Electronic Dog Training Equipment

When it comes to training dogs, there are nearly as many opinions and methods as there are regarding raising children. As with child rearing, there is no absolutely right solution because every dog and owner combination is different. Dog owners may find that what worked for one of their four-legged friends does not work for another. One option, which often raises emotion and controversy, is the use of electronic dog training aides.

  1. Definition

    • The purpose of electronic training equipment is to keep your dog safe.

      Electronic dog training equipment is a delivery method for training your dog to do or not do something by providing them negative reinforcement. The dog is fitted with a collar that has a small electronic unit attached that is capable of delivering a small jolt of energy onto the dog's skin via two prongs that come off the unit, and touch the dog's skin. This electrical pulse is triggered by either a hand-held remote or by the dog crossing a certain threshold, which completes a circuit, causing a signal to be sent to the collar.

    Types

    • Teaching your dog to be well-mannered is important.

      There are a variety of electronic training products available today. The most common are used for containment purposes. Many families have found that a fence is not enough to keep their intrepid, escape artist dogs contained. By installing a so-called "invisible fence," which is a type of electric fence, a dog owner is able to keep his dog safe in his own yard.

      Another containment variety allows the dog to go within a certain radius of the main unit. If the dog begins to stray beyond that invisible barrier, the collar delivers a short static shock to correct them.

      Other forms of electronic dog training equipment include shock collars that employ a hand-held remote. With this product, the owner or dog handler simply presses a button to deliver an electronic correction any time the dog exhibits an unwanted behavior.

      There are also collars on the market that can help stem unwanted barking, by delivering a correction whenever the dog barks. These are set off by a sound sensor.

    Misconceptions

    • The amount of electricity discharged is fairly inconsequential.

      Although some may deem shock collars a form of torture, in reality they can ultimately be a lifesaver for some stubborn dogs for whom no other form of training has worked. Some people argue that you are electrocuting your dog, and that they cannot possibly understand what you are doing to them or why. In reality, the amount of electrical energy that is put out by a shock collar is fairly minute. The charge that is released is equivalent to the sensation that you get when you have built up a good charge of static electricity, then touch a metallic object.

    Benefits

    • An electric fence can end the need to lock your dog up.

      Large dogs that cannot be physically overpowered can prove especially hard to train. Trying to teach a large dog to not jump up on people can be next to impossible. A shock collar simply delivers a quick shock, which gets the dog's attention quickly. This can help teach the dog stop doing whatever the unwanted behavior is, by equating that behavior with a negative sensation. Most units will also beep before shocking the animal, giving the dog a warning. Many dogs quickly learn to stop the behavior at the sound before they even get shocked.

      Use of electronic dog training aids is also a lot less cruel than allowing your dog to get hit by a car because you are unable to contain him to your yard any other way. As with all training methods and tools, the goal of electronic dog training tools is to keep your pet safe.

    Considerations

    • Though there are collars for small dogs, they are generally unnecessary.

      Electronic dog training equipment is not right for every dog nor for every owner. Before using an electric fence or remote powered dog trainer, you need to consider what you hope to gain. Before resorting to electronic training aids, you will have ideally attempted to use and exhausted every other option.

      As with all other training techniques, there are some dogs with which this form of training will not be successful. Stubborn dogs or dogs with very thick coats may not notice the shock enough to pay it any heed. The temperament of your animal and the consistency of your training will be the deciding factors in how successful your training will ultimately be.