, then this is a coaching gadget. If the dogs won't walk suitable without the choker, this is a administration gadget, and the dogs is getting to understand no longer something. there are a number of "obdurate breed" of canines available, so as that's no longer an excuse for this form of instructing gadget. in the journey that your coach concept there have been specific circumstances in contact on your specific dogs that warranted this form of help, then great. in the journey that your coach advised you that Mini's have been a obdurate breed and required them, i might re-examine and do greater analyze. No good coach generalizes like that. I ought to assert that in case you have finished the coaching and the dogs will nevertheless no longer walk suitable on a leash, the instructor failed and the dogs desires greater coaching! there is not any longer something greater problematical to me in dogs coaching than seeing somebody having to apply the "gadget" for the existence of the dogs, because of the fact the gadget replaced into used to administration, and to no longer prepare.
Carla J
2008-06-18 11:03:34 UTC
Go to a professional trainer who specializes in e-collar training. Don't just buy an e-collar and slap it on your coonhound. Please do not do this.



Coons are very stubborn dogs, and usually need a "stronger" collar.



Improper use of an e-collar will cause results you don't want.

It won't necessarily make them mean but will confuse them even more if they are not used the right way.



E-collars can be a wonderful tool if used correctly and in fact I recommend them if they are used the right way. I started e-collar training with a professional trainer last year (who owns two Bluetick Coonhounds) with my Weimaraner and it has made a WORLD of a difference. I achieved more training sucess in 3 months with the e-collar than i could by myself with no e-collar in a year!!! Now he heels off leash, comes when called 99.9% of the time, stays by my side when other dogs are around, and on and on. And he has turned into a calm, more confident, and pleasant dog.



I wish you lived in Boise, Idaho. I would want you to go to this trainer. She has OTCh and UDX obedience titles on her Bluetick coonhounds, and does Search and Rescue and Human Remains Detection with them as well.



I hope this helps.

Good Luck.
Hello;)
2008-06-18 11:02:07 UTC
I dont think it will make her mean dog. They have no idea you are the one shocking them. And if you have it on the right setting it WILL NOT hurt them. Just get their attention. So if your dog is easily distracted while outside I would recomend it. I got one for my dog to proof her training. If you do get a collar read as much info as you can before using it. There are certain ways of training with it. Also, someone gave me great advice bf I got mine. He said you have to condition your dog to the collar. Meaning you can't just pull it on them and start shocking. Let them get use to the collar first. Otherwise they bc collar smart. They no the collar is doing the shcking. Good Luck, Its not as bad as everyone says. I have shocked myself with it.
DAR
2008-06-19 08:55:44 UTC
I had one for my dog who was just ornery, but he would only get mad and do the opposite of what we wanted. (He was a great dog, but didn't see any reason why we should be able to tell him what to do.) In fact we ended up having to stake him because we were in an area that had electric fences allowed, only, and I was concerned he would 'bull' right through the fence signal and then not come back because it would hurt.



You might want to borrow one from someone to see how it works for your dog.
sadloner07
2008-06-18 10:50:27 UTC
A shock collar may cause the dog emotional distress whenever it will be used. It may also trigger these two emotions:



Aggressiveness or defensive.



or Depression:



The dog may feel helpless and scared that she might not wish to get out of the house anymore even with the leash because her understanding would be:



Outdoor + shock collar = an emotionally painful experience,



I am in a shelter (well, I volunteer) and even though it is rare, there re dogs here brought by their owners because they seem to be very aggresive.
anonymous
2008-06-18 10:53:25 UTC
i use them and believe me...not as bad as you would expect. before i used them i tested them on myself...hurt like hell but you have to remember that dogs have alot thicker skin and fur to protect them. i put the first one on my lab/retriever and she ran to the edge and got shocked. made a horrible yelp and jumped pretty high in the air. she only hit the edge a couple of times. so i put it on my other dogs and same deal...learned real fast. i have moved from where we started them on the shock collars and now we have just taught them the boundaries and don't need them at all because they have the fear of being shocked when they leave the yard.
anonymous
2008-06-18 11:37:01 UTC
when a shocked collar is used alot the dog gets use to the shock and it doesn't work anymore. u can always try the under ground fence
anonymous
2008-06-18 10:55:45 UTC
My boss has the invesible fence for her dog and it works great. The dog has not changed at all because of it. The dog comes to work with the boss in the morning so I see him everyday and he is fine.
anonymous
2008-06-18 10:50:42 UTC
Its almost like going down a slide and getting shocked for dogs. I had one for my great dane she didnt go anywhere.
Loki Wolfchild
2008-06-18 10:49:19 UTC
The dog does not associate the correction with you (or anyone), and so I can't see how it would make her mean.



There are a couple of regulars here who know more abut this subject than I do -- I'll star for them.
anonymous
2008-06-18 10:52:30 UTC
yeah, things I know can happen:

1. Your dog can become shaky (bad)

2. Your dog won't go away (good)

3. Your dog might resent you (bad)

4. your dog might become mean (bad)

5. Shock could give your dog a heart attack (bad)

6. Other dogs could come in 'shock zone' and attack your dog (unless it's fenced off) and your dog would have no where to go. (bad)

7. Your dog might become more tame and trained not to run off (good)

Score: 5 Bad 2 Good

My idea: If playing in your backyard when dog is off leash, have it fenced off. When walking dog, Have it on a leash!
anonymous
2008-06-18 12:20:53 UTC
Are you considering a shock collar that you use manually to correct the dog with a remote, or an underground fencing system?



