Advantages & Disadvantages Of Dog Remote Collars

Also called ‘remote shock collars ‘or ‘electronic collars’ or ‘e-collars’, the dog collar that is remote is a popular device for distance training. The collar is linked to a hand-held remote control that allows the trainer to send an electronic message to the collar whenever the dog is in trouble or fails to obey a trainer’s instructions.

Since the collar can deliver brutal, traumatizing electronically-generated shocks to dogs, most dog owners consider it an unjust punishment device instead of a powerful tool for training. Others however do consider it an effective tool for training.

We’ve collected the numerous pros and cons of the dog remote collar for you to evaluate the different arguments and make an educated choice for yourself.

Pros

With the use of a dog collar that is remote, you can correct behaviour from a distance with ease. Dogs quickly learn commands to stay on the leash, and away from the trainer’s direct command this is particularly beneficial for dogs who are unresponsive to sound or voice commands. The collar can be used to correct a range of behavior, such as jumping, barking, and digging, and is also used for the basic training of obedience.

Remote collars provide the dog with immediate notification that the behavior is undesired by the dog’s trainer. They may be a better method to manage aggressive dogs and reduce the chance of weakening the relationship between a dog and her handler, provided that the dog doesn’t associate the sensation of discomfort to the human presence.

Certain electronic collars for dogs come with an option for a vibration or tone feature that warns dogs that an electronic compulsion will be sent if she fails to modify her behavior. The vibration feature can also be used for dogs that have difficulty hearing. In these situations there is no reason why it’s necessary to use the shock feature of the collar.

Cons

When the dog’s collar is used for training by dogs who are aggressive it could fuel unwanted behavior or increase anxiety that is a frequent reason for aggression. If the dog associates the source of pain with something else, she may become fearful. For this reason, remote collars should not be used for puppies younger than the age of 6 months and that is the time of year when dogs are most in need of being trained — as well as on dogs who already have a lot of anxiety because the collar can only accentuate their anxiety.

Barking collars are even more troublesome because they aren’t always 100% accurate. Sometimes, they don’t recognize barking. In other instances, they may confuse the dog, causing her to punish her for an unrelated sound.

A trainer using the remote collar for dog training should know how to adjust the collar to prevent physical discomfort to the dog. When the collar is used for long periods or is not properly fitted it could cause irritation. This is why it is dangerous for untrained owners to use these collars.

Also, while some of those who favor assert that the shocks do not cause harm to the dog but electrical impulses that are not sufficient to cause pain are ineffective. While you can predict the outcome based on the fur and the size of the dog, certain dogs are more prone to pain than others . Hence, it’s impossible to predict how a dog feels. A shock that is too heavy can create stress or anxiety in dogs, while any shock which is too light could be dismissed.

The remote dog training collar is not intended to be a replacement for obedience commands. It is only intended to stop certain behaviors since overuse will cause anxiety, fear as well as a less bonded relationship between you and your pet.

If you are planning to purchase one with an electronic collar we highly recommend you purchase one with a vibration or tone feature that alerts the pet that an electronic impulse will follow if she does not change her behavior. This kind of remote barking collar can even remove the shock function of the collar so that the harmful shocks are eliminated.