TulsaPets Magazine September 2022

34 TulsaPets • September / October 2022 The Shocking Truth Shock Collars Can Damage Dogs Physically and Behaviorally by Karen Dugan Holman, B.S., B.S.E., M.S. W hen I was asked to write about shock collars, I hesitated, contem- plating how many feathers I just might ruffle, and then thought, OK, I’m in. I don’t normally enjoy confrontations, but in this instance, I felt a sense of obligation to provide the truth behind shocking your dog. I have directly observed the pain, distress, and inhumane treatment from use of a shock collar and how it can transform per- fectly great puppies and dogs into fearful, anxious, physically injured, and behavior- ally damaged animals — to the extreme condition that euthanasia is necessary. Many of my clients reported to have paid to have their dogs “trained” with shock collars or have attempted that technique them- selves. According to the client questionnaire completed before we begin counseling, most of their dogs learned no obedience skills (sit, stay, come) from shock-collar training. The comment I hear the most is, “My dogs used to be lovable members of our family, but now, they are scared of everything and aggressive.” My goal for writing this article is to provide evidence-based knowledge to help dog owners make informed decisions about using a shock collar on their pets. What Are Shock Collars? Shock collars are also referred to as e-col- lars, remote-training collars, stimulation, e-touch, tingle, communication device, TENS unit collars, or e-prods. They usually have two metal prongs which rest against a dog’s skin, typically on the neck (although some trainers also place them against other body parts, including stomach or genita- lia). The metal prongs deliver an electric shock when a button is pressed on a remote control or when a dog barks or when a dog crosses a boundary-line “fence.” People often try tools or techniques when they feel helpless because of their pets’ behavioral problems, possibly attempting to save their dogs’ lives. There is no published evidence that shock collars save lives, but there is a considerable amount of published, peer-reviewed literature that refutes the use of shock collars and links them to behavior- al harm in dogs. There is no longer a reason to be misinformed on the damaging effects of shock collars. In the vast majority of cas- es, those methods meet the criteria for abuse and inhumane treatment of dogs. What Is Training? I have invited my mentor, professor, and friend, Carlo Siracusa (DVM, Ph.D., Dip., ACVB, Dip., ECAWBM, clinical assistant professor of animal behavior, director, Animal Behavior Service, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylva- nia) to provide insight regarding the use of shock collars for training dogs. Dr. Siracusa explains, “Training is a process where the dog is learning to com- municate and understand what we want [him] to do. There are limits to how the dog will respond to training. For training to be successful, the dog must have a relatively calm response to a stimulus presented with an intensity that does not excite or scare the animal too much. If your dog is overstimu- lated or aroused, [he] cannot learn through operant conditioning or obedience training. Obedience training is a fundamental tool when your dog is put in the condition to respond appropriately. If your dog is not learning, you could be using the wrong tools. It is important to select a trainer that utilizes positive reinforcement techniques, especially when working with a fearful dog. What you teach may be less important than how.” To understand the many reasons that shock collars are damaging to a dog, we must understand how dogs learn. I clearly remember working our English Setters with my dad. He would use “remnants” of the quail from the hunt. I thought it was disgusting at the time, but I quickly learned that was great motivation for the dogs. They were great at their job, and Dad paid them well. Trainer Donna “DJ” Willis of Pups-n- Partners explains, “If you like what your dog is doing, capture that behavior. Pay your dog for desirable behaviors.” Such a simple way to explain positive rein- forcement! Reinforcement is essential for learning. It encourages desired behaviors because it marks and identifies the preferred