two metal prongs that are in contact with a dogs skin. The
device works by usually emitting a warning noise followed by an
electric shock to the dog. On some models the shock can be
increased in intensity. These collars are designed to shape
behavior, for example they can be set to go off when a dog
barks. Alternatively the handler can carry a remote control unit
that delivers a shock when the dog does undesirable behavior.
There really is no need to use such methods to train a dog,
there are more humane methods to shape a dogs behavior such as
clicker training that gives a reward for shaping behavior.
The reasons why I believe shock collars are not necessary for
training are as follows:
* A dogs skin is much thinner than a humans skin. As a result
the shocks these devices give can be very painful. Additionally
Why Crate Train My Dog?A few years ago, before I decided to stay home with my kids, I worked as a veterinarian technician in an animal hospital. While at that job I saw so many clients who would bring in their dog and be upset because they had eaten something in the house, other than food, and were now sick. One client brought in her chocolate lab that had gotten into her sewing box and eaten a pincushion, pins and all!!! Off to surgery the dog went and the owner was out about $1,500. Case number two was a giant poodle that, while the owner was away, got into her closet and ate a pair of panty hose. Unfortunately th ..
if a dog becomes wet the pain inflicted can increase.
* Shocking a dog can lead to behavior problems where the
association of the shock with people or circumstances can lead
to potentially aggressive behavior.
* Sadly there are people that will use these devices
irresponsibly or worse for fun on their pets.
For many years I have used treats and praise for training my
dogs. I believe in using kind training methods and rewarding
dogs for good behavior. Dogs love to be rewarded be it with
praise, treats, toys and exercise. In my experience a dog that
is trained using positive training methods is well behaved, good
tempered and happy.
How To Train Your Dog To Respond When You CallWhen you re trying to train your dog, one of the most important
parts of training is getting the dog to come to you when you
call them. This is a basic form of training and is one of the
first things you want to teach your dog before moving on to more
advanced techniques.
The first thing you need to figure out is what your dog likes.
Figure out which treats they like the most. Whatever treat gets
the most positive reaction is the treat you want to use. Once
you ve figured this out, invest in purchasing a supply of these
treats so that they are handy at all times.
Start by going ..
Joyce Barker -
href="http://www.dogtraininginfo.co.uk">http://www.dogtraininginfo.co.uk
About the author:
Joyce Barker is a member of the British Institute of
Professional Dog Trainers. She has over 25 years worth of dog
training experience. She is the owner of
href="http://www.dogtraininginfo.co.uk">http://www.dogtraininginfo.co.uk
a company dedicated to promoting positive dog training
methods.
Joyce BarkerThoughts on using shock collars to train your dog.
