8 Things to Know Before Buying a Shock Collar!

We know there are a number of puppies around the world who sometimes have a particular habit of persistent barking or have certain predilection for roaming around here and there. Now, as a sensible owner, you have to take things in your own hands. This is where a small dog shock collars can help you. But there are a number of things that you need to know before you place your order for one such device. Thus, here in this post I will be telling you about eights such factors that will help you find the perfect piece for your furry friend. So let’s get started.

The Functionality Of A Small Dog Shock Collar Work:

What kind of shock collar you would want to administer on your dog completely rests upon the behavior of the dog. The inception of this device dates back to 1960s where they were used to train hunting dogs. However, in the current days they are mostly used to curb a variety of stubborn and unwanted behaviors in family dogs. Be it excessive barking, food aggression or even the incorrigible nature of not staying in the safe and secured place.

Basically the idea behind these shock collars is not intended for punishment, but they’re more like a deterrent to train the negative or unsafe behavior out of a dog. As per the theory with the administration of the device your dog will associate the undesired behavior with an uncomfortable shock and they will stop doing it after a certain point in time. So, now let’s list some factors that will help you make the right purchase.

Eight Factors To Ruminate Before Buying A Shock Collar:

Here in this part of the post we are listing four pros and four cons that we think would be helpful for anyone who is considering buying a shock collar for his/her dog.

Pros of Shock Collars For Dogs:

    1.    Turn Up Or Down With The Intensity Adjusting Features:

One of the most helpful benefits of these collars is that they give you the freedom to adjust the intensity of the shock as per the behavior of your pet. A lot of modern shock collars give you the option of a warning beep or vibration mode, and adjustable settings which can be comforting to people are who are still dilly-dallying about buying a shock collar. There are some other collars which are much like a spray collars that administer a harmless but foul-smelling blast up a dog’s snout. But these are usually not adjustable.

    2.    Comparatively Prompt Results:

Usually these collars can give you result quite fast. A number of pet owners have said that it only took a few shocks to correct an unwanted behavior in their dog and after that, just the beep or vibration was enough. These collars can also be very effective in keeping your dog on your property which keeps them safe while giving them freedom at the same time.

Of course, if your dog is very stubborn then it may take longer to train.

    3.    Have Total Control From Even A Remote Distance:

The shock collars can give you the freedom to control chronic barking even while you’re away from home or inside the house. This can be particularly helpful if you always have neighbors who complain about your dog’s loud barking. It’s same for shock collars as boundary control, although they do require some hands-on training.

    4.    Pocket-friendly :

A shock collar is a much cheap alternative to a professional dog trainer or a fence. Generally they range from $25 to about $200, depending on features such as remote control, adjustable warning/shock levels, a range of distances.

Cons of Shock Collars For Dogs:

   1.    Detrimental effects of The Shock:

Although, you can control the intensity but still the pain factor remains with the use of shock collar. Obviously as an owner you can’t begin to imagine hurting your dog. But even after controlling the intensity of the shock, you are still using aversive behavior modification. Hence, a number of dog trainers opt for positive reinforcement like rewards to change the undesired behavior.

   2.    The Fear the shock can produce:

Fear in your pets can be very dangerous and malefic as well. Hence, you would never want to train your dog with fear. Due to these training some dogs might learn to fear people, objects, or situations that they associate with the shock.

   3.    Chances Of Over-Correction:

It’s affirmative that you need to be there when the shock is given as you might be able to control it. Without you there to control, automatic bark collars and electric fences may deliver shocks to your pets unintentionally or too often. Such unnecessary shocks can confuse your dog by rectifying a problem that was non-existent.

   4.    Lack Of Positive Reward:

If we look at the broader perspective the shock collars don’t indulge any good behavior in the positive track which can be achieved through affection, verbal approval or perhaps a tasty treat. The fact is that a shock collar will surely deter your dog from doing all the undesired behaviors like barking unnecessarily or jumping on to people, but at the same time it can’t give reward for positive behaviors as well such as sitting patiently or obeying a command. Hence, it is always better that in the end you always try to imply the positive attitude by affection and love.

In a Nutshell:

So, these are the pros and cons that I thing would come in handy before you place your order for a small dog shock collar. In the next post I will be addressing the various administration of these device and the effects of these on your pets. Also, will give you insight about whether it’s absolutely safe to use such devices or not. Till then keep following this space for more related updates.

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