Electronic Training Collars: Myths and Facts

Electronic training collars are loved by some people and hated by others. There are not many people who would have neutral opinion and stand somewhere 'in between'. There is plenty of one thing around electronic dog-collars – myths. Everybody, who knows at least a little about the subject, has many opinions on the issue. But only a small part of these is based on personal experience or facts. Therefore, in this text, we present 6 selected myths about electronic training collars.

Myth # 1: "Electronic Collars Are Dangerous"

Myth number 1 among dog owners is the worry that electronic dog collars are dangerous. Believe us, these concerns are misplaced. They stem from mere ignorance. The collar is powered only by a 3-9 Volt battery. The pulse that the dog can feel is far weaker than the pulse intensity that powers, for example, electric fences for cattle. The electronic dog collar impulse is painless, though a little unpleasant, tingling. Collars can be dangerous if they are not used by the owner according to the instructions.

Myth # 2: "Using a Collar will Change the Personality of the Dog"

Many critics of electronic collars say their use changes the personality of the dog. But that's not quite true. It always depends on the particular owner, how he treats his dog. An electronic collar is a tool that an owner can misuse and you can clearly see it when it is misused. Equally, you can change the nature of a dog if you beat it mercilessly. The second argument about the electronic collar changing the nature of the dog is that it is completely unnatural for the dog. But we should not work with such an argument at all. For a dog, the whole world of humans is unnatural, and yet he lives with us happily.

Myth # 3: "Using an Electronic Collar is Cruel"

This assumption is based on the idea that the electronic collar is hurting. Its use is unpleasant, but it certainly doesn’t hurt the dog as much as slapping by hand or belt. It is important to note that if we punish the dog at the wrong time, any punishment is cruel. Electronic collar, on the other hand, can prevent abuse. Imagine a situation where a dog does not obey the owner's order. This will happen to any dog sooner or later. The dog runs away and returns after some time. What will you do? Will you punish him when he comes back to you? In such a case, the dog will think it is being punished for coming back, not for disobeying. The electronic collar eliminates this problem. Using a radio that controls the collar, communication with the dog is instant. This makes it faster and easier to train the dog.

Myth # 4: "Electronic collars are painful for dogs"

This myth follows purely from ignorance of electronic collars. Modern electronic collars can be set to multiple pulse intensity settings. This means you can find the ideal level of stimulation for your dog. Before buying an electronic collar it is necessary to choose the right one. For small breeds a different type of collar is suitable than for big breeds. For small dogs such as dachshunds, the d-control 500 mini is suitable. For large dogs such as the Golden Retriever, the d-control 1000 is more suitable.

Myth # 5: "Only lazy masters buy electronic collars"

Well, it is one way to look at it. But in this case you can see the positive side of it. Acquisition of electronic collar is really for lazy owners who do not want their dog training to take months. By using an electronic collar, training will take much less time, it will be more efficient and easier. If training with an electronic collar is easier and quicker for both sides, for both the master and the dog, why not use it.

Myth 6: "Electronic collars are the last resort"

Some breeders delay the use of electronic collars as a last resort. Electronic collars can be used for puppies from 4 months of age. They are the ideal choice to teach the dog the basic commands. Electronic collars can be used regularly for small breeds too. Actually, when used properly, they can help build a great relationship between the owner and dog.

As you can see, there are plenty of myths about using electronic training collars. But these are really myths that are not based on reality. Over time, awareness of the use of such devices is improving. Proponents of electronic collars are increasing, whereas the number of opponents is decreasing.