“…what do you think if we just put one of them shock collars on him so he knows to come back when he gets away?”
There are so many tools available to us dog trainers/owners/lovers. Above is a typical thought, born out the best interest of the dog, but is thought out in the easiest way first. This mentality is what leads to the misuse of some tools which causes trainers to then be at odds with each other.
I have a four dog/two household client who has been calling sporadically for help. Recently they took in a 2yr old 80lb pit/lab stray. At this point the three adults decided they needed to really start training the new guy regularly, which led to the question above being posed to me.
The household who originally called just wanted help with a 10yr beagle and 1.5yr terrier/chihuahua who regularly bolted out the front door, didn’t like being crated, counter surfed and potty probs. This is a single mom with a 12yr and 1yr old daughters.
The grandparents (the other household, with a 12yr pit mix) are not comfortable with the big boy being in the house with baby, until he’s trained. Simply because he’s big, strong and immature.
I’m going to the grandfolks house twice a week to do some walking, setting boundaries (he’s jumped the fence a couple times) and some basic obedience. It’s been two weeks. He now turns around and comes back into the yard when heading toward his escape spot (a tree limb that goes out over fence that they will not cut), he won’t go thru the front door until I release him, and his recall is pretty darn good to 20ft.
They go on a trip to Colorado soon and are afraid he’ll escape, run off (because at this point, no one can really handle him) and could get attacked by mountain lions. Hence the question above being made.
I kind of winced when they asked it.
“So, you’re against shock collars?” they asked.
“No, I’m not against remote collars or any training tool that is available. But we can’t just put it on and go. We still have to condition in that tool and train him what it means…”
My opinion is this is how prong collars, remote collars, choke chains get their bad rep among people who are against them. There is such an opportunity for misuse. It’s easy for the average dog owner to assume the tool is going to do the trick without doing the training that is needed to accompany those tools.
There are all kinds of studies and research out there about the science behind different training tools. After my schooling I have read many books, watched many video, taken many webinars and inquire with people who have been doing this way longer than me, but I also use the eye test and am open to anything being what a certain dog might need. Dogs are individuals.
Dogs will do what we allow and reinforce. A lot of stuff goes away with ignoring the behavior. But sometimes the safety of the pet and it’s family requires consequences. A consequence can simply be a “eh-eh” or “no”, changing direction on walk is a consequence (in my opinion); there are times where a touch or leash correction is needed (my opinion is mandotta/slip leads and martingale collars fit in this area of consequence); and there situations where a dog might require a prong or remote collar.
The honus is on us humans to assess what the appropriate tool is, then learn to use them properly.
Owners contemplating using any “aversive” tool, such as prong/remote/choker, need to research how to use them more than just listening to a 17yr old kid at the big petstore telling them it works.
Us trainers need to be able to ensure our clients understand proper use of tools, because they might just get it and use improperly anyway. If we don’t know how to teach them ourselves, we need to refer them to someone who can.
No tool is a bad tool, it’s the misuse of tools that is bad. This might be a controversial way of thinking about a polarizing subject, but if there is anything I need to use to keep animals out of shelters by helping owners be more confident and their dogs more obedient then I will.
A tool can make it easy, just make sure it’s what is best.
Dialogue and comparing techniques and results is good and necessary, but devisiveness in the training community over tools is not.
Educate and train dogs, and their owners, is a dog trainer’s responsibility.
Fulfilling your dog’s needs thru exercise and training, to whatever extent he needs and you want, is a dog owner’s responsibility.
