Estimates of the number of dogs injured or killed on the roads every year in every country is just horrific. Add to that number, the injuries to humans and damage caused by dogs running on the road and you have a nightmare scenario. Other situations such as attacking other pets, constant barking and causing a disturbance, damaging property or worrying livestock, chasing cars, bikes or runners are also problems that fill up social media pet group pages with desperate pleas for help and advice on curing or controlling dogs. Trainers and training courses are big business in many countries.
Thousands of dog lovers have sensible trainable pets who respond to their owners or trainers but thousands of others (especially hound owners) either spend small fortunes on training classes and expert tuition or keep their pets on leads/leashes and fenced in for their entire lives. Some will sell them on or dump them on an overcrowded rescue centre or even abandon them in the hope that someone will find and care for their errant unwanted pet. There is yet another group who love their dogs, want to enjoy their free-running company safely and turn to trying out shock (electric) collars. They risk alienating friends and making strong enemies if they go ahead. Is it worth it? Are a few seconds of tolerable pain (if that is what it is) less horrific than the scenarios described above?
There are 3 classic questions to consider before trying one: 1) Can training and control with the abhorred shock collars (where they are still legally purchased and used) be a long-term effective solution to bad or dangerous behaviour? 2) Do they really work for all dogs? 3) Are they truly as cruel as opponents of the devices claim? Aside of these questions pet owners have to ask the if we can trust that the collars will not be used incorrectly, inappropriately or downright deliberately cruelly. The answer to this last question is almost impossible to determine and as such is probably the most weighty argument for banning them.
Even so, there are many loving dog owners who have found that careful very moderate use of the collars has meant keeping a difficult pet out of trouble and ensuring a safe and happy lifestyle for the animal and the family. Most electric collars today are much smaller than early versions, with many control levels and feature buzzers or bells that dogs rapidly learn to react to rather than the associated shock and this is sufficient to know that any dangerous situation can be controlled effectively without any pain involved. More details and opinions of users and opponents over the next week. Please respond if you have a view.....
Thousands of dog lovers have sensible trainable pets who respond to their owners or trainers but thousands of others (especially hound owners) either spend small fortunes on training classes and expert tuition or keep their pets on leads/leashes and fenced in for their entire lives. Some will sell them on or dump them on an overcrowded rescue centre or even abandon them in the hope that someone will find and care for their errant unwanted pet. There is yet another group who love their dogs, want to enjoy their free-running company safely and turn to trying out shock (electric) collars. They risk alienating friends and making strong enemies if they go ahead. Is it worth it? Are a few seconds of tolerable pain (if that is what it is) less horrific than the scenarios described above?
There are 3 classic questions to consider before trying one: 1) Can training and control with the abhorred shock collars (where they are still legally purchased and used) be a long-term effective solution to bad or dangerous behaviour? 2) Do they really work for all dogs? 3) Are they truly as cruel as opponents of the devices claim? Aside of these questions pet owners have to ask the if we can trust that the collars will not be used incorrectly, inappropriately or downright deliberately cruelly. The answer to this last question is almost impossible to determine and as such is probably the most weighty argument for banning them.
Even so, there are many loving dog owners who have found that careful very moderate use of the collars has meant keeping a difficult pet out of trouble and ensuring a safe and happy lifestyle for the animal and the family. Most electric collars today are much smaller than early versions, with many control levels and feature buzzers or bells that dogs rapidly learn to react to rather than the associated shock and this is sufficient to know that any dangerous situation can be controlled effectively without any pain involved. More details and opinions of users and opponents over the next week. Please respond if you have a view.....
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