A pet dog owners perspective on remote collar training (aka: shock collar training as some would call it) is always interesting to me. Under the guidance of a knowledgeable professional dog trainer the doubt always gives way to the “Wow” factor. It is hard not to be wowed by the results of a system that is easy on the dog, decreases owner frustration and provides greater freedom to truly enjoy the human-canine relationship.
The following words came from a client of Jill Henry’s. Jill is the owner/training director of Life WithOut A Leash Dog Training in Abbottsford, BC. Obviously Meg, the owner, is pleased with the results she has gotten from the training and is finding it much easier to manage her pack of five dogs.
But what I really want to point out in this particular letter are the numbers that Meg refers to when she discusses her use of the equipment. The supposed level of shock isn’t really much of a shock collar at all. Those familiar with the Dogtra e-collar system of linear adjustment of stimulation know that the numbers go from zero to one hundred and twenty seven. Zero is as low as you can set the level and one twenty seven is as high as you can go (for the record I can hold the e-collar in my hand and repeatedly hit the 127 level, it is a pretty strong pulse, but not any excrutiating pain as some might think.)
Meg writes that her stimulation levels are generally set between 12 and 16. This means that Meg is successful using the collar to gain her dog’s attention at about 1/10 of the amount of stimulation that collar is capable of producing.
1/10 of the e-collar strength capacity. That is all she needs to help her have a life of peaceful co-existence with her pack o’ poodles!
I can also tell you that very, very few humans can even perceive the levels between 12 and 16.
So you are probably asking, well if a human can’t feel it and it is that low of a setting, how can it possibly work? Doesn’t an electronic remote training collar need to Shock the dog in order to work? Isn’t it the pain of not obeying that makes the dog decide to listen?
One word: No
Getting the dog to listen isn’t about pain. It is about attention.
Attention can easily be gained by physical contact. Physical contact that touches the dog in a unique way. A unique sensation is hard to ignore because it can’t be *tuned out* the way sound can.
There is more to the story of how this concept works and in my workshops I share the *video game analogy*. It helps explain how touch works in gaining attention and how little it takes to achieve the desired response. But that is my shameless teaser plug for Jill and the Remote Collar Foundation Training workshop she is holding this summer in the Vancouver area.
As for Meg, kudos for your work and commitment to your dogs. You have a great coach. Hopefully I will meet you and the pack this summer. 🙂
Good Morning Jill;
Writing to sincerely “Thank You” for the wonders you have created here at my very doggy home. Having FIVE big, smarter than me, Standard Poodles (with three of them still under a year old), and the older two spoiled silly, had me at my wit’s end. It felt like I could easily win any Championship competition for best “Dog Yeller”! Now, I am only yelling occasionally – that’s just my bad habit.
It’s been just three months and most of the time calm quietness pervades.
The dogs are so much easier to handle in so many ways.
The Remote Collar System works! That little small pulse when I hit the button does the job. Dogs come, dogs go to their ‘places’, dogs quit chasing poor wee cat up and down the fence line (although that’s her fault for teasing), dogs even go to their own houses and don’t all try to get into one crate…..but the best thing is Cry Baby has quite whining.
I now have an easy and quick response from all the girls and even big Fonzy. His remote collar set at a very low level….it varies from 12 to 14, which is the low end of the range. The two smaller girls have a varied setting between 12 to 16 depending on ‘what’s happening’ as they are way more excitable.
The double controller/collar is the best – it took me awhile to get used to the two control buttons on one unit – but, it is perfect for walks… I put two dogs on the split lead, wearing their own collars – then I only need one hand for the controller. If I really want to take three dogs for a walk at the same time I can….but it causes too much interest – I am sticking to two dogs for outings.
I also appreciate your time, expertise and patience in training all my devil darlings to walk on the treadmill….it is so valuable on a day when the rain is just pouring….no soaking wet poodles to dry and brush before they matt. That is a huge chore and it’s pretty much eliminated.
In the beginning I was not sure this Remote Collar System would work – but I was so wrong and so glad that I was. It doesn’t hurt the dogs at all and its pretty easy to learn….guessing if I could learn it anyone could….so if you ever need a reference have them call me.
The dogs love going to your class and sit quietly now so I can put their collars on nice and snug…they know we are going to see all the other dogs and you…they totally love you!
When my new batch of puppies are born, I will be bringing them to Life Without A Leash’s big group classes on Saturday mornings, so they can socialize with all the other dogs and their humans. This would be so good for them…all those dogs and folks who love dogs. Couldn’t find a better place!
Take good care of you.
Thankful and happy poodle person,
Meg Sherring
What Model Dogtra collar do you recommend? In this article that you used on 5 poodles.
Hi Mike, These dogs were not my clients so I don’t know for certain what model the trainer used, however, there are several models that would work well. Generally we use the 280 NCP on most of the dogs, the 300 Element is also nice if you don’t want/need the LCD screen and the iQ is a good option for dogs under 20 pounds.
all the best,
Robin
I like to bring up the analogy of how shock feels on people: there’s a big difference between the small shock of scuffing your feet on the carpet before touching the doorknob and getting hit by lightning out by the 18th hole on the golf course.
And then it’s a “shock” to most people that the level used on most dogs is even less than that doorknob zap!
I’d say when a dog is whining in pain, the shock is hurting him. I’ve seen it & it’s an ugly way to train a dog! If there was a way to stop it, I would!
If a dog is yelping etc, then yes, the level is too high and should be turned down. A dog that is over-whelmed by the sensation is not in a learning frame of mind. I think we can all agree that it is not difficult to find examples of lousy training and dogs under stress in any of the various methodologies and with use of a wide variety of tools.
But what about those dogs with tails wagging, working happily and responding nicely while being trained with an e-collar? There are many, many, many examples of excellent e-collar work which is the question the article addresses. It does not have to be painful or ‘shocking’ in order to be effective. Plus the good news is the more we get the word out about using remote collars in an educated way, the more we put a stop to the type of training you describe. That is a win for all of us and the dogs!