Dog Shock Collar Training: Is It Worth It?

Some of the potential hazards of using a dog training shock collar include skin irritation, lesions or infections, training backsliding, causing your dog pain and stress, aggression or other problematic behaviors from your dog, and even breaking the law in some countries.

How Does a Dog Shock Collar Work?

A dog training shock collar can be referred to as an e-collar, shock collar or remote training collar. Though there are several types of remote-controlled collar, such as those with foul-smelling sprays or high frequency noises, this article is referring specifically to those collars that deliver an electronic shock to a dog’s neck for the purposes of training.

Typically, the shocks are delivered by the remote control held by the trainer. Trainers use the shocks to interrupt unwanted behaviors, such as leaving a containment area or chasing livestock. They also use the shocks in a situation where a cue has been given to the dog, but the dog doesn’t perform the appropriate behavior right away.

For example, when practicing with gundogs that are required to sit when a whistle is blown from a distance—if the dog doesn’t sit right away, he or she is shocked as a reminder to follow through with the correct behavior immediately.

Do dog shock collars work?

When used appropriately, supporters of dog shock collar training claim that training time can be shortened significantly as compared to training solely with positive reinforcement techniques. They also assert that their dogs have better focus on the handler and are more likely to follow through with a command or cue than dogs that are given a choice, as in positive reinforcement training.

Conversely, any mistake made by the trainer with the remote control can create major unintentional training and behavior problems with their dog. A shock sent at the wrong moment can deter a dog from whatever he is doing at the exact moment of the shock—whether it’s picking up a ball, drinking water or even relieving herself. Trainer error and malfunctioning equipment are both major factors when dealing with this highly sensitive behavior modification technique. But those are just two drawbacks to this training technique.

Other Risks Associated with Using a Dog Shock Collar

There are additional risks that come with using shock collars in dog training, too. Some people say that the use of these collars teeter on the boundary of animal abuse. Opponents of shock collars say that the physical punishment the dogs receive can worsen underlying behavior or health problems. Veterinarians warn that use of these collars can lead to skin irritations and necrosis.

So what does the research say? There have, in fact, been several studies in the past decade that attempt to put fact to the growing anecdotal evidence from trainers and dog owners who say that using shock collars can be detrimental to the physical and behavioral health of dogs.

Using a Dog Shock Collar is Stressful

Dogs wearing e-collars show more signs of stress during training as well as during everyday activities.

There have been several behavioral research studies that observe negative behavior responses in dogs that are trained using shock collars in comparison to those trained using positive reinforcement. One study in particular concluded that “being trained [with shock collars] is stressful” and “receiving shocks is a painful experience to dogs.”

A study in 2007 revealed that dogs became more stressed and tense in everyday life situations in response to wearing an electric collar during their training, as measured by salivary cortisol levels and behavioral indicators.

Shock collar training can create or worsen underlying behavioral problems like aggression.

There are concerning situations that reveal that the use of shock collars during training can actually cause aggression or worsen aggression among dogs that previously had symptoms of clinical aggression. Researchers Hiby, Rooney and Bradshaw revealed that punishment-based training methods led to higher incidents of aggression and other problematic behaviors.

A Dog Shock Collar can Injure

Electric collars can cause physical damage to dogs’ necks.

The warning labels inside the instructions for these electric collars spell out most of their risks, including skin irritation and pressure necrosis. Even so, I’ve personally witnessed dogs with severe injury to their necks in a pet store or veterinarian office where I was working. The dogs are brought in for grooming appointments, and the groomer removes the e-collar to discover that the skin under the collar prongs is completely rotten, revealing infected indentations into the flesh of the dog’s neck. It happens more often than one may think.

In each of these cases, the owners claimed they never took the collar off, and therefore they never noticed the problem. Prolonged pressure from the collar stops adequate blood flow to the area. After time, the tissue dies, and the prongs penetrate the skin, leaving gaping wounds in the neck. This leads me to the next point in the evidence against shock collars:

They are often used incorrectly.

