Shock collar and invisible fences...!!!???

**BlackandTans** · 08-11-2008, 12:55 PM

Ok so here is my question.... Well maybe more then one question....

What do you all think of them?

I have a few friends that have trained their dogs on them and SWEAR up and down by them. One of my friends was over with their dog wearing one of the shock collars and they said it was the best thing ever for training...!! Taught their dog to not chase cats (which I have never had a problem with), taught them to come when called (but shouldnt that just be taught anyways?) and so on....
So, they told me that I should try them with my dogs... Well I was not really sure.....

So I decided to shock myself with it first to see what it felt like if I was going to put it on my dogs cause that is only fair...

Smart me right? But why not cause I wanted to feel what it is like before putting it on them....

Now I put it on the inside of my arm right underneath my wrist thinking that that would be more sensitive and it did not "hurt" per say but it was not comfortable either. I think I shocked myself on like 5 out of 10 levels. Good night who knows what 10 would feel like.

Ok long story even shorter.... the same friends now got a invisible fence for their dog and did not properly show her how it is done. So they came home one day and then dog ran out to meet them and she started twitching and kinda yelping and ran and hid in their car while the collar was still shocking her. They had to try and pry her out of the car to get her back inside the area limit or whatever you want to call it. Chock that up to not properly showing her what the fence will do cause I guess that she is fine now....

Ok so anyways does anyone really find a use for these things with their Dobes? I know that our Dobes have shorter hair and all that so I dont know if that would affect them more cause less padding per say??? But then I dont really know if I want to put them on my dogs at all.
They were also talking about how I should get a bark collar for Duke cause that would deter him from barking all the time. And I said "well isnt that what exercise is for??"

So anywhoo any thoughts on the use of these??
And since I was asking the question regarding my Dobes was it ok to post this question here or does it need to be moved like to the training section or something?? Sometimes I dont know.

Thanks all!

**2gooddobes** · 08-11-2008, 01:00 PM

B&T, LOL, I got a visual of you shocking youself. I think E collars have there place in training but i would definitely talk in depth with a trainer who has expirience using them. As for the Invisible fence i've seen dogs that where well trained go running straight though one to get to a rabbit or something else that peeked it's interest. To me they are not worth the What If.

**BlackandTans** · 08-11-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2gooddobes

B&T, LOL, I got a visual of you shocking youself. I think E collars have there place in training but i would definitely talk in depth with a trainer who has expirience using them. As for the Invisible fence i've seen dogs that where well trained go running straight though one to get to a rabbit or something else that peeked it's interest. To me they are not worth the What If.

Hee Hee..... I know like I said smart me right? I just wanted to know before I would make them have to wear one...

Ya I was TOTALLY thinking the same thing cause Mia and Duke usually behave REALLY well but if they see like a rabbit or even a bird or something land in the yard they go and chase it.... And I feel that especially Duke being a WHOLE lot bigger would just run through it and keep on going.....

Dobejazz · 08-11-2008, 01:05 PM

I like the look of invisible fences - but they don't keep people or other dogs out -

I *think* I'd only use a shock collar for something only as a last resort if all other training methods weren't working on a particular issue -

thea2003 · 08-11-2008, 01:10 PM

When we got our hound from SPCA they did NOT reccomend the shock invisible fence collars because with dogs like hounds anyways they follow their nose and that little shock isnt gonna stop them.
They cant count the number of dogs that they bring in with shock collars on.

Khiera · 08-11-2008, 01:12 PM

IMHO, ANY tool can be abusive if improperly utilized or used for the wrong reasons. The same for the other way around: ANY tool can be great if properly utilized and used for the right reasons. Always consult a professional when dealing with an unfamiliar tool for the first time. Always make sure that it's the right tool for your dog, eg. a remote collar is not suitable for EVERY dog. Also, i would not use a remote collar for ANY dog that has not gone through at least intermediate obedience training with a leash/long-line and other training collars or tools.

I use a remote collar on Dante mainly for proofing his distance commands and as a "safety tool" when going on trails and walks in open areas with him. I spent alot of time researching the tool and then properly conditioning him to the collar before actually using it. Dante knows the collar as his "best friend" (my nickname for the collar lol) and he is always wiggling his nub and happy when i whip it out.

As for invisible fences, i'm not for them at all. I think alot of people resort to them without even properly training the dog. Some dogs won't care that they are going to get a zap if something on the other side of the fence is of higher value to them and they want to get to it. And once they learn that they can pass through the barrier, the purpose of the invisible fence then is then rendered pointless, me thinks. And as another person mentioned, an invisible fence won't do much good keeping anything unwanted out of your property.

**BlackandTans** · 08-11-2008, 01:17 PM

Ok good I am hearing the same things that invisible fences are not that great! That is what I thought and tried to tell my friends the same things but they were all for it. I just hope that they dont come home someday and find their girl gone.

And as far as the collars I was not really sure why they were telling me to use one besides the bark one cause yes my Duke likes to bark at everything he sees for no reason!

But that is ok. The funny thing is that my two Dobes behave WAY better then their dog does and who is telling who that they need a collar? Um no!! And why say it is good for not chasing cats?? My dogs do not chase my three cats. My cats love my dogs!

My two come when called, Stay when told to, Lay down when told to, Leave other people alone when told that those people are ok.... I think it kinda made me mad cause they thought that they knew more about my dogs then I do!! Grrr!!!

Khiera · 08-11-2008, 01:21 PM

Sadly alot of uninformed or ill-informed people use remote collars as "short cuts" for proper training. Sounds like it's a tool that's not really relevant for you at all at this point in time. Remember, anyone and everyone has an opinion and can give training "advice", but it's up to you to assess whether it applies to your situation

**2gooddobes** · 08-11-2008, 01:23 PM

I have about 400 feet of fence and just forked over $4000 to have it extended. To me it's worth every penny to give my dogs a place to run around and keep the neighborhood mutts out of my yard. It also stopped my annoying neighbor from coming over everytime we are on the back deck.

**BlackandTans** · 08-11-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2gooddobes

I have about 400 feet of fence and just forked over $4000 to have it extended. To me it's worth every penny to give my dogs a place to run around and keep the neighborhood mutts out of my yard. It also stopped my annoying neighbor from coming over everytime we are on the back deck.

Ya we have the fully high fence in the backyard but I was wanting to extend it to the front yard that is not fenced.... So I was just looking into them but had my doubts! They seemed like the cheap and easy way out instead of doing more fence.... Glad that I am not the only person that thought they were not that great of a idea.