Separating Fact from Fiction

If you put "electronic training collars" into any search engine you are going to find a wealth of information about them. The Internet has become a ripe field of both facts and fiction regarding electronic training collars. The debates rage on as to whether these collars are responsible for abuse. The fact of the matter is that while there is certainly the potential for abuse, when these collars are used appropriately, they are perfectly safe for training your dogs.

Types of Training Collars

There are basically three types of training collars that are available with electronic correction. Each serves a specific function. In each case, your dog will wear a collar that has two probes attached to it for receiving a signal from a transmitter. Let’s look at the types of collars and how they are used:

Anti-Bark Collars – let’s face it, your friends, neighbors and family members can quickly become annoyed with a dog who barks at all hours of the day and night. It’s a habit that once let go can develop into a life long problem. An anti-bark collar uses a gentle stimulation to "remind" your dog that his barking is inappropriate. Most dog owners who use this type of collar use it for a very short period of time. This collar activates only when the dog barks. For most, this collar is used for a brief time until the dog understands that barking isn’t acceptable.

Field & Hunting Collars – when you are training a dog to hunt, it’s important the dog understand the commands that you are giving. A dog that constantly ignores commands, misbehaves or runs off on his own mission is of little value to you during a hunt. These collars are designed for the trainer to issue stimulation via a beep (as a warning) or with either a vibration or short static correction. These collars, when used properly, are not dangerous to your dog. It is important that you follow all instructions of the manufacturer.

Perimeter Training Collars – for those who worry about the safety of their animals, these training collars are a gift. You want to keep your pets safe in their own yard. Nothing is more annoying than running up and down the street calling a dog that has "escaped" from his own yard. These collars work by emitting an electronic warning to your dog when he has crossed certain acceptable behaviors. There is no sufficient research to suggest that these collar are harmful to your dog.

Summary
While you should certainly keep up to date on changes in electronic collar stimulation, you should make your own decision as to whether an electronic stimulus is the proper training method for your dog. Many owners actually have tried the collars on themselves to determine the level of stimulation that is emitted from the collars. It’s a proven fact that these collars are safe, effective and have no long-term adverse affects on your dog.

Some will argue that dogs are abused with these collars. Not only is this untrue, but it’s frankly insulting to those who use these collars. Responsible dog owners, trainers and pet owners do not ever use their collars in anger and they certainly are not subjected to fits of anger or abuse of dogs. It’s important to keep in mind that like any tool that is used for your dog such as a standard leash, collar and even a toy, an irresponsible person can harm a dog with anything – even a stick. However, it’s a well-established fact that the majority of dog owners, breeders and trainers are responsible and would do nothing to harm a dog.

It is critical to remember that these training collars are tools. While there may be well documented cases of abuse, it’s also important to remember that these cases are rare and that a responsible trainer or dog owner decides what training method to use for their dog after thorough research, receiving expert advise and they make decisions based on facts and not fiction.

Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to bird dogs. Visit their site for more information on training bird dogs and hunting dog supplies including a wide variety of Innotek dog training collars, including Innotek Field Pro.