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Shock collars are good training tools and are not mean or harmful to a dog as long as they are used properly. Ace actually got a shock last weekend when he tried to follow my brother’s car through the Invisible Fence at my parents’ house. Bad boy! The shock made him turn around and run back into the yard where he belonged.

I have never used a shock collar (electronic collar) for training purposes other than to keep a dog in a yard with an electric fence. I don’t think I would ever use a shock collar on a dog to stop a barking or crying habit or anything like that. It would just make a dog more nervous or excited. However, I have considered using one to train Ace to stay close when we are out in a park or backpacking.

Experiencing a small shock is worth it for the dog if it means he will get to experience a lot more freedom in the long run.

What do you think? Are shock collars cruel?

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Every week I am going to ask a dog-related question. I don’t care if you’re an “expert” or not. I want to hear what you think. Email your dog-related question to me at Lindsay@thatmutt.com, and I’ll post it for others to answer.

(Image from engadget.com)

I recommend electric fences and will have one for my dog as soon as I have my own yard. However, electric fences are not for everyone, so I want to point out a few things to keep in mind before installing one. Based on comments from yesterday’s post, I know some people don’t like them. Here are some reasons why:

1. They allow a dog too much freedom.
If you are going to have an electric fence, your dog will have a lot of freedom to run around her yard. However, this means it’s harder for you to control her. It will annoy the neighbors (and you) if she is constantly outside barking. Behavior issues will start to come up if you do not enforce rules with your dog.

2. You have to enforce the recall.
An electric fence is no fun if your dog doesn’t come when called. Make sure your dog responds well when you call her before you give her the opportunity to run around the yard.

3. Electric fences don’t keep other animals out.
Your dog will not leave her yard, but that doesn’t mean the neighbor dogs won’t come over. Plus, stray dogs, kids, other animals, etc., can still get into your yard.

4. Electric fences bring out the territorial instincts in a dog.
Any barrier will make a dog more likely to bark or act aggressive. Dogs that are normally just fine around other dogs will go nuts when there’s a fence involved. My mutt uses my parents’ electric fence, and he becomes a barker whenever another dog approaches. He will need a lot of training to overcome this.

5. A dog with a fenced yard still needs a walk.
I never let my dog run around the yard and count that as exercise. He needs a walk on top of that.

6. The system will need maintenance.
Like any electrical system, things will go wrong at some point with an electric fence. The underground wire can break due to rodents, weather or other factors. The e-collar batteries will need to be replaced every year or so. The whole system could go out and need to be restarted unexpectedly. Your dog will be confused and run right through the boundaries if she doesn’t hear the usual warning beep.

7. You have to be OK with your dog getting a few vibrations while learning.
When my mutt got a vibration, he froze for a few seconds with his tail between his legs. But he got over it after a few seconds. Some dogs will let out a small yelp. My grandparents’ dog ran in the house after a vibration and didn’t want to go outside for the rest of the day. But she got over it too, and now she gets to enjoy her big backyard. The point is, you have to be OK with your dog getting a small shock. I think of it as a kid learning to ride a bike and falling once or twice.

8. You need to take the time to train the dog.
It will take a week or two to train your dog to use the electric fence. It just depends on the dog, but it will take a lot of patience and consistency.

9. You won’t have a physical fence for privacy.
It depends on how you look at it. If you like privacy, you might want to have an electric fence and a physical fence so your neighbors can’t see you naked in the backyard.

10. Your dog can still get loose.
No electric fence will guarantee that a dog will stay in her yard. There’s a chance that any dog will cross the boundaries, especially when she’s learning. A stranger or another dog is not likely to make an average dog run through the boundaries, but it can happen. Once your dog has crossed the boundary, she might be afraid to cross it to get back into her yard.

What do you think about electric fences for dogs?

(Photo by dogobedienceonline.com)