Thousands of E-Collars are sold each year to those looking for a solution to their dog’s bad behavior. In fact, most purchasers of the E-Collar don’t put a lot of thought into the brand or type of collar they buy. Most are just momentarily satisfied with a temporary result. In fact, the E-Collar is a great tool, but so many buyers use the collar incorrectly or for the wrong application. We also hear that many users buy a shock collar, only to use the beep or vibrate function.
I don’t know how many times I have heard a dog owner say “I bought a shock collar, but I only use the beep or vibrate on my dog”. I never understood this. If all your dog is receiving is a beep or vibrate, they will continue to do what they are doing. You may stop them in the moment, but they will continue the bad behavior later, when you aren’t around. If there is never a memorable correction, you are only delaying the unwanted behavior. Dogs communicate correction with pain compliance. When a member of the pack gets out of line, the alpha will normally bite, thrash or pin. Of course, we don’t have to go to that level of correction, but there does need to be a correction the dog will remember or not just brush off.
E-Collar Brands and Newer Stimulation Technology
Brand of the E-Collar is also important. There are a lot of collars on the market. Many are using the old type of technology. We have all seen this type. When stimulation is provided, it causes the dog to jerk their neck to the right or left and yelp over and over until stimulation ceases. In my opinion, this type of correction is a bit inhumane. With the newer collars available, the new technology offered by these collars work more on muscle manipulation, rather than pure electrocution. There is no jerking of the neck, normally no yelping in pain, as the dog is receiving a much cleaner type of stimulation.
The difference in technologies is important. Using the wrong type of E-Collar can cause fear, rather than guidance. We do not want the dog to fear or cower because they are being corrected. This doesn’t do anything but cause further issues. We simply correct and move on … same goes for the dog. They should simply absorb the correction and move on, as a lesson learned.
Cost of a Good E-Collar
You will pay good money for a good ecollar. Of course you can purchase a shock collar at your local pet store for around $30, but you will get what you pay for. If you are seriously interested in purchasing a good e-collar system, you can expect to pay between $150 to $300. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Before you buy
Before you go spending money on an ecollar, I highly suggest you not only purchase your collar system through an experienced trainer, but also obtain a bit of training on the use of an ecollar. This can not only help you save a few dollars on your purchase but it can also save you a ton of trouble with your dog as well as the dog’s response to using this type of dog training tool.