Being an advocate for remote dog training collars or “shock collars” as some people call them, means I get some *interesting* (yeah, that is the word we’ll use) mail from time to time.
Comments and fascinating suggestions run the range from colorful cursing to bizarre innuendo. One of the less imaginative but more frequent suggestions is “you should strap one of those shock collars on your neck and see how you like it!” To which I generally respond, ” I have actually.”
Case in point, today when my chiropractor shocked my neck and shoulder muscles continuously for 20 minutes. Oh, wait a minute, I guess in the medical community we use the more appropriate term, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. But anyway those sticky electrodes attached to my neck and shoulders sure did feel good as they worked their magic on underused muscles that have found their way back into a workout routine.
Granted the contact on shock collars is limited to a much smaller surface area, but the technology works pretty much identical. Electricity comes from one point of contact and crosses to the other creating an arc where the modulating pulse sensation is felt. Intensity and duration are controlled by the operator.
The TENs unit is used routinely to stimulate nerves for therapeutic purposes and for pain management. I found some interesting information on Wikipedia about the use of electrical stimulation for pain control dating back to 63 AD in Ancient Greece. Apparently they were using electric fish at that time! There is also mention of Benjamin Franklin being a proponent of using electrostatic devices for alleviating headaches.
Kinda cool. At least I think so.
Now if we can just find some common ground with the ban shock collars contingency.
I understand our general hesitancy about anything electrical and I also understand that some people may use a tool improperly or out of frustration. But, IMO, the collective good is far better served by massive education than it is by limiting choices.
Electricity can be used safely and humanely. It can be applied at low levels so that it serves as an aid in solving problems rather than a painful or dangerous apparatus.
And for those still curious, yes, I have actually put “one of those SHOCK collars!” on my neck and felt what it is like.
But does that matter or not? Do dog’s feel things and interpret them the same way that we do?
