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The Myths About Your Dog’s
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The way some people refer to an electronic bark collar you'd think you’re dropping a toaster into your dog’s bath water. This is one of those out of control myths that gets bigger and bigger with each telling.
Anything that is referred to as an “electric shock” collar must be bad, right?
Not necessarily... when used properly. Let’s take a closer look at why an electric dog collar can be a great training aid for your pooch.
Not sure if dog training collars are right for your dog? Get expert help from our recommended professional dog trainers.
Bark Collars: There Are Shocks
And There Are SHOCKS
Studies have shown that the shock received from an electric dog collar is relatively similar to the intensity of a static electric shock.
You know… the type of shock you get after you walk across a carpet on a relatively dry day and touch the water fountain.
But while we all know that the annoying static shocks from the carpet are rather mild, our imagination increases the shock to something like a cattle prod or stun gun... which, of course, would be completely unacceptable if used when training your pooch.
Bark Collars Address Unwanted Behavior
With An Annoying Sensation
Although most people wouldn’t consider static shocks painful... we all find them annoying, right?
They startle us more than hurt us...so we do our very best to avoid them.
We use humidifiers in the dry season... try not to drag our feet on the carpet... and use anti-static sheets in our dryers. In other words we change our behavior to avoid an uncomfortable sensation.
And that’s exactly how an electric dog collar works!
Just like we try to avoid static electric shock... our dogs will want to avoid the uncomfortable shock given by their corrective collar.
And it’s much easier for a dog to avoid a shock from his collar than it is for us to avoid all those winter static electricity shocks.
Try as we might we often have no control over when we’ll get that little zap. Static electricity can surprise us by building up over a period of time and discharging long after we’ve walked across the carpet.
Not so with an electric dog collar… they’re designed to deliver an immediate correction that corresponds to a dog’s barking. No delayed response... message delivered loud and clear!
A dog will quickly learn that when she barks she will feel this uncomfortable (not painful) feeling from the dog bark collar.
Once the dog makes that connection, she knows she’s in control... “if I bark I get a correction”... “if I keep quite no correction”. This is a no-brainer for most dogs.
Choosing The Bark Collar Adjustment That's Right For Your Dog
Some dogs are just plain stubborn! And it takes a little more to get their attention.
Just like people each dog has a unique temperament and will react differently to different levels of correction. You may have a dog that only needs a minimal correction once or twice to decide to keep quite.
But another dog might not be phased in the least by a collar set on a minimal setting.
And how a dog reacts has nothing to do with the size of the dog. That’s why it’s so important that it be set at the minimal level when you first introduce it to your dog.
It would be extremely irresponsible to start out using a high setting on a dog with a soft temperament. Especially if the dog will learn and respond quickly to a collar on the minimal setting.
Bark collars should always be used with positive reinforcement techniques... so remember to reward your pooch any time you she that she’s made a decision not to bark.
If you’ve never used these types of collars make sure you read the owners manual thoroughly to learn how to use it responsibly before using it on your dog.
