Shock Collars Or No Shock Collars????

[burpo]

I don't think shock collars are good....In fact, I wish they never even made them. You can get your dog to stop barking, jumping up etc. by training them. If you really love dogs, don't get shock collars, please! Train them. But if your dog has some serious problems, I guess you should use them, for good reasons.

[Cassiepeia]

We've had this debate before...however....if you want to start a new one you'll have to outline 'why' you think they're bad and 'why' they shouldn't be a part of training. Also 'what alternatives' can be used in place of them.

Cass.

[burpo]

Musles would be a great alternative.(I don't know if I spelled that right.) The dog couldn't bark really good, so that would be nice.
Shock collars would make the dogs confidence decline and they'd just give up. Plus I would think that it would hurt the dogs throat, maybe even scar it. You could get the ol' dog whistle collar, I bet that would stop it in its tracts. It's not training, it's punishment.

Dog is the "GOD" of man, or just man's best Friend!

[roman]

even with muzzles dog can bark lick and attemp to bite

i think people just need to attend good classes for their dog

[burpo]

Right ON!

[sheburr1]

I use collars on both my dogs and will on my puppy as soon as she is old enough to wear one to protect them from the road I live by (underground fencing). I would much rather see one of them get a shock(its a 9 volt battery we used to stick them on our tongues to see if they were good)then killed or injured by a passing car that to me is far worse for them. I have put it on my arm and others i know have zapped themselves before ever putting them on the dogs. I have Terriers and a Lab A cat or other animal is just to much for them to ignore even if its across the road. They are warned by a tone first. That is usually enough for them to know to back off the fence. So its not like they wander around and get wacked. Its protection for them. And peace of mind for me.

[Cassiepeia]

A 'real' fence would offer far better protection for your animals. Should your animals manage to get outside the fence line the shock would possibly stop them from coming back in. It also offers no protection against other animals or people coming onto your property. Both of which can harm your dogs.
Should the battery go dead before you get to change it, your dogs are no longer protected from the road.

Erecting a real fence is far more secure and sensible then expecting an electric shock to protect your dogs from danger.

Cass.

[Rivsky]

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

A 'real' fence would offer far better protection for your animals. Should your animals manage to get outside the fence line the shock would possibly stop them from coming back in. It also offers no protection against other animals or people coming onto your property. Both of which can harm your dogs.
Should the battery go dead before you get to change it, your dogs are no longer protected from the road.

Erecting a real fence is far more secure and sensible then expecting an electric shock to protect your dogs from danger.

Cass.

I totally agree - so many things can still go wrong just relying on a collar.

[Kris]

There is no "just relying on a collar" when invisible fencing is properly used. If properly trained, your dog should never realize the battery is weakening; that said, any conscientious owner checks the collar once a week.

A visible, above-ground fence is not fool-proof. Relying on any fence is foolhardy. Dogs can climb, dig, or jump over a standard fence and be in danger.

Kris

[burpo]

You should have both for the ultimate protection of your dog. I mean, if you have a fence it will keep your dog from getting out very fast so you could catch them. And you should also use a invisible fence so your dog knows not to go through the fence. Who wouldn't have a fence anyway?
Geeeezzzz!

[Cassiepeia]

Gotta say, I still don't agree with only having an invisible fence for a dog. I'd be too worried about things coming in from the outside, than the dog leaving the yard. A real fence, IMO, is much better protection.

Hmmm...having said all that. Aren't invisible fences and shock collars (the topic of the thread) two different (although similar) things?

Cass.

[Sayuri]

At least in my breed, invisible fencing/shock collars are a big no-no. Nordic breeds and many sighthounds tend to have extremely high tolerance and stoicism when it comes to little "zappy" type feelings that these instruments supply. When they see something and they want it, and that intense prey drive is stimulated, they are GONE, and a little zap isn't going to do a darn thing to stop them. The funny thing is that as soon as it's time to come back IN to the fence, they're smart enough to realize they will STILL get zapped, because the fence doesn't distinguish between coming in and coming out (at least with the originals - maybe prototypes have since changed). So now the dog really has little incentive to go back in.

Also, as Cass pointed out, it doesn't keep anything OUT of your yard that shouldn't be in there, and with a breed like Shibas, that's a concern. A Shiba will try to finish anything another dog starts with them - and that can have tragic results for either end. Quite frankly, I like my "real life" fence just fine, coupled with my watchful eye.

[Rivsky]

Originally Posted by Sayuri

The funny thing is that as soon as it's time to come back IN to the fence, they're smart enough to realize they will STILL get zapped, because the fence doesn't distinguish between coming in and coming out (at least with the originals - maybe prototypes have since changed). So now the dog really has little incentive to go back in.

That is a brilliant point - never would have thought about it myself

[LilacDragon]

A shock collar is just like any other training tool. There are advantages and disadvantages to every single training tool in a trainers "bag".

[Punkygirl0101]

Other tools in a trainers "bag" do not cause even minimal harm to the animal. I think shocking a dog as a method of training, is pointless.

I have seen pictures of dogs with badly burned knecks because of malfunctions from the collar.