Correct Problem Behavior in Dogs with an E-Collar - Family - Pets

There has always been debate around the use of shock collars. If you are considering an e-collar for your dog, you probably didn't make this decision lightly. But are e-collars really effective in correcting problem behaviors?

I didn't make this decision lightly either. I had a huge bias against e-collars. I thought they were cruel and the people who used them were just plain lazy. I never dreamed that someday I would need one.

But I have a 105 pound German Shepherd and his barking was really getting out of control. Anytime someone rang the doorbell, or even walked across our lawn, he would go on a barking tirade. Nothing I did could stop it.

Buddy also had a very bad habit of greeting everyone by jumping all over them. This was cute when he was a puppy, but once he got big, it was basically like getting tackled whenever you walked in the door. This was a behavior we could not live with anymore.

After several thousand dollars worth of "proper training classes", I was at my wit's end. I spoke to my friend who had a perfect dog, and told her I just didn't know what to do any longer. I was so frustrated.

She said to get an e- collar. In fact, she had used them on several of her dogs over the years. I was shocked! (no pun intended.) This friend could practically be in PETA, so I could not believe she would endorse them.

She explained that they are not cruel at all. Since dogs are so smart, you end up not having to use the electric zap very much at all. They learn really fast, and pretty soon you just use the tone command all the time.

We read the instructions very carefully and started using the e-collar on Buddy. It was almost miraculous how quickly he learned exactly what we wanted him to do- be quiet and get down. Like my friend promised, we rarely have to use the shock feature at all. My dog is super smart, and he responds to the tone command almost perfectly.

This purchase was something I put off for far too long. I do think that dogs know on some level that they aren't doing what you want, and the behaviors can get worse over time. I also think most dogs want to behave and are a lot less anxious when they do.