Is Electrical Collars Effective In Training? (Part 1)

Is the use of an electrical collar really an effective training aid? The short answer to this question is yes. Without a doubt, these tools are effective as training aids. They provide a quick attention getter for the animal being trained and they most assuredly provide a negative reinforcement that can teach the animal what behaviors are unwanted. However, like all things, there is much more to consider than just the initial, obvious benefits. In this article, we will discuss the various benefits and problems encountered by using this device.

Let’s first discuss, for a moment, how these devices work. The electrical, or shock collar, as they are commonly referred to, is basically a receiver that, when triggered, delivers an electrical stimulation to the neck area of a dog via two probes that are in contact with the skin. The receiver is controlled by way of a remote transmitter that has an effective range of up to one mile for some models. In early training, the charge is fairly low but consistent until the animal learns that exhibiting correct behaviors can turn off the stimulation. Once the animal has learned how the collar works, these devices are not used continuously but rather the opposite. They are used only to dissuade incorrect behaviors by delivering a clear and consistent message with its electrical payload. Now that we understand how these devices work, lets take a few moments to discuss why one might use them and whether they are effective or not.

The obvious reason for using an electrical collar is the ability to control the dog from long distances without having to yell or use noise-producing methods, particularly effective with animals that are used around cattle or in an environment where excess noise is not acceptable, such as hunting land. This long distance control also has the advantage of helping you to maintain a non-threatening position with your dog by the collar enforcing the rules rather than you having to be physical or intimidating while correcting him.

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