When you train your canine by using a strict training collar on your dog’s neck you would often get offended but when your friend gives you a cute look, you may think that are dog training collars cruel to the pooch.
Dog keepers are often confused about that kind of question and I think you have this query in your mind as well. Am I right?
This query creates controversy among dog owners. It has divided the owner into two groups; one in the support of the use of these training collars and the other has a different point of view.
You know everything in this world is present with certain advantages and disadvantages. So, the opinion of both groups is sacred. But with proper use of technology, cruelty can be minimized.
Are dog training collars cruel?
In this article, I will try to clarify whether are dog training collars cruel? by discussing the pros and cons of that modern technological instruments and their proper use. So, you may better understand the function of dog training collars and control their side effects.
What are dog training collars?
As you know training collar is basically used to train your best friend, teach him what to do or not. Many dog training collars of different types and functions are available in the market. For example, E.Collars, flat collars, choke chain collars, head collars, etc…
Have you ever used these training collars for your canine?
Let’s discuss some common training collars to understand their nature and find out whether these or cruel or not.
Flat Collars
These collars are also called regular training collars. These training collars look like simple belt buckles. It has a loop from which you can attach a leash for your pooch. You can easily attach identification and other fashionable tags to them.
Canine’s neck measurement
How would you buy a perfect flat collar for your dog if you don’t know the size of your dog’s neck? So, measure its neck first. You can fit just one or two fingers between your dog’s neck and collar. So that you can get save your canine from its collar’s brutal effects.
Let’s discuss its pros and cons.
In Spite of the upper mentioned disadvantages, to me, these collars have minimum risks and also you can minimize their little bit of barbarousness by using them carefully.
If you have a little pup then you need to be more conscious and must select the best collar that is more comfortable for him.
Head Collars
What is the first thought that came into your mind when you hear “head collars”?
As the name implies, these collars are used at the head of your pooch. Headcollars have two straps; one around the nose and the other one around the neck just behind the ears and a ring to fasten a leash to your pet.
Let’s check out its atrociousness.
So, in order to minimize its brutality choose a fit one-head collar for your canine and use it properly.
Choke Chain Collars
Is your pet too aggressive to control?
Let’s take a look at its savageness.
If yes, then you need a choke chain training collar for your pooch. Basically, it is designated to control excessively violent or big-sized hounds. A choke chain collar consists of mutually linked metal chains to tighten the neck. You can control your hound easily if you use it properly.
E-Collars
E-collar or a remote collar consists of a battery, a wireless remote, and a small box with two prongs. These collars give a vibration or a static shock to your hound to stop something undesirable by it.
Some people argue that using shock collars to train dogs is wrong, while others view shock collars as a viable solution for addressing undesirable behaviors during dog training.
These collars are a really modern invention so we will deeply discuss E-collars, due to their use which is increasing day by day.
Bark collar
Let’s talk about an effective solution for excessive barking: the bark collar. This modern device can really make a difference in training your furry friend.
How to start?
It is not so simple as just buying an E-collar and using it. There are several steps you must follow otherwise either you will harm your canine or there will be no good results. So, in the case of the E-Collar, the chances of atrociousness are higher.
These steps are:
Find the proper fit
It is a very important step to follow as if you buy a loose E-collar for your dog it will not fit properly and the prongs will not touch the skin of your dog. Hence no stimulus can be given to it.
On the other hand, if the collar is very tight then it will hurt your pet’s neck and sometimes it will cause sores on its skin.
Making the Dog familiar with the collar
It is another major step to use E-collars. After finding a proper fit collar for your canine, don’t try to use it in a haste.
First, you have to make it recognize that the collar is its daily companion. You have to make your pet accustomed to your E-collar.
The best way for that purpose is to walk or play with your pooch while he has been wearing a training collar and keep the collar off. Once it will recognize it as a part of itself, it will be ready for training.
Start from the lowest level of training collar
As you know, modern training E-collars have different levels of stimulus. For example, common electronic collars have 65 levels of stimulus intensity. You must start with the lowest level which your four-legged companion can recognize.
Now, how you will find that low level?
This is so simple. Just keep your canine in front of you, set the remote at the lowest frequency, and press the button of your remote. If he becomes attentive then this is a perfect starting level and if not, then increase the level.
When your pet will feel the vibration or shock of the training collar, it will upright its ears or start looking at you. Keep in mind it is a very essential step as if you don’t know the sensation level of your dog you may hurt him or he may become confused and aggressive.
Start with familiar basic commands
What basic commands your canine is better familiar with?
If your pet doesn’t recognize basic commands like “sit”, “stay” or “come” then please don’t use these collars. As you have to make an association of your dog with the E-collar using basic commands.
So, first, teach your hound basic commands.
Positive reinforcement
You have to use this trick. For example, when you say “come” to your canine. If it comes to you then don’t tap the walkie-talkie button. If you see, its attention is distracted and it doesn’t come to you then tap the button.
The vibrations or shock will make him attentive toward you. And when he starts coming towards you, stop tapping and praise like “good boy”
This is the way, you have to reinforce your pet positively using training collars.
Any reward or treat is very helpful in making the positive reinforcement training process faster.
Avoid negative reinforcement
You must pay attention to the fact that if you unconsciously reinforce your pet negatively, then E-collar will become useless.
For instance, if your pooch is obeying your command and you still tap the button then it will be called negative reinforcement.
If you do that, your pet will become confused about what is wrong and what is right.
Controlling bad behavior
Like reinforcing good behavior, the other use of E-collars is to control bad behavior or undesirable behavior of your canine.
For instance, your dog is habitual of digging holes in the soil in your backyard and you want to stop this habit. You have to wait for the right moment.
When it will start digging holes wearing a collar on its neck, you must tap the button of the collar remote. The vibrations will make it recognize that it is wrong. You must continue tapping until it leaves digging.
This is the way you can control the bad behavior of your canine if you use an E-collar continuously. But you must keep in mind the right moment to use a training collar.
Remember, When employing aversive training methods with dog training collar, it is crucial to approach with gentleness and utmost mindfulness.
Should E.collars be used or not?
There always has been a controversy on this query from the past till now. It totally depends on you if your dog is too rude and aggressive like Pitbull, he is not obeying even a single order then you should go for E-collar but use it carefully as it is also a living being you bought him as he would remove your loneliness and make you happy when would sad.
So, let’s have a look at its pros and cons.
What is your point of view about E-collars?
I think it is completely up to you whether you want or don’t want to use this technology. It is true that every technology has some side effects but it depends upon the use of that technology. It is not at all the technology’s fault but yours as you don’t know how to use it.
For instance, you are taking an exam in “mathematics”. You don’t know anything about it and you fail. Then is this “mathematics” which is at fault or you as you don’t have any knowledge about that?
The same is the case with E-collars. You must know the proper use of training collars before you apply them to your pooch.
Are you going with that technology or not?
Conclusion
You just focus on one thing why are you purchasing training collars? With this perception, you can choose the perfect training collar for your pooch.
The most important point is that you must know the proper usage of that collar which you can get from the instruction manual available with these products.
Our point of view is that not any training collar is cruel. It is its use that makes it useful or pervasive. No doubt, the risks are present but we can minimize these risks and can control our pets easily.
Anyway, the above discussion may guide you well about the question “are dog training collars cruel?”
