What Is An E-collar? How To Use It? And How To Train A Dog With E-collar?

An e-collar, which is also commonly known as a shock collar, is an electronic collar or device that is used to train or discipline dogs. Other common names of an e-collar are the zap collar or the remote training collar. The second name comes from the fact that e-collars require a wireless remote control that is in the possession of the dog owner.

Why Does Your Dog Need an E-collar?

The main purpose of an e-collar is to teach the dog the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior by sending signals via the collar.

Your dog would most definitely not enjoy wearing the e-collar. However, if the right fit and size of the collar are selected, then the experience might not be too painful for the dog, and it might end up behaving respectfully.

Now you might be thinking, why exactly does my dog need an e-collar? The main reason for making use of an e-collar is that it teaches dogs to behave in a way that can be acceptable to you and your family. It is one of the most effective dog training methods that you can implement.

When you first purchase a dog or puppy, it may be too loud or bark incessantly. The new pet will probably also not listen to your commands at first and might not be able to distinguish between acceptable and undesirable behaviors.

That is where e-collars come in. An e-collar is used to train the dog to listen to your commands, respond to your instructions, and prevent it from doing certain things that can be harmful to the dog.

In other cases, the e-collar is used simply to get rid of certain undesirable behaviors. This is also used for obedience training to teach the dog to act or behave in a certain manner.

How Does an E-collar Work?

The basic function of an e-collar is that it delivers an electric shock or vibration to the dog via a remote control device to the collar wrapped around the neck of the dog. How severe the shock or vibration delivered to the dog is, can be modified or changed with the help of the same remote control device.

The most basic e-collar has a remote control that comes with a wide range of settings. These settings allow the dog owner to control and vary the severity as well as the duration of shock or vibration that is delivered to the dog.

A few new versions of the e-collar also help deliver a warning to the dog so that it is aware of what is about to happen and is not too “shocked.”

This means that you can teach the dog to behave a certain way by removing a negative result, such as a vibration or shock.

Pros of an E-collar

Most dog training experts and professional trainers declare that e-collars are a very effective training tool.

Most dog owners use the e-collar as the last resort but this should never be the case. The reason behind this is that e-collars teach your dog the difference between right and wrong behaviors, and they should be used from the very beginning if you are looking for effective behavior modification.

A good example of this may be when your dog is running at your heels, there is no communication between you and the dog via the collar. But as soon as it runs out to the street, you send a wave of vibration to the dog. This tells your dog that running away from you to an unsafe area is not acceptable behavior.

Other pros of using an e-collar are that it provides immediate feedback to the dog and reduces the anxiety that you have to go through as a dog owner in terms of the training of your dog.

Most dogs do not enjoy staying on the leash. E-collars also provide them with the freedom to roam and enjoy themselves without a leash yet still be controlled by their dog owner.

The best part about an e-collar like the halo for dogs is that they are the most effective training accessories with which you can easily modify the behavior of your pet or pets. The main reason is that dogs are huge people pleasers, and they will go to extreme lengths to gain the love and respect of their owners.

Cons of an E-Collar

Having looked at the pros of using an e-collar, it is wise to consider the negative sides or cons of an e-collar as well.

The first con of the e-collar comes from its name: the shock collar. The use of an e-collar is said to cause strain, anxiety, stress, discomfort, fear, and sometimes even pain to the dog. In some cases, dogs are said to have become more aggressive rather than learning positive behavior.

Research suggests that e-collars may also cause injuries or psychological damage to the dog in question. This is because e-collars are backed by technology that can malfunction in some instances. This might cause the e-collar to send multiple waves of shock to the dog, thereby inflicting pain and causing damage to the dog.

There are also research studies that declare that e-collars may cause stress-induced behavior in dogs. These studies provide that dogs that wear e-collars during the training process display signs of behaviors that are a direct result of stress. These behaviors include yelping, yawning, panting, lowering the tails, or licking the lips.

