09/18/2025
As a positive reinforcement trainer, I feel a sense of obligation to provide the truth behind shocking your dog.
I have directly observed the pain, distress, and inhumane treatment from use of a shock collar and how it can transform perfectly great puppies and dogs into fearful, anxious, physically injured, and behaviorally damaged animals. To the extreme condition that euthanasia is necessary. Many of my clients reported to have paid to have their dogs “trained” with shock collars or they have attempted this technique themselves. According to the client questionnaire completed before we begin counseling, most of their dogs learned no obedience skills (sit, stay, come) from shock collar training. The comment I hear the most, is, “my dog used to be lovable member of our family, but now, they are scared of everything, and aggressive.” My goal for this post is to provide the evidence-based knowledge to help dog owners make informed decisions about using a shock collar on their pets.
Shock collars are also referred to as e-collars, remote training collars, stimulation, e-touch, tingle, communication device, TENS unit collars or e-prods. They usually have two metal prongs which rest against a dog’s skin on their neck (typically, although some trainers also place them against other body parts, including stomach or genitalia). These metal prongs deliver an ELECTRIC SHOCK when a button is pressed on a remote control, or when a dog barks, or when a dog crosses a boundary line ‘fence’. People often reach for tools or techniques when they feel helpless due to their pet’s behavioral problems, possibly attempting to save their dogs life. There is literally NO published evidence that shock collars save lives, but there is considerable published, peer reviewed literature that refutes them and links them to behavioral harm in dogs. There is no longer a reason to be misinformed on the damaging effects of shock collars and in the vast majority of cases these methods meet the criteria for abuse and inhumane treatment of dogs.
Dr. Carlo Siracusa, DVM, PhD, Dip, ACVB, Dip, ECAWBM, Clinical Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior, Director, Animal Behavior Service, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, explains, “Training is a process where the dog is learning to communicate and understand what we want them to do. There are limits to how the dog will respond to training. For training to be successful, the dog must have a relatively calm response to a stimulus presented with an intensity that does not excite or scare the animal too much. If your dog is over stimulated or aroused, they cannot learn through operant conditioning or obedience training. Obedience training is a fundamental tool when your dog is put in the condition to respond appropriately. If your dog is not learning, you could be using the wrong tools. It is important to select a trainer that utilizes positive reinforcement techniques, especially when working with a fearful dog. What you teach may be less important than how.”
To understand the many reasons shock collars are damaging to a dog, we must understand how dogs learn. If you like what your dog is doing, capture that behavior. Pay your dog for desirable behaviors. Reinforcement is essential for learning as it encourages desired behaviors because it marks and identifies the preferred behavior by pairing it with what motivates the dog (food, praise, love, toys, attention). Most dogs respond very well to a high value reinforcement. Food is necessary for a dog’s survival therefore it is a powerful motivator. Opposite of reinforcement, focusing on stopping a behavior is called punishment. Adding something to stop an undesirable behavior is called positive punishment. This occurs when the probability of a behavior occurring decreases because something unpleasant happens after the behavior occurs. For those of us that grew up hearing, “if you don’t stop talking, you can take yourself out in the hall for a paddling.” That might have been me on a couple of occasions. That paddling is positive punishment. (adding swats to stop the talking after you were talking). Punishment does not teach a learning dog what to do instead of the problem behavior. Dogs do learn alternative, incompatible behaviors when you use reinforcement to mark those behaviors.
Several important points shared by Dr. Siracusa regarding shock collars:
Humans learn that if something harms us, we avoid or protect ourselves so we do not get hurt. WE ARE ALL - HUMANS, DOGS, EVERYONE - EITHER SEEKING PLEASURE OR AVOIDING PAIN. Humans have the ability to choose. Dogs are captive animals and cannot freely choose or decide. An example might be, a dog cannot escape something they are fearful of, if they are on the end of leash, so they may bark and lunge. They will learn being offensive or aggressive is the best defense. When you use shock in this situation, the dog perceives something dangerous, maybe an approaching stranger or dog, associated with the pain they feel from the shock collar. In other occasions, you are changing the response when you shock the dog and often they will freeze. You are compounding the fear. People interpret this “freezing” as a good outcome. In reality, the dog is frozen in fear. They are not learning because they are in life saving mode. Dogs are now in a flight, fight or freeze mode and will often become aggressive and inappropriate behaviors escalate.
