If there is one topic that gets the most heated when talking to dog training aficionados across the U.S., it has to be the use of e-collars. Some believe that you cannot train a high level hunting companion without one, while others view it as unnecessary and sometimes even cruel. However, just like most things in life, the truth about e-collars in dog training is somewhere in the middle.
E-collars provide an electric stimulation at the point of contact, which one can condition their dog to and is used as a form of pressure in training. E-collars, just like any other tool in training, is just that: a tool. If used correctly they are neither bad nor good. They give a trainer another option for pressure after the dog has already been taught a concept and even allow the trainer to communicate with their dog in a timely fashion when issuing corrections. Proper timing is crucial in teaching dogs new concepts.
Here is the unfiltered nitty gritty of whether an e-collar will fit into your training style. First and foremost, are you going to be able to stay consistent with your corrections when a dog has failed to show the correct behavior during a session even if the dog is 100 yards away? Does the possibility of having your dog fully trained in a shorter amount of time seem appealing? Can you keep yourself in control of your emotions when you use the collar? If your answers to these 3 questions were: No, Yes, Yes; then an e-collar is for you.
E-collars allow you to make timely corrections at long distances. Without one you would have to find a different means of correcting the dog. That could be walking out to the dog for a physical correction, using a verbal correction, or even a combination of the two. E-collars can, but not always, help speed up the training process by helping make things more black and white for your dog in terms of failing to show the correct behavior during a training session. As long as you are not constantly turning up the level of your dog’s e-collar, you have properly conditioned the dog to the collar, and you stay within the working levels that you have identified for your dog, then an e-collar becomes a great tool.
Personally, I suggest e-collars to most of my clients, especially if you are someone who lives an outdoor oriented lifestyle. Here’s why: most dog owners don’t want to put in the time and effort involved in keeping up a dog's training, which in turn means that they will not have a developed skill set to do so. It is also a great way to instill confidence and trust in your dog, as it gives you an “emergency break” if, god forbid, your dog was to find itself heading into a life threatening situation and ignoring your cues to stop/recall.
With all of that being said, training a dog without an e-collar and allowing it to mature at its own pace offers great learning opportunities for you both. This is my preferred way of training my personal dogs. I feel that it creates a more positive oriented learning environment for the dog and allows a deeper connection between dog and handler to be formed.
In the end though, it is a personal choice and one that should be made after much serious self-reflection. However, no matter which route you choose, as long as you have patience and structure your dog’s training appropriately, you will end up with an enjoyable and competent hunting companion.
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