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How to Choose a Dog Shock Collar
A dog shock collar can be a valuable training aid, but before you buy one, learn how shock collars operate and what you may accomplish with them.
Many people feel that relying on a shock collar is cruel and inhumane. I can't agree with this kind of thinking.
Modern shock collars are safe and don't cause any pain to your dog. As a matter of fact, many don't rely on electricity at all.
There are several types of dog shock collars. They differ in how they operate and what they are trying to accomplish.
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Let's review what a shock collar is, and then I'll show you how to choose the right shock collar for your dog.
What is a Dog Shock Collar?
Some shock collars for dogs are designed to stop unwanted behaviors, such as barking, and are commonly called bark collars.
Others are designed to prevent your dog from crossing the boundaries of a marked property. They are part of a package called invisible or electronic fence.
A third type of a dog shock collar can be controlled by you through a remote control. Unlike with a bark collar, you are in complete control of the "correcting" action. This type of collar is called a remote trainer and is very good at stopping many unwanted behaviors, including barking and digging.
If you want to learn more about "invisible fences", visit electronic dog fence page. To learn more about remote trainers, visit electronic dog collar page.
For now, let's concentrate on...
Bark Collars
So, how do bark collars work?
When a dog barks, a box on the dog's collar picks up the vibration. This in turn activates a mild electric shock generated from a 9v battery. Now you know why it's called "shock" collar!
I don't want you to think that a dog experiences any pain, because he doesn't. The shock feels more like a vibration and will not harm your dog. Come to think of it, "shock collar" is a very bad name that brings out a lot of bad associations…
If you still don't feel comfortable about using such type of collar, visit electronic dog collar page where I'll show you another type of collar that instead of issuing a mild shock activates harmless citronella spray.
Here is a short video that demonstrates a citronella spray bark collar...
Learn more about How to Train your Dog
In any case, whether you use an electronic shock or citronella spray collar, they are designed to startle and distract your dog from the unwanted behavior.
How to Choose a Dog Shock Collar
Now that you understand how these collars work, lets see how to chose the best product for your dog.
When you evaluate a dog shock collar, or any other product, for that matter, ask 3 questions:
- Does it do what I am looking for?
- What features does it have?
- How much does it cost?
Also, don't pay extra for the features you don't need.
Let me show you an example of a good shock collar without any, in my opinion, useless features...
A company called Innotek makes the Free Spirit No Bark Collar. This dog shock collar…
- Provides seven levels of stimulation, so you can use it on dogs of various sizes
- Is water-resistant
- Is activated only by the dog that wears the collar
The last point is very important because you don't want a loud noise or another dog to activate the collar.
Free Spirit No Bark Collar
Another important feature to look for in a dog shock collar is a relaxation interval between corrections. You don't want your dog to be corrected non-stop if he is barking non-stop!
Free Spirit provides a three second relaxation interval. While three seconds may not seem like a lot, it actually is plenty.
When you buy a shock collar for dogs, carefully read the product description to make sure the collar is designed for the dog you intend to use it on. If you have a Chihuahua, don't use a dog shock collar intended for a Saint Bernard!
While Free Spirit No Bark Collar is for dogs of all sizes, I feel it's a little too bulky for smaller breeds.
Here is a better choice for a smaller breed...
PetSafeŽ Deluxe Little Dog Bark Control Collar
PetSafeŽ Deluxe Little Dog Bark Control Collar has all the advanced features of Free Spirit (actually, it has more features) and is a better choice for dogs under 55 lbs.
Why?
First, it's a lot smaller than Free Spirit. Second, it has 10 levels of correction. Finally, it will automatically shut off for 3 minutes if your dog barks more than 15 times in 30 seconds.
Free Spirit No Bark Collar has fewer features than PetSafe® Deluxe Little Dog Bark Control Collar, but is also less expensive.
If you don't care about extra features that PetSafe Deluxe offers, and you have a larger breed, go for the cheaper Free Spirit No Bark Collar.
I hope that you found this information helpful and agree that dog shock collars are not as cruel as they sound.
While a dog shock collar is a valuable training aid, don't abuse it. Do not try to stop your dog from barking completely. Only when barking becomes excessive and nothing else works (visit stop dog barking to learn more), consider using a dog shock collar.
If you do decide to try a dog shock collar, I strongly recommend the 2 models I reviewed above -- Free Spirit No Bark Collar and PetSafeŽ Deluxe Little Dog Bark Control Collar.
If you are a new dog owner and want to learn more about dog behavior and obedience training, I highly recommend you read and follow this Secrets to Dog Training guide. It's written by a professional dog trainer and is full of techniques you can use to modify your dog's behavior.
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