E-collars for dogs are a divisive issue in the world of dog training. While some trainers are strictly against the use of e-collars, others swear by them. Either way, there’s a lot you should know before you consider using an e-collar to train your pup.

What Is an E-Collar?

An e-collar for dogs is an electric training aid. Sometimes known as a remote training collar or zap collar, this tool consists of a wireless remote which the human carries and a wireless receiver that the dog wears close to his neck. E-collars are used to teach dogs the difference between good and bad behavior by sending feedback through physical signals delivered through the collar.

View this post on Instagram

When it comes to my dogs, I put as much time and effort into them, and our bond together as humanly possible. I hold them to a higher standard because I am confident in our training and I expect them to hold me to a higher standard to make sure I always set them up for success. Training has allowed us the privileges of freedom off leash within reason, it has allowed us to build a relationship based off of love, trust, and mutual respect with each other, and it has allowed us to be the very best of ourselves. I can go into so many subtopics of training but then this will be the longest post ever. My point, TRAIN 👏🏻 YOUR 👏🏻 DOG 👏🏻. It will be the best thing you could ever do for them and that special bond you create over time will be something you will never regret. • Having a high value treat to reward them for good behavior is also very important (Thanks @ruff_bar 😉). • And big thanks to our friend @rufftrekkers for capturing this moment for me. It fills my heart so much every time I look at it. ——————————————————————— #dogsofinstaworld #trainyourdog #husky #huskies #siberianhusky #huskylovers #runyourdognotyourmouth #hikingdogs #dogsthathike #adventuredogsofficial #ecollartraining #dogtraining #huskiesreq #dogmomaf #dogmomproblems #dogmom #hikingwithdogs #hikingdogsofinstagram #huskiesofinstagram #bestwoof #goals #dogmomsofinstagram #adventuredogs #weeklyfluff #domorewithyourdog

A post shared by AZURA, KAYZAH, DAKARI (@exploringwithhuskies) on May 17, 2019 at 4:52am PDT

How Do E-Collars for Dogs Work?

E-collars for dogs use something called electric stimulation, which you may have been exposed to yourself if you’ve ever gone to a chiropractor or physical therapist. It’s not a shock—it’s more of a pulsing wave sensation. And there are many more settings for the intensity, which can range from very low to high—so you have control over what your pup feels.

Some e-collars also have vibration settings, which causes the receiver to vibrate rather than have an electric output. Others have GPS settings so that you can track your dog and his movement.

So how do e-collars work for dog training? “E-collars work as a form of negative reinforcement, so it means that a behavior is strengthened by removing a negative outcome,” says Blake Rodriguez, dog behavior expert and owner of Dream Come True K9. For example, if you’re driving in your car without a seatbelt, that annoying dinging sound that stops when you put your belt on is a form of negative reinforcement. “The dinging stops when you perform the desired behavior. And that’s exactly how e-collars function.”

View this post on Instagram

Luke is doing really well with his off leash skills. At this point we are still pairing most commands with ecollar and then reinforcing is with food. I’ve been having so much fun with this boy. #backtobalancecanine #germanshorthairedpointer #dogtraining #ecollartraining #ecollartechnologies #packlife #germanshepherd #mastiff #dogtrainerslife

A post shared by Back to Balance Canine (@backtobalancek9) on Feb 28, 2019 at 9:32pm PST

Pros of E-Collars for Dogs

Rodriguez argues that e-collars are an effective training tool. He explains that an e-collar is just another way to communicate with your dog—it’s almost like an extension of the leash. But it should never be used as a last resort or a shortcut: “Think about the e-collar as a way to take the language of right and wrong to the next level. So if your dog is pulling, leash pressure might be fine,” explains Rodriguez. “But if your dog goes to run into the street, there needs to be a higher-level correction for the dog’s safety.”

Another advantage of using an e-collar for dogs is timing when you’re correcting a behavior: Many times it’s difficult to correct your dog the moment they’re acting out. Getting to your pup fast enough is important to understand their behavior is wrong. It’s especially effective if you’re working on off leash training, explains Rodriguez. And it can be the difference between life and death if your dog is in danger.

If e-collars are a training tool you want to consider, Rodriguez recommends consulting or working with a professional to incorporate them into your routine. It’s incredibly important to fully understand how and when it’s appropriate to use an e-collar. If misused, e-collars can cause more behavioral problems than they solve. Check out alternatives to e-collars for dogs in “Why Your Pup is Barking and What You Can Do About It.”

View this post on Instagram

Meet Luna! Luna has a lot going on. She has some obvious nervous energy and is definitely skittish, but she also is intense, assertive and suspicious. The combination of traits has developed into a very reactive, vocal and edgy dog. We are working with Luna to bring her into balance and allow her traits to shine in a more positive light. We are developing a high level of structure in her home and in public and conditioning Luna to expect and accept direction from her owner. #digmancanineacademy #happyvalley #statecollege

A post shared by DigmanCanineAcademy (@digmancanineacademy) on May 14, 2019 at 1:44pm PDT

Cons of E-Collars for Dogs

E-collars used to be known as shock collars, though e-collar companies have changed their marketing over the years. “It’s sort of interesting how we use e-collar as a euphemism for a shock collar because it sounds less harsh. But they’re essentially the same thing,” says Scott Sheaffer, CDBC, CPDT-KA, a dog behavior specialist and founder of USA Dog Behavior. “The collar is designed to have your dog make negative associations with undesirable behaviors. So if the dog does the right thing they get a treat and if they do the wrong thing they get a shock.”

The problem with this type of training, in Sheaffer’s opinion, is that the definition of “wrong behavior” is infinite. So if you’re trying to train a dog to lay down using an e-collar, there are so many other “wrong” things they can do before they reach the right thing. It can be very confusing for them, and the shock only increases their anxiety, says Sheaffer.

Another issue with the e-collar, according to Sheaffer, is that dogs tend to generalize and don’t always make the associations we want them to. “What I see a lot is people using e-collars that have no idea how to use them and punish the dog with it,” he explains. For example, a dog that counter surfs that gets shocked might start to associate the pain not with counter surfing but being in the kitchen in general. Or worse, they associate pain with their owners being present. When dogs associate pain with humans it can up their stress levels or cause them to act aggressively.

“I’ve treated so many cases where I’ve had to work with a dog who has been trained using an e-collar and had so much anxiety associated with behavior that was completely unrelated to the problem behavior,” says Sheaffer. For alternatives to e-collars, read, “How to Stop a Dog From Jumping.”

That being said, Sheaffer says e-collar training can be effective in a life and death situation. People with dogs that have the run of a lot of land, like on a ranch, can work with a professional trainer to teach their dog to avoid poisonous snakes, for example. In situations that aren’t life threatening, Sheaffer recommends training your pup using positive reinforcement—so when your dog does the desired behavior, they get rewarded. If your dog is exhibiting problem behaviors, he believes there are other safer and effective ways to correct it. A professional dog trainer with the appropriate qualifications can help you too.

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.