Call For Evidence to Settle Controversial ‘Shock’ Collar Debate
Published on April 21, 2009 by K9 Magazine News Editor · 3 CommentsReview of the use of electric pulse training aids in companion animals
The Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) has issued a call for evidence relating to the use of electric pulse training aids, or ‘shock collars’, in companion animals.
The CAWC is aiming to produce an independent report on the implications of the use of these electronic training aids.
Professor Daniel Mills, a Council Member of the CAWC and Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Lincoln, said: “This review considers devices designed for use in the training of dogs, cats and horses, and any other companion animal species, which involve the application of an electronic current to the skin to aid the training process.”
A working group is seeking specific verifiable information in relation to direct experience of both the use of these devices and alternatives in relation to achieving specific training goals. An online questionnaire has been launched to collate information.
The group wishes to receive reports from individuals regardless of the consequences of their experience so it can identify both the positive and negative attributes of this method of training in practice. Reports must be based on direct experience and not second hand reports. A sample of respondents will be contacted for data verification purposes.
The questionnaire is available on line at www.ecollar-survey.org and will only take a few minutes to complete. It requests individuals to report on the single most significant experience or context in which they have used a device.
Please note that only one submission per user is allowed. The Group would also like to stress that this call does not seek opinion on the regulation of the devices.
The report will anonymise private sources and individuals providing evidence either directly or indirectly unless permission is gained to the contrary, although specific examples may be cited in an anonymous way.
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Tags: Animal Welfare, Dog Surveys
If it prevents a dog that has not responded to other forms of training from chasing livestock or escaping on to a road or getting itself into some kind of dangerous for both the dog and others situation, what is so bad about the device?
I bet that if you dug deep enough that there must be people in organisations that publicly oppose these training devices who probably use them on their own dogs?
There’s also a survey by ECMA (electronic collar manufacturers asociation) online doing the same thing as this one.
http://tcog. eu/ecmapro. pdf
E-collars are tools. They can be good or bad depending on how they are used and when they are used. I don’t approve of them being used as a punishment device. Too many use them in this fashion. Instead of working on the problem behavior with the dog, they slap on an e-collar and punish the dog for the behavior. They should be used in conjunction with training.
I have found them useful in working with extremely shy or feral dogs who react badly to human contact. The hands off approach allows gradual acceptance of human contact, while retaining some degree of control. When used for this purpose, they are handled in the same way as click and treat with wild animals. It’s amazing how quickly a cowering dog will gain confidence, untuck and wag tail, and begin approaching humans in a positive manner.
The other use I’ve found, is in working with a dog that must work at a distance and who has learned that you can’t reach him to enforce your commands. I don’t put one on and let the dog loose to punish it when it doesn’t respond. I work in an enclosed area with a long line and e-collar. Use a command that means “look at me” and activate collar on as low a setting as will get a response from the dog. As soon as the dog looks up, stop stimulation and praise. For the come, do the same but also start dog moving in by long line and reward with treat when dog reaches you. If dog turns away, resume stimulation.
I NEVER use e-collars to “cure” aggression. And proper training almost always eliminates the need for using them at all. They shouldn’t be a first choice tool. And, more importantly, they should be a TRAINING tool, not a punishment tool.