08/09/2021
Why am I against correction collars? (Choke chains, prong collars, and e-collars which include static and shock in the description and sometimes even vibration collars)
I don't deny that they work. But I'm against them because of HOW they work.
•CHOKE chains cut off air supply and hurt. That's abusive and dangerous by human standards.
•PRONG or PINCH collars spread weight and force across a tiny surface area. If those tools didn't hurt, they wouldn't work.
•SHOCK hurts! And STATIC catches you off guard but might not hurt, ask anyone who's feel a prank shock pen. The LEARNER determines what hurts and what doesn't, NOT the teacher.
•VIBRATION collars also work through catching the learner off-guard and startling them out of a reaction. I have seen a dog get startled by a phone vibrating on a table and they weren't wearing that phone. Some people use vibration collars to communicate with their blind and/or deaf dog. And that is okay! You'll notice that in these instances it has been repeatedly paired with something amazing so that the learner is not afraid of the vibration.
The common denominator of all of these correction collars is that none of them teach the learner what you want them to do. They are designed to stop a behavior with pain and threats of pain but not to teach a correct behavior. The pain stops when the wearer figures it out. I know I hate to learn that way.
Positive / Negative Punishment is scientifically defined as something is added/removed and a behavior decreases. Behavior will be repeated based upon what gets the learner what they want, what worked last time, what is fun, and what is perceived as safe. We can make these things align with what we want our dog to do and teach any behavior without the use of corrections.
"He never does it when I put the collar on him!" "I only have to show them the remote." Intimidation is emotionally painful. Just because it doesn't hurt on our hand doesn't mean it doesn't hurt our dog's neck. Again, if it didn't hurt in some way, it wouldn't work. Everybody has different levels of tolerance. We don't need physical pain or intimidation to decrease behavior.
When we know better, we do better.
Sabrielle, Fear and Aggression Specialist
The Canine's Voice - Dog Training and Behavior Solutions
386.336.2469