Is it Safe to Use an E-Collar?

Now that you are aware of what an e-collar is, how it works or functions, why should it be used, and what are its pros and cons, you might end up thinking if it is almost cruel and inhumane to make use of an e-collar. The answer is no, it is not.

There is a reason why e-collars are such an effective training tool and why they have gained popularity over the years.

However, it should be kept in mind that e-collars are not meant for use for an extended period. They can cause damage to the soft tissues of the dog and can prove to leave burns on your pet’s neck.

Additionally, there have been instances in which the e-collar malfunctions. In such cases, the collar may send multiple shocks to the dog instead of just one shock as a warning or communication signal. This can cause health issues for the dog, including gastrointestinal problems, neck or cervical aches, or heart troubles.

Hence, although the use of an e-collar does have its benefits and it is in fact a very effective training tool, it does not come without flaws.

Alternatives of an E-Collar

As a pet owner, you may not prefer using an e-collar because of its main feature of inducing shocks to your dog.

This can also be because you do not want to use the negative reinforcement technique for your dog’s obedience training. If this is the case, then there are other tools that you can use as alternatives to the e-collar.

1. Clicker Training

Traditionally, clickers have been used as a training tool. This method involves using a clicker right after you command your dog to follow an order or command. The clicking sound is something that the dog should become used to and recognize as a sound that requires it to perform an action.

As soon as the required action is performed, you may want to reward the dog with a treat. This clicker training, combined with positive reinforcement training methods can prove to be very effective.

2. Citronella Collars

Citronella is an oil that is extracted from plants. This oil has been marked safe to use on puppies and dogs, however, they hate the smell of citronella.

With the use of this collar, you can simply spray a small quantity of citronella oil on your dog whenever it displays signs of unwanted behavior. This does not harm the dog in any way but can cause annoyance leading them to behave properly.

3. Whistles

Just as is true for clickers, whistle training also requires you to issue a command followed by a whistle. As the dog becomes used to the sound, it performs the action you are looking for. Hence, you can effectively modify the behavior of your pet.

4. Pheromones and Scents

The use of scents and pheromones has a calming effect on your dog. Hence, if you are looking to get rid of your dog’s barking, this might be an effective method.

How to Use an E-Collar

Once you go out and purchase your first e-collar, it is time to figure out how to use the collar.

First things first, read the instructions that come with the collar very thoroughly. This should be done prior to actually using the collar on your dog.

Each collar comes with its own unique set of remote control devices and their settings should be learned before anything else. You do not want to put a collar on your dog that you do not even know how to use.

Next, equip the e-collar and the remote control devices that come with batteries. Now ensure that the e-collar is set to the lowest setting and frequency, and then turn it off.

This should be done before putting the collar on your dog as it means you do not end up accidentally shocking the dog. Now properly attach the e-collar to your dog’s neck. Make sure that the fitting is tight but not too restricting for the dog causing troubled breathing.

Once this is done, leave the collar on your dog for a week so that it becomes used to it. Do not use the collar during this time. This will help the dog make the connection between shock and bad behavior.

If you immediately start shocking the dog, it might associate the collar with the shock and think that the problem is the collar, not the bad behavior.

After a week, you may start using the e-collar but start at the lowest simulation levels. If you observe that the dog is not responding to the lowest setting, you might want to turn it up.

As your dog learns to follow commands and end bad behavior, try praising or rewarding the dog while removing the negative reinforcement.

In this way, you can train your dog and encourage good behavior. In all instances, make sure that your dog does not see you using the remote. This is highly important to keep your relationship with your dog on the positive end.

Training a Dog with an E-Collar

You now know all there is to know about e-collars, let us now take a look at how you can dive into the training process with this collar.

Pre-training Preparations

Before using an e-collar, you should make sure that your dog knows how to follow basic instructions. If this does not happen, the e-collar may not be effectively used.

