Below is video footage of a dog-dog aggression case we worked recently. A remote collar was one of the tools used in working to modify the behavior. Some people will tell you that using a remote collar for these types of cases is only going to make things worse.
You can be the judge. Did it work, didn’t it work? Did it make things worse, did it make things better?
My opinion? It depends who’s doing the work and how they are using the tool. One thing I can tell you is when you compare opinions about tools and training and you come across people who bash remote collar trainers as abusive or unethical…please compare apples to apples. Watch their work and watch mine. Here I’m actually working around real dogs, not stuffed animals. Why is that important…..because owners actually live, take walks and exist around real animals.
It is important because viable solutions mean that the owner needs to actually be able to successfully function with their dog in the real world. The real world is difficult to control…so at a minimum an owner needs a solution that allows them to manage their dog in an unpredictable world.
The part I happen to like about the remote collar as a tool option is that it is very neutral to the dog. The stimulation is identical between handlers, which means once we have the timing mastered…the dogs learning experience is far more consistent. The training is more easily reproduce-able and transferred on from person to person…which is why my entire staff can get the same results with this dog as I did and why owners can learn to do it too.
In this case the management was combined with a stable pack and the right reinforcement and we have a good outcome. The next step is helping the owner learn to do the same things so that the dog can live out a life free of further aggression problems.
Did the remote collar make it worse or not? How come?
Extremely interesting article. I never knew that shock collars could bring out so much aggression in dogs. Very informative article.
Great job dispelling the myths that e collars create more aggression!
Great work Robin. I’m frequently amazed at how quickly and clearly the dogs seem to “get it” once you start working them properly with a remote collar. After setting the foundation, the remote allows you to instantly communicate with the dog and helps to keep the behavior from escalating and “snow balling” to the point where the dog is so amped up he doesn’t even know that somebody is attached to the end of the leash. He is then able to make is own decision to respond properly.
The video clearly shows the point where the dog “got it” and turned around. That first episode of avoidance that he showed in front of the other dogs was priceless. Way to go Bandit!
The only aggression I have seen an e collar increase is the aggression offered by those who are uninformed about the possibilities and have closed their minds.