Are Electrical Collars Effective in Dog Training?

Electrical collars -- also called shock collars -- are growing in popularity among people who use their dogs for hunting or moving cattle. Domestic dogs are often found with electrical collars, as well, but are these tools really useful? Some dog trainers swear by them because they say training is far easier when you can use a distance-prohibitive training device, while others say that electrical collars are not only useless, but a form of animal abuse.

First, I want you to understand what an electrical collar really is. An electrical collar is essentially a metal receiver that delivers electrical shock through two probes at your animal's neck skin. The owner operates the electrical collar through a remote transmitter and can manipulate the collar at distances up to one mile, depending on the type of collar you've purchased. The size of the charge can be adjusted through the remote transmitter and these devices often come with a manual that explains the most effective way to use it.

Electrical or shock collars are most popular with people who use their dogs for hunting or moving cattle. They present an effective training tool because these owners need to be able to reprimand their dogs from long distances without the use of a leash. When the dog is several hundred yards away, the owner can effectively tell him when he's doing something wrong, which isn't the case for any other type of training device. As mentioned above, however, some owners are using electrical collars for their domestic pets because an owner doesn't have to get up or move in order to use it.

The largest disadvantage to using an electrical collar (other than any moral qualms) is the price. Unless you can afford to drop a $100 - $500 on an expensive shock collar, this probably isn't an option. And since most neighborhood pet stores don't carry them, you also have to pay shipping and handling when you order them online or through a catalog.