Shock Collars Are Cruel To Dogs

As a springer spaniel named Felicity's Diamond Jimthe local humane society.
pranced to victory at the recent WestminsterShock collars are currently under fire in the U.K.,
Kennel Club dog show at New York's Madisonwhere the Kennel Club and the Association of Pet
Square Gardens, I was thinking of anotherDog Trainers are calling for a ban. When the
springer spaniel named Minnie whose life is quiteKennel Club asked members of Parliament (MPs)
different from the champ's. Minnie, along with ato test the collars on themselves, they were
boxer named Bailey, escaped last month fromshocked--literally--at how painful they were. "That
their yard and fell through the thin ice covering areally hurt!" said MP Eleanor Laing. "That is
pond in Connecticut. They might have died in thepositively cruel and I am disgusted." MP Richard
frigid, muddy water had a neighbor not heardBenyon pronounced the experience "horrible ... I
Bailey's frantic barking. An intrepid firefighterdefinitely would not use one."
braved the icy water and rescued the dogs.Humans can tell us that jolting themselves in the
The dogs' brush with death was the result of anneck isn't a pleasant experience, but what about
invisible fence, which works by administeringdogs? A study conducted at the University of
shocks to dogs via an electronic collar when theyUtrecht on German shepherds (not exactly the
approach a boundary. These "fences" and shockwimpiest of breeds) found that many of the dogs
collars are a disaster waiting to happen.reacted to shocks with "high pitched yelps, barks
They can go haywire and administer constantand squeals." Indications of stress, such as
shocks or deliver no shocks at all when thelowered body posture, continued long after the
batteries go dead. Dogs have reportedly sufferedshocks were administered. Some dogs who had
serious burns when the collars malfunctioned orbeen shocked became fearful merely by being in
got wet. Some dogs may dash through thethe presence of their handlers.
barrier chasing a squirrel and then becomePeople who have used shock collars report that
trapped outside, afraid to cross back into theirtheir dogs developed unexpected behaviors in
own yards.response to being zapped. One dog became
Shock collars aren't just unreliable--they also hurtfearful of leaving the house, knowing that a painful
like the devil. At least that's the verdict of peoplejolt awaited him outside. Another developed
who have actually tested the collars onaggression at passing joggers, thinking that they
themselves. Michigan resident Jason Mitchell set upwere the ones delivering the shock. One dog
a Web site to show how much electronic collarswhose owner used a shock collar in obedience
hurt. He compared the pain of the shock collar toclass became fearful of large groups of people
"a mass of black flies biting you all at once." Lastand dogs.
July, people who visited Mitchell's Web site couldElectronic training devices are simultaneously the
pay either to shock him or to spare him from alaziest and most painful ways to train your dog.
shock, with the results broadcast via online video.No one should entrust his or her best friend's
The fee went higher as the setting on the collarsafety to a battery-operated barrier. There is
went higher. Mitchell refused to go above levelsimply no substitute for proper training using
4―the collar's highest setting is levelpositive reinforcement. It may take a little bit
7―because he said higher settingsmore time, but you'll end up with a happier
produced "painful after-effects." Mitchell generouslycompanion who is eager to please instead of
donated some of the money that he raised tobeing afraid not to.