Let’s talk about e-collars and why dog trainers are so divided. I set out to do a podcast episode explaining why I choose not to use an electric collar with my dogs and with my students' dogs, and it sent me down a spiral of research and careful consideration. So, after nearly 40 hours reviewing videos from trainers who do use e-collars, I'm sharing observations about the wide spectrum of electric collar use in the training world. From excellent conditioning protocols to concerning misuse, what I discovered may surprise both those who use e-collars and those who don't.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- About hours spent watching videos of training with electric collars.
- The types of electric devices available for dog training.
- About the growing e-collar market in North America.
- My thoughts about bans on dog training tools.
- About the possibilities in learning from each other.
- My observations on the use of shock collars.
- The question of dopamine and what’s really being reinforced for the trainer.
- Why all dogs need solid training foundations and layered learning.
- How reducing the divide in dog training helps us all.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 202: Getting A Happy Well Behaved Dog With The ABCs Of Dog Training
- Podcast Episode 214: England Banned Shock Collars, Here’s Why That Could Be Sad News
- Podcast Episode 234: How To Stop Puppy Biting: Avoid Mistakes With Susan Garrett’s Backup Plan
- Podcast Episode 232: Canine Predatory Motor Sequence: Understand Your Dog’s Prey Drive To Enrich Your Life Together
- Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different
- Podcast Episode 106: Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication
- Podcast Episode 145: 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring
- Podcast Episode 21: The 5 Critical Dog Training Layers for Confidence with Anything
- DogsThat YouTube Channel
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
I appreciate that Susan was so open to both sides! We trained our shep/mal/something mix using all positive reinforcement and the random uh uh! or no! It was good for 90%. The last 10% the treats and praise were not working. She’d get into such a state. With the help of a very qualified trainer (trust me, I did my research) and slow introduction to the e collar on neutral territory, the 8% remaining just kicked right in. The remaining 2% will always be our work in progress, no one is perfect. (though she is pretty darn close!)
My dog does like the e collar because she associates it with going outside and with working. But it’s not something I’d have slapped on her without exhausting other options. Also, brands do matter. There are some that are not as humane as others. Do the research and this should be a last resort for that particularly high drive dog that just needs that extra help.
I tried a sound/vibrate/shock collar on my 1yo Rott-sky-pit when off-leash to get her attention for recall (she’d get tangled in a 30ft lead). She was always more interested in squirrels and good smelling things and so wouldn’t listen. Sound worked a bit, accompanied by a “meatball” reward. But then she started ignoring it, and running off on her own, thinking it a game. Vibrate was entirely ignored. Shock I stopped using when it made her jump, as it also was ineffective in getting her attention or stopping her from going where she shouldn’t. She’s extremely stubborn, independent and silly. I don’t let her off-leash anymore except at the dog park. Maybe after we finish Recallers…maybe. She’s 21 months now and doing better (on leash) with just looking at squirrels & bunnies & not chasing, though I’m certain off-leash she’d be after them. Work-in-progress.
A neighbor uses an electric collar on her rescue lab mix when walking on leash, particularly when he wants to say hello to my rescue Berner-border collie and she wants him to heel. To me that just teaches her dog negative assiciations with other dogs (he’s an “only dog” so only encounters other dogs on walks), but I said nothing. She claims to have spent $2000 on training. I resisted saying it’s the quality, not the price; & I didn’t ask if an electric collar was part of that “training”.
in this episode, you mentioned about Dopamine and I just heard about 3 levels of happiness (Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Dopamine) could you please explain these in the new episode.
My trainer said to me I would love to see Susan Garrett get a recall from a malamute in the woods when their focus is on something. I told him I only use positive reinforcement. He said fine we will try it