[Dailydrool] Shock collars

[Saraberry at aol.com]

My experience has been that if you take time to reinforce the behaviors you  
want, such as recall, urinating outdoors, playing nicely and being  quiet 
frequently, then you will  have no need to use painful and scary  aversive 
devices.  
 
Of course it is important to have clear criteria for what you want your  
desired behavior to be and to set up your environment so that the dog doesn't  
have the opportunity to make additional errors in behavior, but that you are all  
focused on rewarding the behaviors you want timely and frequently.  Does it  
help to have a doggie daycare or a trainer to help with this?   Absolutely!  
And you should check into pricing and deals available before  you assume it to 
be too much money. But if you can't afford that, then you can  enlist the help 
of family, friends and neighbors.
 
Plus, it is very difficult sometimes to determine if behaviors like barking  
or digging are fear based.  If they are and you use an aversive device such  
as a shock collar, you will end up with a dog who is a basket case,  literally. 
 I don't know if you have ever seen a fearful dog that lives  with a 
bark/shock collar where someone goes to work and leaves the dog home  alone with this 
device on to prevent barking.  They become superstitious  about their 
behaviors and frequently develop medical problems and nervous  ticks. Sometimes it 
brings on aggressive behaviors. Over time, these  devices end up being turned up 
as high as they will go because the dog builds up  a tolerance.  
 
In order to use an aversive effectively, the initial experience must be  
extremely strong to be effective and should then no longer be needed or the  
organism slowly develops tolerance and resistance.  We see evidence of this  even 
with microorganisms.  It is a scientific fact.  Trainers today  who study 
classical and operant conditioning only use aversive punishment in  very rare cases 
that most pet owners would not encounter.  Especially  basset owners.
 
Devices such as citronella collars stop working after a fairly short period  
due to the dog learning it isn't so bad and that they find ways to tolerate  
it.  Even prong collars become ineffective if worn every day and you will  see 
a callus that is built up around the dog's neck.  If you have this, you  may 
want to try a Sensation or Sporn harness instead.  They work  scientifically to 
just stop the forward movement from beyond the tightening of  the leash.  
Most SPCA's will help you find a good no-pull device to help  you until the dog 
gets reinforced enough for walking nicely next to you.
 
In general,watch your dog and reward the good behaviors, the dog will give  
you these behaviors much more frequently and will learn this is what you  want. 
 Then you won't need to look for ways to punish.
 
Sara Watson
Bluefence Bassets
SFSPCA Behavior & Training Intern



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