You should learn how to use them, probably with the help of a professional dog trainer, so that you do not end up causing stress to your dog. You should also opt for the consultation of your vet to make sure that the use of an e-collar is indeed advisable in the case of your dog.

Once this is done, it is time to research all kinds of remote training collars and find the right fit for your dog. Purchase a product of good quality so that the e-collar does not come in the way of your dog’s fun time and can be an effective training method for pet owners.

E-collar Training Techniques

When using an e-collar, it is useful to keep in mind a few training techniques that might come in handy.

Help your dog learn what you are looking for. For instance, if you want your dog to stop barking, induce shocks to let it know that it is something not right for the dog to do. Similarly, if the dog is not barking, praise or offer dog treats so that they know that this is an acceptable behavior.

Some dog owners can be impatient with the use of e-collars. It is not ideal to quickly jump to higher levels of intensity or keep using the collar too frequently. This will end up confusing your dog and it might behave in a weird manner.

While you switch to higher levels of intensity when your dog is not behaving properly, you should also learn to switch to lower levels when your dog starts to learn a certain behavior. This will help your dog understand that it is on the right track and will continue good behavior.

Myths and Misconceptions About E-collars

In this section, we will bust some of the most common myths and misconceptions about using e-collars.

1. E-collars Cause Burns To the Neck of Your Dog

This will not happen if the e-collar is properly used. This is true only when you leave the collar on for extended periods of time, say the whole day long. E-collars are not meant to be used for extended hours.

You should also check the collar’s fitting on your dog’s neck as extremely tight fittings can also cause harm to your dog’s skin. Overall, make sure that your dog is not wearing the collar for 12 hours or more.

2. E-collars Will Cause Problems Between You and Your Dog And it Will Not Be Possible to Build a Bond of Love

This is not true especially if you are using the e-collar together with positive reinforcement training methods such as dog treats and praises.

3. E-collars Should Only Be Used on Hunting Dogs

This is the most common misconception. E-collars can be used on all kinds of dogs be it a breed as tiny as the chihuahua or as large as the Central Asian Shepherd dog. It is a tool for behavior modification or obedience training and can be used for any dog breed.

4. Vets Do Not Support the Use of E-collars

The opposite of this is true. Most vets recommend using an e-collar as a training method. If you are still wary of this myth, you can take your collar to your vet and get an opinion first-hand.

5. E-collars Are Very Cruel to the Dog

This is not true, especially with the advancements in e-collar technology. Today, these collars come with various settings that allow you to control the level and intensity of shock or vibration that you send to your dog.
At the lowest shock or vibration level, you can simply send a motion to your dog which is similar to nothing more than a tickle.

6. E-collars Cannot Be Used On Small Dogs

As mentioned previously, these collars come with various settings that allow you to control the level and intensity of shock or vibration that you send to your dog. This allows the e-collar to be used on small dogs as well.

Effects of an E-Collar on Dog’s Health and Behavior

Although the e-collar is not unhealthy for your dog, in rare cases it might have a negative impact on your dog’s health and behavior.

The use of an e-collar is said to cause strain, anxiety, stress, discomfort, fear, and sometimes even pain to the dog. In a few cases, dogs are said to have become more aggressive.

Research suggests that e-collars may also cause injuries or psychological damage to the dog in question. This is because e-collars are backed by technology that can malfunction in some instances. This might cause the e-collar to send multiple waves of shock to the dog, thereby inflicting pain and causing damage to the dog.

There are also research studies that declare that modern e-collars may cause stress-induced behavior in dogs.

Final Thought

Overall, e-collars are an effective training method. The main purpose of an e-collar is to teach the dog the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior by sending signals via the collar.

Although the use of an e-collar does have its benefits and it is in fact a very effective training tool, it does not come without flaws. It can cause strain, anxiety, stress, discomfort, fear, and sometimes even pain to the dog.

Before using an e-collar, you should learn how to use them, probably with the help of a professional dog trainer, so that you do not end up causing stress to your dog with such aversive training methods.