When I started behavioral work over 20 years ago, I used humane methodology. My first client was a Dachshund with food aggression and guarding. At the time, I was stunned to learn that the majority of trainers were using punitive techniques such as punching dogs, yanking them with prong collars, “helicoptering” them — hanging them by a choke chain and spinning them around in the air until they passed out (a common method in dog training circles) — and shocking them. This awareness of how inherently cruel the “dog training” world actually was made me more passionate about animal welfare and positive training methods.

Recently, I created fact sheets on hounding and remote training systems (training that relies on shock collars) for pending legislation. Since I compiled the information for legislators, I thought I’d share it here. Below is some basic research with bulleted citations (for those who demand it). The information is not new. I knew much of this when I started teaching dogs and their people in 2003. Surprisingly, little has changed. Celeb trainers arise with no scientific background or knowledge and repopularize old, outdated methods. Sending dogs to “boot camp” is still popular. Machismo breeds such as Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Cane Corsos, and Rottweilers don’t get enough cookies and are routinely trained with aversive equipment, including shock and prong collars. The most successful pet supply companies are the primary manufacturers of shock collars (Radio Systems Corp. — PetSafe, SportDOG, Premier Pet, Invisible Fence®; Dogtra).

Shock Collars (E-Collars) – Remote Training

shock collars and training collars — anxious dog looking away in black and white © Fabian Gieske

Remote systems are marketed as vibration, tingle, e-touch, stim, stimulation, tens, tap, remote trainers, delivery collars, e-collars, e-prod, and training collars. They are manual, radio controlled systems that enable the user to deliver a shock to the dog’s collar from a hand-held transmitter. The collar has a small box containing metal electrodes that penetrate the dog’s fur and press directly onto the skin. The electrodes can deliver a painful shock with a press of the button from the handheld remote. Some trainers attach shock collars to other parts of the dog’s body such as the stomach and genitals (2, 3, 4, 6, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17).

  • There are over 100 styles of e-collars and systems on the market with various settings, ranges, options, battery life, and reliability. Shock collars usually come with instructions provided in printed materials or on manufacturers’ websites. Each remote system involves a learning curve for the user.
  • E-collars utilize shock and the principles of fear-conditioning to punish the dog via trial and error learning for a perceived or potential misbehavior. Dogs must be repeatedly shocked in multiple situations to understand what the shock means or when they might receive it. Initially, and sometimes throughout the entire training process, the dog does not know why or when she will be shocked. It’s an extremely difficult way for dogs to learn (29). Fear conditioning can have life-long negative effects on a dog’s behavior and wellbeing (8).
  • E-collars, as with any other training tool, require perfect timing (7). Shock is a punishment. For shock to be effective, it must be administered within, at most, a second or two of the behavior. Mistimed or inappropriate shocks are unpredictable, confuse dogs, and create anxiety (5, 7, 8, 14, 31, 32, 33, 34) . Even small errors can lead to profound and damaging effects on a dog’s well-being (3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 34). Unqualified trainers are more likely to produce negative outcomes when using shock collars (7, 31).
  • E-collars do not train or teach dogs commands (9, 11, 25). A shock collar is a tool to reinforce behaviors the dog already knows at a distance (9, 11). Dogs should be pre-trained with basic commands and reliable on leash or long-lead and in close range before using these systems (11).
  • E-collar training is associated with well documented risks to dog welfare (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 31, 32, 33, 34). Existing behavioral problems are likely to worsen and additional behavioral problems are likely to emerge when using shock collars (7, 31, 33).
  • Shock can intensify the severity and level of aggression in dogs, increase a dog’s propensity to bite, and decrease bite inhibition (12, 13, 14, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34). This means dogs subjected to shock will bite harder, not softer. The use of shock can elicit redirected aggression and aggression in dogs with no prior aggressive history (5, 7, 12, 14, 31).
  • Recall and unwanted chasing are common reasons shock collars are used on dogs. There is no scientific evidence that using e-collars to train dogs is more effective than any other training method in any context (1, 7, 12, 14, 31, 32, 34). Even in hands of experienced trainers, there is no difference in efficacy between remote shock collars vs reward-based methods for teaching recall, stopping chasing, or remedying off-leash behavior problems (1, 31, 32, 34).
  • Shock collars are not recommended by reputable dog trainers, animal behaviorists, veterinarians, or professional organizations due to the high probability of misuse or abuse by users, unreliability of systems, poor handler control, inadequate training knowledge, mistimed shocks given to dogs, and inappropriate shock levels used on dogs (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33).

