03/13/2025
We have an owner surrender here who came from a home that was very “E Collar Happy”
She still to this day will not leave our garage if the bug zapper is on (shuts down trembling)
Train Better
(Im not against E Collars when used appropriately)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18j7LwBWi7/?n
I recently saw a video from a dog trainer who promotes aversive methods both publicly and for police departments, arguing that “nobody talks about auditory exclusion.”
His claim is that when a dog is highly aroused, their ears “shut off,” so the only way to get their attention is through tactile communication, like a shock collar.
The argument is that when a dog is hyper-focused on a stimulus, they physically can’t process verbal cues, making aversives necessary for reliable training.
It’s a fair question when asked in good faith. So, I looked into the research to see if there was any merit to the idea that shock collars somehow provide a unique advantage.
Auditory exclusion is a well-documented phenomenon. Under extreme stress or excitement, both humans and dogs experience a reduction in processing some sensory inputs.
But that doesn’t mean a dog loses all ability to process requests, it simply prioritizes certain signals over others.
That’s the part that’s missing from this argument.
Early in my career, I traveled across the country performing in dog training exhibitions and competitions, often in front of hundreds or even thousands of people.
These weren’t controlled training environments, they were state fairs, theme parks, and large arenas, filled with food, loud music, other animals, cheering crowds, and constant distractions.
For MOST dogs, this level of stimulation could be overwhelming. But that’s the point, you prepare them for it.
First, we practiced in open, distraction-free fields.
Then, we introduced controlled distractions, like playing music on a portable speaker while training.
Next, we moved to busier locations; for me, that was Piedmont Park in Atlanta on weekends, where we trained amidst crowds, kids, and dogs.
Finally, before putting new dogs in a real show, we ran small pre-shows at state fairs and amusement parks, exposing our younger dogs to live environments in a more natural and casual way.
Each step prepared the dog to handle real-world distractions confidently and without fear. The process was methodical, structured, and designed to set them up for success.
The reality is, most dogs WILL be distracted in high-arousal situations until they are taught otherwise. That’s what training is.
If you claim to be a professional trainer, but your solution is to shock a dog when they struggle, you’re not truly teaching them. You’re relying on a shortcut with unnecessary risks.
A well-trained dog isn’t one that obeys out of fear, but one that understands and trusts the process.
There are better ways, and as professionals, it’s our responsibility to use them when advising the public.
Consider Scent detection dogs working in chaotic environments, yet staying locked onto their target scent.
Herding and agility dogs respond to subtle hand signals and visual cues, even in fast-paced, highly stimulating conditions.
These dogs are trained to prioritize specific cues through positive reinforcement and related methodologies, showing that even when arousal is high, they can still respond reliably without force, pain or fear.
The reality is, force-free training already accounts for high-arousal situations and gives dogs the skills to disengage from distractions without needing to resort to pain.
Asking these questions in good faith is important. But ignoring the evidence and advising others to use aversives instead of proven, ethical training methods is not about helping dogs. That’s just bad training.
Related sources:
Cooper, J. et al. (2014). “The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward Based Training.”https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0102722
Ferguson, D. & Cooper, J. (2020). “Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32793652/
“Visual Perceptual Load Induces Inattentional Deafness” by Macdonald, J. S. P., & Lavie, N. (2011). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21611856/
(This study demonstrates that high visual perceptual load can lead to inattentional deafness, where individuals fail to notice auditory stimuli due to focused visual tasks.)
“Load-Induced Inattentional Deafness” by Raveh, D., & Lavie, N. (2015). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25287617/
(This research explores how cognitive load can cause inattentional deafness, showing that increased mental demands reduce auditory awareness.)
We strive to produce GSDs who are suited for active families as well as various working activities