The same labels that warn owners about the potential for skin irritation and infection also warn against using too high of a shock setting. Surprisingly, not all of them clearly define “too high” as being one that causes a dog to yelp in response to the shock. Though it may be common sense to most of us dog lovers that a dog yelping is in pain, I’ve heard professional trainers teach their students that “when the dog yelps, you know he’s getting the message.”

These studies revealed that the majority of pet owners aren’t following the manuals, heeding their warnings or learning how to properly train with shock collars. Many owners admit to starting at the highest pain threshold and working their way backwards. Almost 30 percent of the dogs in one study were still vocalizing after repetitive use of the collars—indicating the owners weren’t lowering the settings to the suggested levels.

Many owners admitted to never reading the instructions at all.

Dog Shock Collars Aren’t More Effective

Shock collar training is no more effective in training your dog than using positive reinforcement.

Studies that compare compulsion-based training, including the use of shock collars, to positive reinforcement training methods have generally not supported the claims that shock collars are more effective at training dogs.

Additional research indicates that reward-based and positive training techniques can be equally effective for pet or working dog training. Overall, the conclusions of research surrounding the use of shock collars in dog training can be summarized by the conclusion of researchers Schilder and van der Borg in their report in Applied Animal Behavioral Science:

“… the study did find behavioral evidence that use of e-collars negatively impacted on the welfare of some dogs during training even when training was conducted by professional trainers using relatively benign training programmes advised by e-collar advocates.”

Is My Dog Shock Collar Illegal?

For all of these reasons combined, using a shock collar on a dog is already banned in many competitions and field trials. But did you know that there are countries where even the sale and purchase of these collars has been outlawed? Wales, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Quebec and parts of Australia have already made shock collars for training dogs illegal.

As of March 2018, England and Scotland have laws underway for banning shock collars. Irish animal welfare groups are following suit and calling for a government ban as well. 2018 might see the first city in the U.S. to ban these controversial devices, too. In Boulder, Colorado, there are already attempts forming to get a shock collar ban proposal on the ballot.

Other Training Methods Are Available!

There is a reason we talk so much about positive reinforcement training methods for dogs. The research supports its efficacy. Owners are more likely to enjoy and follow through with training sessions that are fun for both them and their dog.

There are few severe consequences of training mistakes by novice and pro trainers alike. There is little controversy over the ethical treatment of dogs that are being trained using positive reinforcement.

The official stance of the Kennel Club, as declared by secretary Caroline Kisko, states, “Training a dog with an electric shock collar causes physical and psychological harm and is never acceptable, especially given the vast array of positive training methods available.”

In conclusion, why take the chances or risk your dog’s health when there are other training methods available? Simply using a long training leash to manage livestock worrying, distance recall, or bolting is highly effective and less stressful for everyone involved, including your dog. Ultimately, shock collars are never necessary.

References and Further Reading:

• Blackwell et al. 2012. “The Use of Electronic Collars for Training Domestic Dogs: Estimated Prevalence, Reasons and Risk Factors for Use, and Owner Perceived Success as Compared to Other Training Methods.” BMC Veterinary Research.
• Cooper et al. 2010. “Studies to Assess the Effect of Pet Training Aids, Specifically Remote Static Pulse Systems on the Welfare of Domestic Dogs; Field Study of Dogs in Training.” Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
• Cooper 2014. “The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward Based Training.” PLOS.
• Herron et al. 2009. “Survey of the Use and Outcome of Confrontational and Non-Confrontational Training Methods in Client-Owned Dogs Showing Undesired Behaviors.” Applied Animal Behavior Science.
• Hiby et al. 2004. “Dog Training Methods—Their Use, Effectiveness and Interaction with Behavior and Welfare.” Animal Welfare.
• Schalke et al. 2007. “Clinical Signs Caused by the Use of Electric Training Collars on Dogs in Everyday Life Situations.” Applied Animal Behavior Science.
• Schilder and Mvan der Borg, 2004. “Training Dogs with Help of the Shock Collar: Short and Long Term Behavioral Effects.” Applied Animal Behavior Science.