When it’s ok to use an electric collar

So, I’ve got your attention now ...

I do insist on the fact that we promote positive training here.
But I’m initiating this very thorny subject in order to discuss with an open mind.

The electric collar I had in mind for this thread was the type that is used with boundary fencing.
Inspired by our new neighbour husky who spends her time escaping into the village with the household teenagers in hot pursuit. She’s going to get hit by a vehicle and she unfortunately won’t be the first.
It’s true, their fencing has great room for improvement but it is already a 6ft fence on sloping ground so I’m pretty sure she’s not a jumper. I suppose she’s going under, but that can take alot of time to install fencing that is digger-proof.

For her safety, I would consider an electric collar with perimeter wire, or electrifying specific fencing with small-animal electrifier. I know people who have had to go down this route for various reasons, often it’s a last resort option.
But it is generally effective, as long as it is done correctly.
The only negative case I have heard of was a poodle with perimeter collar who would charge over wire with fright and refuse to come back over it to go home for second shock ...

I personally would never use a shock collar, I prefer reward training rather than scare tactics. Your new neighbour needs to secure their garden properly to keep the husky in the garden! From what you have said she's not getting enough stimulation, mentally or physically for her breed!
Maybe have a quiet word with them

I agree, but educating humans to then educate their dog takes time. Husky is escaping several times a day when I’m working in the garden. She’s in real danger through their ignorance, my priority is to keep her alive whilst we work on humans. At least they keep her alot in the house when they don’t want to run after her ...

Dogs can either get panicked by the shock & try to charge through/jump the fence (or perimeter wire) or they get used to the shock & get out anyway. What if the 24 hour a day collar gets caught on something near the perimeter & the dog received continuous shocks because of it, or even gets strangled?

I understand the thought behind your suggestion, but I could never condone it myself.

But if they're not prepared to watch the dog, and don't seem to worry about it escaping, then what makes you think they would go to the expense of an electric perimeter & collar?

Ive very mixed opinion too tbh.

It could work well for them if they watched the dog and trained it with the new collar, stay with them out the back, when the dog goes for a fence say no before they even get a shock and call it over and get it to sit or lie down at other side of the garden away from the fence and give treats. That could quickly reach the dog that it’s danger to go to the fence and human says no, if you go anyway you will get a shock if you don’t you get a treat and affection.

However if they don’t care enough to train the dog and just put the collar on n hope for the best the dog will probably keep trying to get across. Huskies can be very stubborn the dog might see it as a challenge, it’s just making it a bit harder to get out, he’s still not being told by his humans not to do it...

Tough call though because something like this could work or go very wrong, would definitely need supervision though and they seem not to want to give that since the dog escapes in first place

I understand your arguments and it really is very interesting.

I suppose you could call an electric collar a gadget only to be put into experienced hands, but then experienced hands would not need this gadget in the first place.

Nifty staffy wrote:

I suppose you could call an electric collar a gadget only to be put into experienced hands, but then experienced hands would not need this gadget in the first place.  

Exactly.

Yeah that would be my take on it, but this is only an opinion built on research I’ve never had a shock collar and I don’t know anyone that has had one so I’m not sure how strong the actual shock is etc... just cannot imagine it being good unless supervised though

I have never wanted nor needed to use this type of collar.
But I have a friend who resorted to this for his AmStaff rescue who was jumping over 6’ gate to wander around the neighborhood. He was shocked once and backs off the gate ever since, even without wearing the collar.

Collar is supposed to have several settings from vibrate to big shock ...