My friends in the UK at BritishDog sent this note over as an example of the feedback they get from their clients regarding purchasing electronic training collars.
British Dog carries a variety of dog training collars & equipment, toys, and dog gear. Our e-mail correspondence started when Wales passed a ban on remote training collars. We were discussing the absurdity of such bans and how limiting tool options doesn’t solve the problem of people become frustrated with their pets and looking for solutions. The words below certainly make it clear that someone was frustrated with this dogs behavior and even threatened to shoot him. 🙁
I try to pull some lessons from these testimonials. Find some bit of insight that might help all of us expand our thoughts regarding training, how we perceive our pets and electronic training collars.
One of the things that stood out to me here is this represents a situation that so many professional trainers have concerns about. It is one of the scenarios that creates hub-bub about e-collars being misused by the average pet owner who *just purchases the training collars* because they are frustrated. Since there is no mention of professional help or guidance my interpretation is these folks did the training themselves and probably used the e-collar as an aversive when the dog tried to run off. This is not the remote collar training protocol most professionals recommend. Our belief in motivational use of the training collars and proper e-collar conditioning is a strongly held stance amongst those of us that choose this way to train.
Yet, what is the outcome? Seems there is an owner who is very happy and a dog who can now be off leash again and not risk being shot. While we don’t have a big picture painted for us in these words, I don’t get the impression the sky fell when Sue pushed the button and corrected her labradoodle for bolting. Her words of “our walks are lovely relaxing affairs for us and great fun for him.” don’t seem to contain the message that her dog lives in fear of *being shocked*
While I certainly will continue to advocate that users get help when introducing electronic training collars I won’t stand in judgment of the owner who does it themselves. I just hope that if you are one of the people reading this who did try using “one of those shock training collars” yourself and it didn’t go well you can accept that it isn’t the tool that is the problem.
It is about lack of knowledge.
Whether training with an electronic collar suits your sensibilities or not I hope all can accept that dog’s lives can be saved by the tool and jumping on a *ban the shock collar* wagon will not stop frustration. Frustration will be further fueled by limiting peoples choices. We are better served by being educated about the pros and cons of all the options available to us.
David Abrahansen said “Frustration is the wet nurse of violence” I think the words below are a case in point..the dog was threatened with being shot. So now the dog is not frustrated by having to be confined to a leash, the owner is not frustrated with a dog that does not come back when called and whoever owned the sheep is relieved of the frustration of his flock being harassed.
I have been meaning to contact you about the dog collar I purchased from you to let you know how successful it has been. Quite simply it has transformed our lives and that of our pet. He had been threatened with being shot after chasing sheep and we couldn’t let him off his lead for fear of his running off. Shocking re-call!! He is a very energetic labradoodle so this was no life for him. It took 2 or 3 goes with the collar before he twigged that running off was not an option! Now he tends to keep much closer anyway, and if he does take off after anything usually just a beep is enough to get him to stop straight away. What a transformation! Now our walks are lovely relaxing affairs for us and great fun for him. Thank you so much for your product, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Sue Harvey.
Thanks for sharing your story Sue, I am glad to hear your dog is happier and safer as a result of the remote collar helping you achieve a reliable recall and stop the chasing behavior. I hope that our friends over seas hear your story and realize that choices about training collars and equipment should be made by the pet owner.
Robin, the title of your post is, “Should only Professionals be Allowed to Use Electronic Training Collars?”. Therefore, I’d like to add the following personal “enlightenment:” : )
As a young trainer, I bought into the idea that a remote training collar should only be used by training professionals or serious dog competitors. The belief presented to me was that the novice dog trainer would not take the time or concern to learn how to use a remote training collar correctly. As my experience as a dog and people trainer increased, I realized this simply is not true.
Family dog owners are intelligent people who are concerned for the welfare of their pet. While they do not have the professional experience and knowledge of training dogs, they are intelligent people in other fields. Therefore, they are very trainable. They are seeking professional instruction as how to train their dog the right way, the first time and to do it humanely. So they have already demonstrated their love and commitment for their dog. It is my job therefore, to provide them with professional training that will enable them to be successful with their dog.
Robin, I whole heartedly agree with you, “Whether training with an electronic collar suits your sensibilities or not I hope all can accept that dog’s lives can be saved by the tool and jumping on a *ban the shock collar* wagon will not stop frustration. Frustration will be further fueled by limiting peoples choices. We are better served by being educated about the pros and cons of all the options available to us.”
Having been a former “positive based trainer”, I know I have saved many more dogs lives by being a “balanced trainer” who is a remote collar specialist.
You mean you converted from the enlightened path to the dark side? Wow!! 😉
Thanks for the support and balanced information you are putting forth in your blog and your work.
You’re making a difference my friend.
Robin