by Karen Dugan Holman, B.S., B.S.E., M.S.
W hen I was asked to write about shock collars, I hesitated, contemplating how many feathers I just might ruffle, and then thought, OK, I’m in. I don’t normally enjoy confrontations, but in this instance, I felt a sense of obligation to provide the truth behind shocking your dog.
I have directly observed the pain, distress, and inhumane treatment from use of a shock collar and how it can transform perfectly great puppies and dogs into fearful, anxious, physically injured, and behaviorally damaged animals — to the extreme condition that euthanasia is necessary. Many of my clients reported to have paid to have their dogs “trained” with shock collars or have attempted that technique themselves. According to the client questionnaire completed before we begin counseling, most of their dogs learned no obedience skills (sit, stay, come) from shock-collar training. The comment I hear the most is, “My dogs used to be lovable members of our family, but now, they are scared of everything and aggressive.”
My goal for writing this article is to provide evidence-based knowledge to help dog owners make informed decisions about using a shock collar on their pets.
What Are Shock Collars?
Shock collars are also referred to as e-collars, remote-training collars, stimulation, e-touch, tingle, communication device, TENS unit collars, or e-prods. They usually have two metal prongs which rest against a dog’s skin, typically on the neck (although some trainers also place them against other body parts, including stomach or genitalia). The metal prongs deliver an electric shock when a button is pressed on a remote control or when a dog barks or when a dog crosses a boundary-line “fence.”
People often try tools or techniques when they feel helpless because of their pets’ behavioral problems, possibly attempting to save their dogs’ lives. There is no published
evidence that shock collars save lives, but there is a considerable amount of published, peer-reviewed literature that refutes the use of shock collars and links them to behavioral harm in dogs. There is no longer a reason to be misinformed on the damaging effects of shock collars. In the vast majority of cases, those methods meet the criteria for abuse and inhumane treatment of dogs.
What Is Training?
I have invited my mentor, professor, and friend, Carlo Siracusa (DVM, Ph.D., Dip., ACVB, Dip., ECAWBM, clinical assistant professor of animal behavior, director, Animal Behavior Service, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania) to provide insight regarding the use of shock collars for training dogs.
Dr. Siracusa explains, “Training is a process where the dog is learning to communicate and understand what we want [him] to do. There are limits to how the dog will respond to training. For training to be successful, the dog must have a relatively calm response to a stimulus presented with an intensity that does not excite or scare the animal too much. If your dog is overstimulated or aroused, [he] cannot learn through operant conditioning or obedience training. Obedience training is a fundamental tool when your dog is put in the condition to respond appropriately. If your dog is not learning, you could be using the wrong tools. It is important to select a trainer that utilizes positive reinforcement techniques, especially when working with a fearful dog. What you teach may be less important than how.”
To understand the many reasons that shock collars are damaging to a dog, we must understand how dogs learn. I clearly remember working our English Setters with my dad. He would use “remnants” of the quail from the hunt. I thought it was disgusting at the time, but I quickly learned that was great motivation for the dogs. They were great at their job, and Dad paid them well.
Trainer Donna “DJ” Willis of Pups-nPartners explains, “If you like what your dog is doing, capture that behavior. Pay your dog for desirable behaviors.” Such a simple way to explain positive reinforcement! Reinforcement is essential for learning. It encourages desired behaviors because it marks and identifies the preferred behavior by pairing it with what motivates the dog (food, praise, love, toys, attention). Most dogs respond very well to a high-value reinforcement (don’t forget those quail remnants). Food is necessary for a dog’s survival; therefore, it is a powerful motivator.
The opposite of reinforcement, focusing on stopping a behavior, is called punishment. Adding something to stop an undesirable behavior is called positive punishment. That occurs when the probability that a behavior will occur decreases because something unpleasant happens after the behavior occurs. Some of us grew up hearing, “If you don’t stop talking, you can take yourself out in the hall for a paddling.” (That might have been me on a couple of occasions.) That paddling is positive punishment (adding swats to stop the talking after you were talking). Punishment does not teach a learning dog what to do instead of the problem behavior. Dogs do learn alternative, incompatible behaviors when you use reinforcement to mark those behaviors.
