WARNING OPNION INCOMMING
Do to the fact that I have noticed alot of shock collar threads recently I thought I woudl post my OPNION on it.
I think they are grate. I say get one the right size, strap it to yourself and when you dog messes up mash the button. This should remind you to get your dog what it needs.
All kidding aside I want to make make my serious opnion known. And I want feed back too.
There are and extreamly rare number of cases when a shock collar is the proper training tool. In order to determin if it is correct I think you should mesure the damage of your dogs unwanted behavior to the damage of the collar. If the unwanted behavior is so dangerious to the health of the dog and there is no other way then you might concider the shock collar.
let me list some example when not to use the collar:
dog barking
jumping
mounting
mouthing
or any other behavior that has no ill effect on the dog, but you don't like.
Also the collar shold not be used in circumstances where there is onther option. Say your dog bites people when they com in the house. This is a serious problem, but a better answere is to put the dog in a confined area until it comes down. Or give it something to play with instead. Beter yet leash your dog and keep it ticght so it can greet the new people but not bite. Always prias proper behavior
When do I consider it ok? Well if there is no other option and the saftey of the dog is at stake. Shock colars have some prety gigantic side effects but if the alternive is death or serious injury then go ahead. Always see a trainer first though. The session are cheap compaired to the well beeing of the dog. The decision to use a shock collar is a HIGE one and it WILL alter you dog's mood and behavior. Also you doo not treet the underlieing cause of the problem. I can not think of a good example ATM, but if the choice is between the shock collar and injury to the dog do to a behavior that you can not stop otherwise then I am ok with it. Just remember the color is a way to say NO! you still must say good boy/girl every time some right is done. And also use it only for the perscribed behavior. Some examples of poor usage would be:
A dog running into trafic: solution, get a leash.
A dog diggin at on open wound: solution, thoes cone collars look funny but should work.
A dog going crazy in the crate: theres a much bigger problem here a shock collar will make it worse: solution; no crate, if you seek confinment try the bathroom or anywhere with tile floors.
Dog pulling in a damaging way on a leash (tugging so much as to bruise the skin) : again there is a lower reason for this, a shock color would not be liklly to help: solution; a choker collar is worth a try (but becareful), Aslo more constant communication between you and your dog while on the lease would be better.
Always always always, I encourage you to get to a trainer/behavior specialist FIRST and use the collar only as a last resort.
I think shock collars should also shock the button masher so that they would use it as little as possibal. I also think you should have to take training before you can buy one.