Are electronic dog training collars worth it?

[ChipsDad]

Does anyone have any experience with these
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=6973&PC=productlist&Nav=189&N=22%20129&sku=750840&familyID=9694&

... any pros and cons feedback would be greatly appreciated before I invest the $80 odd!

Thanks

CD

[wlkwithwolf]

It sounds pretty decent. We never used anything other than treats for ours.
Good luck hope someone can help you more with this than i can.

[lassie]

No sorry, although i have peoples comments on other sites

[MrsRottie]

Am I right in thinking that Chip is the wee 4 month old pound baby?

If so - why do you feel the need for this collar? I don't mean that to sound aggressive, far from it, I'm interested....

Training regardless of which method you choose is time consuming and often hair rippingly frustrating. To my mind, using a method like this doubles that agony because you then have to learn how to work the collar and then activate it at exactly the correct moment (I could never get the hang of clicker training either so it doens't say much for me...:rolleyes: )
Whereas IMHO it's much more natural to praise and treat?

It just seems a lot of money, again IMHO for something which I personally would look on as a final resort....

[lassie]

Agree totally, ive never been one for buying gadgets for the dogs. Also unless you know how to use something like this probably you could get even more problems. BTW i could never get on with clicker traing either thought it was me being impatient

[dlambertz]

training collars like any aid can be very beneficial if in the right hands. like spur training on a horse...but can be very harmful and cruel if used inproperly.

before using such extreme measures...try using the reward system yourself. if you are not getting it and are having limited success(it is your reponsiblity to have a well trained dog... they only learn as much as we teach them.) than go to obedience classes. where we are they do not start puppies under 6 months of age so make sure you check with your local area to find out what age you can start your pup.

a well trained dog is the least likely to ever end up in the shelter...

[keeks62]

One thing that I used that has been helpful in overall behavior is the Easy Walk Harness (by those who make the gentle leader). It prevents Teagan from pulling when we walk and makes her walk beside me, which has re-enforced who the dominant dog is. I absolutely LOVE it. I have also hear that the gentle leader head collar is good, but I personally didn't like it.

[cyclefiend2000]

i personally wouldn't use a collar like this. i would try for a more positive approach to training your dog. for not much more than the collar costs you can enroll in a clicker training course. we clicker train our dogs and it seems to be easy and effective (especially if you have a food driven dog!).

in my limited experience, training has to be fun for the person and for the dog! if the dog is having fun they seem to be more likely to a) do what you want the to do more easily and b) pick up on the training more easily.

[chase_pike]

this may be a good choice but are you really prepared to test your dogs patience and overall just giving it an annoying worry but should you get this collar make shure it dosent mak your dog crazy and angry that could dissapoint you and your dog!;)

[lassie]

I think this collars are more popular in the US than in the Uk from what ive read

[Cheetah]

I think it's drastic in most cases and wouldn't personally use it for any dog. Plus, it's way easy to abuse or misuse. There are plenty of alternatives.

[lassie]

i agree, in the wrong hands ,:eek:

[zoe08]

I wouldnt use it unless it was a last resort. Training is not easy it is going to take time and patience. Dont get to anxious and jump into something if you think your puppy is not learning. I would much rather spend the money on a good training class before resorting to something like that. I find positive reinforcement works well. Lots of treats and lots of praise!

[lapdog]

From what I've learned from the electric fence I just got, it can be a great thing or a horrible thing. Training has to be exactly right or you can make your dog a neurotic. I probably wouldn't start with a puppy, I'd only reserve it for a hard to train adult. And definately, read and learn the proper way to use one before even starting.

[ChipsDad]

agree - well i think i will just leave it

I just saw an empisde of 'Jackass' and one of the guys put one around his neck to 'test' and it REALLY seem to do some damage - so imagine what it does to our little friends

I am thinking they should ban those things