Unreliability of Remote Training

  • Currently, there are no regulations or standards for manufacturers of remote training systems (12). E-collar manufacturers are solely profit driven (12).
  • Shock collars and remote systems routinely malfunction (8, 12, 31). Manufacturers are not under any regulatory obligation to report problems (12). Shock intensity and duration are often uncontrollable and many collars do not incorporate safety cutout circuits (8, 12).
  • E-collar manufacturers do not have to reveal the amount of voltage their systems apply which not only varies between manufacturers, but also between models from the same manufacturer (8, 12, 18, 19). This means that a setting of 4, for instance, on one collar may not be the same as 4 on a different model from the same manufacturer (8).
  • Manuals marketed with e-collars often don’t provide enough information for the user (12, 19). Information on shock features and settings, where, when, and how to use them, along with training advice are ambiguous, contradictory, and frequently incorrect (8, 12).
  • Operators of e-collars often don’t read manuals and/or ignore instructions in them (12, 19, 32). Remote training systems can be purchased used and so may come without manuals (19).
  • GPS and shock functions are unreliable. Electronic systems, for both training and tracking, are negatively impacted by terrain such as the presence of mountains, valleys, hills, tree cover, power lines, buildings, cell towers; weather conditions, including humidity, rain, wind, and fluctuations in temperature; and wi-fi (10, 21). Efficacy of remote training systems is based on ‘line of sight.’ This means that the terrain must be flat and open with nothing between the transmitter and dog’s collar (10, 21).
  • It is not possible to determine the appropriate shock level for a particular dog (5, 7). Dogs respond to shock differently on any given day which varies between dogs. A dog’s response to shock will vary depending on the dog’s perception of stimuli; noise and distractions; time of day; skin type, moisture and fat content; thickness of fur; mood and emotional state, sensitivity, arousal, frustration, and energy levels; pain threshold; weather, humidity, rain, and temperature changes; e-collar characteristics and variations between systems such electrode size, beep warning and voltage used; differences between training advice in operator manuals; shock intensity, duration, and frequency; and differences in owner understanding of training approaches (5, 7, 8, 25, 28, 31).
  • dog training prong and shock collars — aversive dog training equipment

    Dog training tools – Wolf Center (Germany) © Robert Falconer-Taylor

    E-collars are falsely promoted as an easy fix (7, 24, 26, 27). Remote trainers are not magic wands. They are tools that only should be used to reinforce what the dog already knows from a distance (9, 11, 24). Dogs should be pre-trained with basic commands and reliable on-leash, and in close range, before relying on remote systems (11).

  • There is considerable potential for e-collar operators to press buttons by mistake, deliver mistimed and inappropriate shocks, and to shock the wrong dogs (8, 20, 32).
  • A dog’s skin is much more sensitive to shock than human skin. The canine epidermis is 3-5 cells thick compared to a human’s which is 10-15 cells thick (31). A dog’s skin thickness and sensitivity are unrelated to the thickness of his/her fur (31).
  • Shock causes an intense burning sensation. E-collars can cause physical burns, lesions, and skin and pressure necrosis (5, 7, 13, 22, 26).
Upper photo by Fabian Gieske

