Underground containment systems and remote training devices: What they do to your best friend is shocking

Fences are expensive and ugly. Dogs have to go out side sometime. He can’t always go out on a leash. Training classes take too long. She barks too much. We’ve heard the ads. We’ve seen the photos of the dogs with strange little boxes on their collars. But with the recent condemnation of shock collars by the Association of Pet Behavior Councilors, many may be rethinking their use of these devices.

Shock collars work by administering an electrical impulse either when a dog crosses a boundary, barks, or when the guardian administers the shock by remote. Ethical concerns regarding shocking your companion aside, the use of these collars creates a plethora of opportunities for misuse and malfunction.

A major concern of the Association of Pet Behavior Councilors is the random nature of the instrument. Because the dog perceives the shock as coming from out of nowhere, the dog may imprint an aversion to whatever he is focusing on at that exact moment. This could cause fear of the immediate area, an item she is in contact with, such as grass, or a passing neighbor or child. This misplaced fear or aggression may be difficult to break, far more difficult than skipping the shock training and turning to positive reinforcement from the beginning.

There are even more concerns, however. Shock collars have risks and malfunctions. Dogs may run past the “underground fence” quickly to shorten the shock. The dog is then at large, likely to be hit by a car, or frightened to go back into the yard for fear of another shock. There are physical risks, as well.

Dogs have acquired lesions from contact with the electrodes against their skin, and occasionally a collar will administer a non-stop electrical current, delivering a constant shock to the dog and a painful jolt to his guardian when an attempt is made to release the collar.

Abuse may also be a factor. Unscrupulous trainers have been known to attach the collars in contact with the animal’s genitals to make them react to commands more quickly. Another important risk to remember is that shock collars may keep your dog contained, but they do not keep your dog protected from outside threats.

Thieves, aggressive animals, and neighborhood bullies may have access to your dog. When he barks to alert you, he may be shocked for it.

When choosing a containment plan or training device, it’s important to remember that how you train may be just as important as what you train. Consider recommending positive reinforcement, real fences, and appropriate supervision when your friends, coworkers, or family members contemplate purchasing shock collars. Their companion animals will love you for it.

Train without pain: it’s the ethical choice.
Just as children need to learn basic manners and language skills, dogs need training. We wouldn’t teach our children to communicate by slapping them, shaking or jerking them by the neck, or electrically shocking them, and we don’t need to train our companion animals that way either. There are numerous positive methods of training that can be used to teach any dog to learn, from clicker training (in which a special noise maker indicates to the dog when he or she has made the right choice) to luring and plain old praise and guidance. There are numerous books available on gentle training.

Need some recommendations?
We like:
1. Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
2. Catch Your Dog Doing Something Right by Krista Cantrell
3. Clicker Fun by Deborah Jones

Read about more animal issues by visiting the Animal Issues section.