Even though dogs have been domesticated by man since time immemorial, they are still animals, and just like any other animal, dogs need training as well. Not all dogs listen to the commands of their owners and need the help of devices to train their dogs.
This is where e-collars come into play. While some trainers cannot stop appreciating the usefulness of e-collars, some trainers cannot even stand its name. Regardless, you need to consider a lot of aspects before going for an e-collar.
What is an E-collar for Dogs
Also known as shock collars for dogs or remote training collars, e-collars are electrical devices along with a dog collar that aids in the dog training process. It consists of two devices, the first one is a wireless remote that stays with the owners and the second is a wireless receiver that comes in the form of collars.
E-collars are generally used for certain aggressive breeds to teach them the difference between good and bad things. Whenever the owner spots a bad behavior, a button is pressed on the wireless remote that sends feedback in the form of physical signals that gets delivered through the collar.
How Do E-Collars for Dogs Work?
The principle of action of e-collars is electric stimulations. You might be familiar with it if you have ever visited a physical therapist or a chiropractor. Some people misunderstand it to be a which-but it’s more like a pulsing wave sensation.
The remote control has a lot of settings that help the owners to adjust the intensity, which ranges from very low to high. This makes sure that you have total control over whatever is felt by your pup while he is wearing the e-collar.
Some e-collars come with vibration instead of electric output. This causes the receiver to transmit a vibration whenever you want to teach something to your pup. Others have an additional feature of GPS that helps to keep track of your dog’s movements.
So, when to press the button on the wireless remote? Well, the e-collars work on the principle of negative reinforcement. It implies that certain behavior is made a habit by eliminating the negative result.
Pros and Cons of E-Collars for Dogs
Like every other thing, e-collars also have their pros and cons. So, you need to go through the pros and cons of it thoroughly before you make any decision for your fur baby:
Pros:
- Effective Training Tool: E-collars are a non-conventional way to communicate with your beloved pet which can be considered as an extension of a leash. However, the use of an e-collar should be made regular rather than using it as a last resort. E-collars help you to teach your dog the difference between right and wrong from another perspective.
- Acts Pretty Fast: Correcting your dog at the time of their wrong behavior is very important for their growth. So, if you are going for off-leash training, electronic dog collars are just the right thing for you.
- Adjustable Intensity: The wireless remote comes with a wide range of control options. You can set the intensity of electrical output for your dog depending on his size and compliance with your commands.
- Affordable: E-collars come within a reasonable price range allowing a wide section of society to use them to train their dogs and make them ready for any kind of dog shows as well.
Cons:
- Associated Fear: As it goes by the name of shock collars for dogs, you are well aware of how it works. So, the dogs might be afraid of it and may not want to wear it once they get a hold of it.
- Over-Correction: Sometimes the use of e-collars may lead to over-correction of the dogs and put them under unnecessary stress which will consequently flare out in the form of some health problems for your dog.
- No-positive Reward: Traditionally for each good behavior, pets get rewarded with treats or their favorite things. However, in this case, after correcting their behavior, they don’t get appreciation which might really upset them.
Are E-Collars Safe for Dogs?
Training is a very important part of owning a dog to maintain a healthy relationship with them. There are several ways to train your dog but one of them is not accepted by all and that is e-collar training.
Many people think that shock collars will hurt their dogs but these are built on a static shock system which is annoying but not painful. They are built with the mere intention of getting your dog’s attention.
Modern shock collars have sensors that prevent your dog from getting prolonged shocks. Apart from these, there are e-collars that come in audible tones and vibrations. People who do not like the concept of static shock may opt for these to train their fluffballs.
There is also a myth that e-collars will burn the neck of your dog. However, if not used properly, they might advance to form pressure sores on your dog’s neck. It is very important to check the fitting of the collar by using the two-finger rule which will prevent the occurrence of several injuries related to it.
Electronic Collar Alternatives For Dogs
For people who don’t like the concept of e-collars, we have some great alternatives that will help you to train your dogs with the same efficiency. Let’s go through them:
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Citronella Collars:
Citronella is a chemical oil obtained from plants to drive away mosquitoes. This has been clinically proven to be safe for dogs and pups. However, research shows that dogs are not quite affectionate towards their smell.
So, when your dogs bark unnecessarily, these collars pump out a little bit of oil which in turn annoys them and they stop barking. It is a good alternative as it doesn’t hurt your dog physically.
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Whistles:
A whistle is generally blown when we spot bad behavior in our dogs. This helps them to co-relate their behaviors with the whistle. This is also a very effective way of training your fur baby without hurting them or annoying them.
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Clicker Training:
The key to using clickers is to accompany the verbal commands with a clicker. Once your dog gets used to the sound, it will be easier for them to follow your commands. Also, you can always offer them a treat every time they do something good.
Buying Guide of E-Collars
Before buying an e-collar for your dog, you need to address certain important factors that are very important for an effective training session:
- Ensure the Fit of the Collar: An e-collar is of no use if it doesn't fit your dog properly. So, make sure that you go for an e-collar that fir around the neck of your dog perfectly to ensure effective training.
- Power of the collar: You need to choose an e-collar that is powerful enough to match your dog’s size and temperament.
- Fast connectivity: An effective e-collar should have good connectivity with its wireless remote to deal with situations that need immediate intervention.
- Strong Warranty: Being an electronic item, no one can completely say that the e-collar will never face any technical issues. So, choose a collar that has a robust warranty offer so you can approach customer service whenever faced with any kind of technical issue.
Takeaway
Training your dog is going to take time and patience whichever way you choose and e-collars have been proven to be a very effective form of training dogs. Although some people don’t like the concept of static shock setting that might startle their cute little pets out of the blue. We have also mentioned some very great alternatives for them as well. Regardless of your method of training dogs, the sole purpose of it is to help your dog and stop them from wrongdoings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do vets recommend e-collars?
Vets don’t generally recommend dog collars. However, it solely depends on the owner on how he wants to train his dog.
Are e-collars and shock collars the same thing?
They are almost the same thing but there is a slight difference. The shock collars only refer to the collars that use the electrical output to send away electrical signals but e-collars also consist of collars that use audible tones and vibrations to train dogs.
Reference Links:
- https://blog.myollie.com/are-e-collars-for-dogs-safe/
- https://www.ecollar.com/dog-training-resources/resources/dog-training-collars-buying-guide
- https://www.caninejournal.com/shock-collar-for-dogs/
- https://www.educatorcollars.com/blog/5-myths-electronic-dog-training-collars
- https://www.freshpatch.com/blogs/news/alternatives-to-shock-collars