© 2024 Alana Stevenson, MS

References

  1. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. (2021). Position Statement on Humane Dog Training. https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf
  2. Barriano, Thomas (2010, Aug 18). I like to put the ecollar on the dogs genitals [Comment on online forum e-collar on waist]. Working Dog Forum. https://www.workingdogforum.com/threads/e-collar-on-waist.16854/
  3. Benson, K. (2019). A List Of Things That Shock Collars Are Not. http://www.kristibenson.com/blog/2019/12/3/a-list-of-things-that-shock-collars-are-not
  4. Castle, Lou (2010, Aug 17). I’ve put Ecollars on a dog’s waist a few times. Sometimes it’s for”point of contact” work[Comment on online forum e-collar on waist] Working Dog Forum. https://www.workingdogforum.com/threads/e-collar-on-waist.16854/
  5. M. Kapteijn, J.A.M. van der Borg, C.M. Vinke, S.S. Arndt. (2020). The negative effects of the electronic collar on the welfare of dogs and positive training methods as alternatives. Animal Behaviour Research Group, Animals in Science and Society unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. Published in the Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde (Netherlands Journal of Veterinary Science), September. https://www.uu.nl/en/news/the-negative-effects-of-the-electronic-collar-on-the-welfare-of-dogs-and-positive-training-methods
  6. Eggert, Candy (2010, Aug 17). I’ve used the e-collar on the waist to get the dog to lock up for the stand…lock them little feeties up and dont’ move [Comment on online forum e-collar on waist]. Working Dog Forum.https://www.workingdogforum.com/threads/e-collar-on-waist.16854/
  7. European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology. (2019). ELECTRONIC TRAINING DEVICES: ESVCE POSITION STATEMENT. https://esvce.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/esvce-position-statement-e-collar_2019.pdf
  8. Falconer-Taylor. R. (2015). Shock Collars: What Manufacturers Don’t Want You to Know. https://emotions-r-us.com/behaviour/shock-collars-what-manufacturers-dont-want-you-to-know/
  9. Fitzpatrick, B. (2020) Understanding E-Collars: Purpose and Limitations. Gun Dog. https://www.gundogmag.com/editorial/understanding-ecollars/376912
  10. Range Issues and Troubleshooting. https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=EtOomMgVQb1MmoTX8zVSg8
  11. Genzel, J. (2021, Apr 20). These E-Collar Mistakes Will Kill Your Gun dog’s Prey Drive. Outdoor Life. https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/hunting/5-e-collar-mistakes-that-will-ruin-your-gun-dog/
  12. Hanson, D. (2013/2017). The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collars. https://www.greenacreskennel.com/dog-behavior-and-training/the-unintended-consequences-of-shock-collars.html
  13. Hanson, D. (2004). Ouch! The Shocking Truth About Electronic Collars. https://www.greenacreskennel.com/dog-behavior-and-training/ouch-the-shocking-truth-about-electronic-collars.html
  14. Holman, Karen. (2022). The Shocking Truth About Shock Collars. https://animalbehaviorok.com/shocking-truth-about-shock-collars/
  15. Jones, Christopher (2010, Aug 18). I know of people who use it on the base of the tail to increase the dogs speed on the send away etc. [Comment on online forum e-collar on waist]. Working Dog Forum. https://www.workingdogforum.com/threads/e-collar-on-waist.16854/
  16. Jonathan Katz(2010, Aug 17). An ecollar on the dogs waist can be used the same as a neck collar [Comment on online forum e-collar on waist]. Working Dog Forum. https://www.workingdogforum.com/threads/e-collar-on-waist.16854/
  17. Loots, Martine. (2010, Aug 17) We almost always use waist collars because with a very strong dog [Comment on online forum e-collar on waist]. Working Dog Forum. https://www.workingdogforum.com/threads/e-collar-on-waist.16854/
  18. Moore, D. Dog Training Collars. Sporting Dog Pro. https://www.sportingdogpro.com/dog-training-collars
  19. Picincu, A. (2022, Dec 11). Why You Shouldn’t Use a Dog Shock Collar and What to Do Instead. Canion. https://canion.no/magazine/dog-health/why-not-use-a-dog-shock-collar/
  20. Snell, S. All About Multi-Dog Units. Gun Dog Supply. https://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-training-collars-12.html
  21. Snell, S. How much range do you need in a remote training collar? Gun Dog Supply. https://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-training-collars-8.html
  22. Snell, S. Steve’s Dog Training Collars Buyer’s Guide. Gun Dog Supply. https://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-training-collars-buyers-guide.html?megamenumenu
  23. Snell, S. What training do I need to use a dog training collar? Gun Dog Supply. https://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-training-collars-4.html
  24. Sporting Dog Pro (2018/2021). 9 Common Training Collar Mistakes. https://www.sportingdogpro.com/articles/9-common-training-collar-mistakes
  25. Sporting Dog Pro. (2023). Knowing When to Turn Up the Stimulation Level on an E-Collar https://www.sportingdogpro.com/articles/knowing-when-to-turn-up-the-stimulation-level-on-an-e-collar
  26. Sporting Dog Pro. (2019/2021). Pressure Necrosis from E-collar Misuse https://www.sportingdogpro.com/articles/pressure-necrosis-from-dog-collar-misuse
  27. Sporting Dog Pro. (2023). What are E-collars, and How Are They Used? https://www.sportingdogpro.com/articles/what-are-e-collars-and-how-are-they-used
  28. Sporting Dog Pro. (2017/2019). What Is The Perfect Level of Correction? https://www.sportingdogpro.com/articles/what-is-the-perfect-level-e-collar-of-correction
  29. Stevenson, Alana. (2014). Pros of Positive Training. Animal Wellness. https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/pros-positive-training/
  30. Stevenson, Alana. (2011) Training Your Dog the Humane Way. New World Library. p. 181.
  31. Sylvia Masson, Silvia de la Vega, Angelo Gazzano, Chiara Mariti, Gonçalo Da Graça Pereira, Christine Halsberghe, Anneli Muser Leyvraz, Kevin McPeake, Barbara Schoening, Electronic training devices: Discussion on the pros and cons of their use in dogs as a basis for the position statement of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Volume 25, 2018, Pages 71-75, ISSN 1558-7878, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.02.006.
  32. The Kennel Club UK. Electric Shock Collars. https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/campaigns/electric-shock-collars/
  33. The Pet Professional Guild (2021). The Use of Shock in Animal Training. Position statement.
  34. Ziv, Gal. (2017). The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs —A review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 19, 50-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.02.004