We have used this method and it has worked on our dogs VERY well. Some people say it sounds cruel, but it doesn't hurt when it zaps, its like a little annoying zap.

My dogs are getting collar smart though. When the collars are off they think they can behave how they want and WONT listen. When they are on, they are to the point where you don't even have to push the button they will do anything told.

Has anyone else used this method?

I was just reading some other posts about this method being harsh and that it is dangerous for the dog?? I never knew this. We talked to our vet and she said that she saw no harm in using them; along with our well-known trainer who has extensive training in this.

Any thoughts?

These collars work because the "zap" is aversive to the dog....the dog works to avoid getting zapped. I think these collars can be harsh, especially in the hands of those who don't understand how to use them properly...the potential for misuse is high. In addition, what may feel like a little annoying zap to one dog may be much more aversive to another.

It is highly unlikely that I will ever use such a collar. I'm not completely against the use of aversives but shock collars are not necessary for the average dog in my opinion.

Have you ever felt the "zap" ...it is more like *buzz*.. a vibration like on a cellphone when it rings. They have several settings, but mine is always on the lowest... I never have to use it anymore because my dogs have learned. They just need to have a collar on.

My dogs have never acted like it hurt them, or acted like different dogs with it on. They have always acted completely normal, which is why I thought that it was okay. If my dog was yelping in pain or freaking out, I wouldn't have used it. They acted like it was nothing. Just an attention getter.

No, I have never felt the "zap" and I think feeling the zap myself would be irrelivant because my dogs are unlikely to feel it the same way I do. It seems fairly common for people to try out various training tools on themselves before using them on their dogs. I have heard some people say that the zap doesn't hurt a bit and others say the complete opposite and I'm sure the aversiveness varies from dog-dog, dog-human, & human-human because we are all individuals.

It wasn't my intention to make you feel guilty about using a shock collar so I hope you didn't take my post that way. There are people who use them properly without negative effects and there are others who make them out to be worse than they really are. I'm only stating my opinion.

No, no... you didn't make me feel guilty. That is why I asked.

It just kind of upsets me that I only heard one-sided stories. Basically I was told that there aren't any negatives to this; told it wasn't harmful, told that it doesn't hurt (kinda makes me feel mislead). We were trained on how to do this as well by the trainer so it was like a dog/human training thing. She gave us hands on experience while she was here once a week for 3 months.

Had I known I would have chosen a different path, that's all.

I don't understand why some think this method is "okay". The truth is - it's VERY cruel and wrong! Would you use this method to a human baby? If the answer is "no" then why do it to animals?

There are plenty of other methods you can use without scaring or threatening the animal. This is not positive re-enforcement !!! How can some say that it doesn't harm or hurt the animals if they are not animals themselves??? Makes me so upset because I have seen way too many times dogs being trained with this method and you really can see in their eyes that they are scared.

Please please please don't use this method!

i'm not against this method at all. by no means is it cruel or unusual. of course, it depends on the responsibility of the owner and their knowledge of using the device. we've used this method for our boxer just like an electric fence. at our summer house, the yard is unfenced and she likes to go "hunting" all the time. when she approaches the property line, our collars have a tone option that we press. then, if she continues, we push the zap button (yelling 'come' before each action).

i think a better analogy for a shock would be like shuffling your socks across the carpet and then touching a door knob. not painful, but it's annoying and makes you jump.

anyway, this has been a great method for training our dog. whenever she does something wrong, all she needs to do is hear the tone, and she knows that if she continues her wrongdoing, the zap will follow.

like you said, though, she's learned a thing or two over the years, and she knows when the collar is and isn't on

We bought one about a month ago because our dog would bark at everything! She only got the shock from it a few times. Now all we have to do is show it at her and she stops barking.

I am not a fan of these collars, as we are not in this to teach dogs fear.

Training your dog is a way of teaching respect, and there are far better ways than giving your dog a "zap". As somebody pointed out above, when the collars are off, the dogs feel free to behave in any way.

Would you "zap" a child? These dogs are also part of your family.

As long as the zap isn't too strong, then it's okay. But you would be a lot better off using treats or some other type of incentive for training. Most dogs figure out about the collar. We tried to use an underground fence, and my dog just wouldn't go outside with it on. I've also know dogs who figure out the anti-bark collars. I know a black lab that figured out to change tones after two barks. The truth is that you shouldn't use the zap collar, because it trains them to be good or else you'll zap them. You'll end up constantly using the collar this way. Look into using rewards instead.

What would work for a dog that barks almost constantly at everything?

I will have to go against almost everyone and completely support this. We saw a neighbor's dog start to go after a young girl and the main thing that stopped him was the neighbor continuously hitting the zap button, it was COMPLETELY worth anything that the dog suffered. The general obedience taught by the collar is extremely useful.

My cairn terriers were introduced to the shock collars with the fence at around ages 5 and 7....they also eventually got smart of the collars and knew when they weren't on....

so when they would cross the lines and were not wearing the collar, we would walk the collar over and make it buzz (as it makes a light sound)...it only took 2 or 3 times and they never crossed again, no collars ever needed after that.

I would suggest trying this.....it could be a good way of enforcing their boundaries without hurting them (and yes I have been shocked in the hand and ouch!!)

I had never heard of these collars until I read about them on here.Personally I would not use them and I agree that they do have a big potential for misuse.