Shock collars for dogs – The truth behind the zapping!

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Shock collars for dogs can be considered cruel by many dog owners. However, there are a minority of people and expert trainers who believe these type of tools are awesome. This article shock collars for dogs and bearing it’s truths is an objective view and non-opinionated – well I will try my best since I do not condone them!

In some countries, shock collars are illegal so before splashing out make sure you know your country’s law. At the time of writing this article, shock collars for dogs are not forbidden in the U.S., but are illegal in the UK, Scotland and Wales.

Should you be caught using these electric collars, fines are very heavy or a six-month imprisonment can be given.

In 2011, a man named Phillip Pook was fined £2,000 and a further £1,000 for using one of these collars on his Border Collie.

The moral of this story is, if you’re caught using them, it will become one of the most expensive gadgets you’ll have bought for your dog.

Furthermore, you’ll have to hand it in to the police and you could end up with criminal record.

Are shock collars for dogs permissible?

Pet welfare groups such as the Kennel Club and other dog charities claim it causes a dog to have unnecessary pain. However, other professional bodies believe electric collars can greatly improve a dogs behavior. For some owners, using these type of collars is the last straw to not giving their dog away or having it euthanized.

Shock collars for dogs are believed to encourage certain behaviors such as:

  • Stay within a certain parameter such as an invisible fence
  • Stop dogs from excessively barking
  • Dog leash training
  • Aggressive dog behavior
  • Teach dogs dangers

It is a myth to believe that shock collars for dogs are easy to use. It’s not a case of pressing the trigger, zapping your dog with electric currents to miraculously put your dog on the right track. Many years ago, these collars were made with only one setting, this made the device very cruel. Admittedly, these collars have changed somewhat over recent years, but this doesn’t make them any more humane.

Today, depending upon the make or model you choose, there should be different stimulating settings. The settings can be adjusted according to your dog’s behavior or sensitivity. If you’re tempted to buy one, you will need to consider the voltage, the current length and its frequency.

You will need to find the best setting for your dog. To do this you begin with the lowest setting and gradually turn it up until you observe a slight reaction from your dog. Each dogs sensitively varies, this is because of their fur content, size and characteristics. For example some dogs can look formidable, but they can be big babies at heart. These dogs would definitely need the lowest setting. On the other hand, other dogs whose pain tolerances are high would need higher setting.

If you’re really temped to buy one of these collars, it’s extremely important to buy the best. Some cheaper makes can be very volatile and can cause more problems than do good. Don’t be mistaken for vibration or anti-bark collars, although these are more humane – period!

Should you want to hide the collar around your dogs neck since they’re so ugly, you can buy collar covers or make your own using very large hair scrunches or scrunched up material.

Challenging negative behaviors positively?

Should you be living in an country that permits shock collars, then I recommend Dogtra. They are of superior quality and Leerburg have made a special instructional DVD to accompany the collars. The DVD is a real bonus because it will enable you to use the collar correctly, effectively and to its maximum potential without harming your dog.

Shock collars for dogs are not a means of reinforcing positive behavior but rather the opposite. It is virtually impossible to gain a positive attitude using negative tools. Using negative reinforcement produces fear, which could eventually turn into aggressiveness.

It is obvious that these collars can be abused so it is very important to refrain from using the device should your dog become immune to the electric current.

The other downside to these types of collars is that some dogs may need to constantly wear one. This is because your dog could eventually associate the device as doing right; in not wearing it, the unwanted behaviors could return.

Warning: These collars are not for zapping your dog into submission every time he does something silly. Furthermore, they aren’t to be used for basic dog training commands.

There are other more favorable ways to train your dog that has positive reinforcement flavors as opposed to negative. I would suggest:

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