Should You Use An Electronic Dog Collar?

You have just got a new dog, and you would like to train it on your own. However, maybe you haven't trained a dog before or have had problems in the past training other dogs, so you ask for advice on training equipment or aids. Something that may be suggested to you is that you use an electronic dog collar.

Before you go out and purchase an electronic dog collar, you ought to know what they are and how they work. There are several different kinds of electronic dog collars, and they are used for two main purposes:

1. Controlling barking
2. Containment of a dog

Most dogs bark to a greater or lesser extent. However, how much they bark depends on what kind of breed they are. It is a fact that some dog breeds were specifically designed to be quieter than others. Whilst it is true breeds that were originally bred to guard or keep watch tend to be the dog breeds with a tendency to bark, although this is not an absolute rule.

These dog breeds include: Terriers, Schnauzers, Poodles, Pekinese, Chihuahua, Sheep Dogs, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Dachshund, Irish Setters, and Pugs. Owners may find that some types of dog breeds are less likely to bark. These include Bloodhounds, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Boxers, Malamutes, Saint Bernard, Bulldogs, or Afghans. When considering traits such as barking, new owners often fail to consider both training and dog breed when selecting a dog.

So, dog owners who do want too much barking, or who are worried about the neighbours might consider purchasing an electronic dog collar.

The main purpose of the electronic dog collar is to stop a dog from barking. There are two main ways this is achieved:

Firstly, sensors in the dog collar can tell when the dog is barking, and each time that the dog barks, the electronic dog collar emits an ultrasonic noise that dogs can hear but not humans, thus making them stop barking.

The second version of this collar works in a slightly different way, when your dog barks, a spray of citronella, which is both painless and harmless, is released and surprises your dog. The element of surprise is enough to interrupt the dog in mid bark. In a short time, most dogs learns to keep quiet while wearing the collar.

It is generally accepted that there is no traumatising sensation, or unwanted side effects on the dog or his sense of smell. If you want your dog to express himself as before (to guard the house, when you're staying away or at night, etc) all you have to do is remove the collar.

Another type of electronic dog collar which I would not recommend requires owners to have an electronic fence installed in their garden. Although there are packages that allow you to do this yourself, it can get complicated, so unless you have experience doing that, hire a professional to install it.

Electronic fences are invisible fences that restrain a dog from leaving the property. They have the benefit of being invisible for those people that don't like the look of fences. When a dog wears an electronic dog collar and goes too close to the outside parameters of the electronic fence, the dog is met by an electric shock.

There are two ways that electronic dog collars are operated, either on their own, or by a remote that is directed at the collar by the owner. These kinds of collars may seem to have been useful in training dogs, but as they involve electric shocks being emitted I do believe they should be used by responsible owners. Although the electric shock they receive is not large, there are still alternatives to teaching a dog not to do something, such as distracting with a noise, such as shaking or dropping an empty plastic bottle half filled with stones.

In summary you should enjoy building a relationship with your dog through training and avoid anything like electric fences that may harm them or make your pet wary or nervous.