I love how my friend, Dan Rana, of Canine Advanced Training Services here in Las Vegas explains it: "Let's say that every time you see a red balloon, I shock you. What are you going to start thinking about red balloons?"
Excitable, timid, or nervous dogs are more likely or at a higher risk of developing excessive fear and aggression when shock collars are used. The response to punishment is influenced by the temperament of the dog. If the dog is anxious or stressed it can be upset easily. Studies have shown, many working and sporting dogs are bred and selected to be more aroused and excitable. When using a shock collar with these dogs, the probability of aggressive behaviors significantly increases. Punishment increases anxiety, fear and aggression. Fear is the base of aggression.
To be effective, corrections should come in a very well- timed sequence (consistency, timing and intensity). Shock collars use is very unpredictable. Studies show that if a dog is in control of the shock, the stress is lower for the dog. When using shock collars, the dog is not in control and often the dog associates something negative happening to them with the owner. This can greatly affect the bond with the owner and dog. This can have disastrous and lasting effects on the relationship. What is your goal for your dog? To have a great family pet that trusts you? You must carefully consider your training technique's effect on your dog.
Forcing dogs to comply by using shock methods does not enhance the human-animal bond, nor does it provide a healthy learning environment. Even on the lowest setting, shock is an unpredictable and unknown stimulus which is frightening and painful. It is an aversive technique. This adds to a dog’s overall fear, stress and anxiety. Remember that fear and anxiety often is the underlying condition resulting in many aggressive behaviors.
And shocking a PUPPY??? THEY ARE BABIES!
The problem doesn't lie with the tool. The problem lies with the users. More often than not, the user will get frustrated and crank up the heat. I have heard way too many stories of trainers instructing their clients to "Turn it up! Shock him harder!" to get "results". These heavy-handed individuals are traumatizing the humans as well as the dog.
A dog repeatedly subjected to aversive treatment will often shut down, which can be mistaken for a good and well-behaved pet. They are complying, but it is to avoid discomfort, not because they are learning a new behavior and working as a partner with their handler. Using a shock collar is not training acceptable or more appropriate behaviors in your dog. It is important to teach your dog appropriate, incompatible behaviors to replace the inappropriate ones. The fallout of shock collars is a measurable increase of these problematic behaviors.
Why would you treat your dog this way? One reason is because you can. Shock collars are legal in the United States, but many countries have outlawed them. In a recent study, 70% of dog owners feel shock collars have a negative impact on their pet’s emotion or mental well-being and should be outlawed, while 69% consider shock collars a cruel training method. Many veterinarians believe shock collars are inhumane and should be outlawed. They have observed many injured, behaviorally damaged dogs.
Also, people today often desire a “quick fix.” With dogs, there is no “quick fix.” They take a bit longer to reach than most humans. Dogs are very simple creatures, like human infants and toddlers. We need to remember to be patient and understanding, allowing our dogs strengths to develop. Find a way to obtain your goals, if possible, using what your dog likes to do. Remember to give your dog a chance to choose.
If you have a dog that you need help training, seek a licensed, positive reinforcement-based trainer like myself. Most dog owners desire a companion, a family pet. It is crucial to work with a trainer that understands how to achieve a strong human animal bond. There are several themes embedded in the human animal bond: animals are dependent on humans for their basic needs and welfare; pets are sensitive and have feelings; animals and humans are capable of communicating with and learning from one another, forming relationships that are mutually beneficial. The term "bond" has connotations suggesting that a relationship is binding, strong and has trust involved. Domestic animals have a natural tendency to create a bond with people. Do you want to risk destroying the bond you have developed with your dog? They trust you.
Shock collars are NOT more effective than humane training. Training with shock is lazy, damaging, irresponsible, and cruel.
I am hopeful this post has provided you the knowledge to make an educated decision on the type of treatment you will allow with your dog.
Namaste.
