Controversy Regarding Electronic Dog Training Collars

The controversy and discussion over electronic dog training collars has continued for many years.

On one side of the fence we have many dog owners, handlers, and others who believe that the use of electronic dog training collars amounts to cruel and inhumane treatment of these animals, and they believe there is no real legitimate purpose served by using them.

On the other side of the fence we have many hunters, dog owners, and handlers who believe very strongly in the value of electronic dog training collars. It must be pointed out that these folk also love their animals and are concerned about their well-being. These people would not think of using an electronic dog training collar if they believed for one moment that such use was cruel or harmful to the dog.

When I field questions about electronic dog training collars, I re-enforce the idea that electronic dog training collars are a "training tool" which is safe and effective when used properly. The collars have several settings and it is important to find the lowest setting where your dog just notices the stimulation. A dog will twitch its neck or turn its head (probably trying to figure out what that was). The lowest setting is used to get the dog's attention and linked with a command shortens the learning curve. Does it hurt the dog? Not if used in this manner. Sometimes pet owners come across an impasse with dog training, and this is when an electronic dog training collar can be a very helpful training tool.