By "wandering off" do you mean that he high-tails it as soon as you take off the leash, running as fast as he can and ignoring your calls to come back, or does he meander around for a bit and then conveniently disappear when you aren't looking, showing back up after a few minutes/hours?



I have not had luck with the remote manual collar, even if you have success modifying behavior when using it, he's probably smart enough to figure out that when you aren't there to shock him, he can get away with the behavior. Try to use this on a run away dog and it will most likely just make him run faster away. However, I have heard of a person that tied their run-away dog to a long line and when they ran away shocked them, then they hit the end of the line, and kept getting shocked until they returned. The key would be to not shock at all as long as the dog was coming to you. They claimed that this method worked for them and that the dog does not run away any more at all. But there is a chance that this will not work, and then you will have a dog that is even worse and be at a loss of $100 or more. I would have to think that some dogs would know when they're not tied and take advantage to run away if the opportunity arose.



I believe that the underground-fence is a suitable option for keeping a meandering dog that slinks out of the yard where they belong. Unfortunately, if the dog does ever learn that once they get past that barrier, they can be free to roam around, then they may decide that the brief shock is worth a couple hours freedom. My neighbor had two dogs that stayed in his yard with the underground fence for about one year. Then, somehow they learned that if they just went ahead and jumped through the "ring of fire", that there was freedom on the other side. For several years not the dogs have visited my yard every morning for a good half-hour to mark all over my property and relieve themselves, and then returning to the sanctity of their invisibly-fenced yard. But your dog might do just fine in a yard like this, just be aware of the possibility that it's effectiveness just might wear out.



No matter which way you go, you're looking at investing alot of either time or money (or both) if you want to modify this behavior. The remote manual shock collar is the most risky of them all, with risks of possible death, physical and emotional damage, and the likely outcome that it just won't work, and the results will be worse than what you started with. Other options would include fencing your yard with an effective real fence and/or hiring a professional dog trainer to help teach you positive behavior modification techniques (for instance NEVER ever reprimand you dog when they do come to you, especially after they run off, no matter how much you want to let them know what a bad dog they've been). If your dog will stay in the yard as long as you are there, then you might have to resort to kenneling or tying on a runner, making sure to let him loose several times a day with supervision. If you are referring to having your dog off-leash away from home, like at the beach or park, etc., then you might simply just have to keep him on leash at these times. You may be able to find places you can go where he can be off-leash and won't get into trouble if he does happen to wander off. You could try something like this: Have a long line, like a 50' laundry line, and tie it to him and keep the end attached to you. Go somewhere where you can have a campfire where you will be alone with no interference. Walk around with your dog, allowing him to go where ever he wants with out any reprimands. Praise him when he is by you, otherwise ignore him and do your thing, walk around. Let him wander off. When your dog has taken off and is doing his own thing ignoring you, then you get your campfire and your hotdogs and start roasting them. Ideally during this time he will get in to trouble, tangled up around a tree or something. Just make sure you can see him and can get to him just in case he needs immediate help. Make sure he can not slip his collar. If your dog is stuck but not in danger, let him stay that way while he smells the yummy meat and sees you there, eating. Sing a happy campsite song. He might start to whine or bark. If he does, acknowledge him. "Hi boy, where you at? Are you stuck? Not very fun, huh?" After a few minutes, casually walk out to him and get him untangled, talk to him matter-of-factly about his situation, pat him on the head and walk back to camp, saying "Come, nameofdoghere" ONCE and only once, firmly. Chances are he's gonna stick by you now. when you get to the fire, give him a hot dog and praise and attention. only give him one. if he goes to meander off again, just let him. Put another dog on the fire, and when it's ready if he hasn't returned yet, whistle once and call his name once. If he comes, reward him with the hot dog. If he doesn't, then retrieve him half by reeling in the long line and half by walking to him, and having him walk with you back to the camp. Sit down, pat him on the head with some praise and give him half the dog and you eat the other half. Repeat this a few times as needed, and just enjoy a couple hours with your dog relaxing and teaching him that there is no better place in the world than as close to you as possible. Exercises similar to this should be repeated often, I imagine it could be done on an even smaller scale, the key element being to create a carefully monitored situation where your dog needs to be rescued by you as a result of their choice to be away from you or be disobedient. Some training exercises to modify your dogs behavior should resist any types of reprimands or commands, simply rewarding any desirable behaviors when the does does them on his own accord. At other times, you might focus on some basic obedience commands with treats and perhaps a clicker. The goal is to become a person that your dog longs to be with because you are a source of affection that good things happen around. I highly recommend finding an activity that your dog enjoys to do with you and do it frequently. Coonhounds are an active breed that need alot of physical and mental stimulation, perhaps agility, search-and-rescue, fetch... you could try the game where you make a set of foot-long 4" diameter PVC tubes with lids and some small air-holes drilled on the sides, stick a feeder mouse (or treat for those that object or can't stomach it) in one of the tubes and hide them around an area inside, on-leash lead him to each one and when your dog identifies the correct one give him the "treat". Once he gets the idea you stand still while he searches the tubes out on his own and bays when he finds the right one, then you go and release his treat. You can then advance this activity to inside-off leash to outside-on leash to finally outside off-leash, which is the goal you're going after, right? What dog owner doesn't long to just be able to enjoy being outdoors with a dog that reliably stays close by and out of trouble? Good luck, I hope this helps!
wwemaster2020
2008-06-18 10:53:51 UTC
if the bark to long the will die
Ashley ann
2008-06-18 10:53:31 UTC
omg PLEASE don't do it!!!!!!! DON'T DO IT. There are other ways to train your dog


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