Here are three important points shared by Dr. Siracusa regarding shock collars:
1 Humans learn that if something harms
us, we avoid or protect ourselves so we do not get hurt. Humans have the ability to choose. Dogs are captive animals and cannot freely choose or decide. An example might be that when a dog cannot escape something he is fearful of, if he is on the end of the leash, he might bark and lunge. The dog will learn that being offensive or aggressive is the best defense. When you use shock in this situation, the dog perceives something dangerous, maybe an approaching stranger or dog, associated with the pain he feels from the shock collar. On other occasions, you are changing the response when you shock the dog, and often, he will “freeze.” People interpret freezing as a good outcome. In reality, the dog is frozen in fear. You are compounding the fear. The dog is not learning because he is in lifesaving mode. The dog is now in a flight, fight, or freeze mode and will often become aggressive and will escalate inappropriate behaviors.
2 When you use a shock collar, excitable
or nervous dogs are more likely to develop or are at a higher risk of developing excessive fear and aggression. The temperament of the dog influences the response to punishment. If the dog is anxious or
stressed, it can be upset easily. Studies have shown that many working and sporting dogs are bred and selected to be more aroused and excitable. When you use a shock collar with those dogs, the probability of aggressive behaviors increases significantly. Punishment increases anxiety, fear, and aggression. Fear is the basis of aggression.
3 People are not so good at training. To
be effective, punishment should come in a very well-timed sequence (consistency, timing, and intensity). The use of shock collars is very unpredictable. Studies show that if a dog is in control of the shock, the stress is lower for the dog. When a shock collar is used, the dog is not in control and often associates something negative happening to it with the owner. That can greatly affect the bond between the owner and dog and can have disastrous and lasting effects on the relationship. What is your goal for your dog? To have a great family pet that trusts you? You must carefully consider the effect of your training techniques on your dog.
Forcing dogs to comply by using shock methods does not enhance the human-animal bond, nor does it provide a healthy learning environment. Even on the lowest setting, shock is an unpredictable and unknown stimulus, which is frightening and painful. It is an aversive technique. That adds to a dog’s overall fear, stress, and anxiety. Remember that fear and anxiety often are the underlying conditions that result in many aggressive behaviors. A dog who is subjected repeatedly to aversive treatment will often shut down, which can be mistaken for a “good and well-behaved pet.”
Nancy Gallimore, CPDT-KA, owner of Pooches in Tulsa, has observed many dogs who have been trained with shock devices who are very shut down. She explains, “These dogs are complying, but it is to avoid discomfort, not because they are learning a new behavior and working as a partner with their handler.”
Using a shock collar is not training acceptable or more appropriate behaviors in your dog. It is important to teach your dog appropriate behaviors, behaviors that are incompatible with the inappropriate ones. The fallout of shock collars is a measurable increase of those problematic behaviors.
A Chance To Choose
Why would you treat your dog that way?
One reason is because you can. Shock collars are legal in the United States, but many countries have outlawed them. In a recent study, 70 percent of dog owners think shock collars have a negative impact on their pet’s emotion or mental well-being and should be outlawed, whereas 69 percent consider shock collars a cruel training method.
Many veterinarians believe shock collars are inhumane and should be outlawed. They have observed many injured, behaviorally damaged dogs. People today often desire a “quick fix.” With dogs, there is no “quick fix.” They take a bit longer to reach than most humans.
Dr. Siracusa reminds us, “Dogs are very simple creatures, like human infants and toddlers. We need to remember to be patient and understanding, allowing our dogs’ strengths to develop. Find a way to obtain your goals, if possible, using what your dog likes to do. Remember to give your dog a chance to choose.”
If you have a dog that you need help training, seek a licensed trainer who uses positive reinforcement. Most dog owners desire a companion, a family pet. It is crucial to work with a trainer who understands how to achieve a strong human-animal bond.
Several themes are embedded in the human-animal bond: Animals are dependent on humans for their basic needs and welfare; pets are sensitive and have feelings; animals and humans are capable of communicating with and learning from one another, forming relationships that are mutually beneficial. The term bond has connotations suggesting that a relationship is binding and strong and involves trust. Domestic animals have a natural tendency to create a bond with people. Do you want to risk destroying the bond you have developed with your dogs? They trust you.
I hope this article has provided you with the knowledge to make an educated decision on the type of treatment you will allow with your dog. Below, I am providing helpful resources and names of organizations that have drafted statements against the use of shock collars and why.
Happy Tails, Karen
Three Oaks Animal Behavior Counseling LLC
Click on the link for helpful references and resources: https://animalbehaviorok.com/ shocking-truth-about-shock-collars/.
