Shock collars

Philosophical opinions aside, scientific studies document the problem of electricity and training is the issue of unintended associations, resulting fear and serious aggression.

I have personally counseled clients trying to un-do problems resulting from situations where the dog associated something in the environment with the pain/startle of the electronic collar. This ranges from extreme fear of the outdoors, house training lapses because the dog was afraid to go to the bathroom in the yard, to serious aggression to other animals or people associated with the timing of the "correction" from the collar. The potential for aggression has been documented in this article by the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science in this article: "Can Aggression in Dogs Be Elicited Through the Use of Electronic Pet Containment Systems?"

Great article on Dog Star Daily: Invisible Containment + Dog Door = BAD IDEA
From ShadowMe Dog Training - Underground Fence Systems - Are They Safe for my Dog?
From Ahimsa Dog Training, Seattle - Dog Fences: Visible vs Visible

The following are a list of articles written by experts in the field of animal behavior:

Date: Tue Dec 6, 2005 4:01:19 PM US/Eastern
From an open letter from respected veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall, DVM regarding the use of shock collars: Shock Collars - Do Shock Collars Cause Damage?

"No, I have not changed my opinion and it is that there is never any reason for pets to be shocked as a part of therapy or treatment. If anything, I have strengthened this opinion. There are now terrific scientific and research data that show the harm that shock collars can do behaviorally. At the July 2005 International Veterinary Behavior Meeting, held in conjunction with the AVSAB and ACVB research meetings, data were presented by E. Schalke, J. Stichnoth, and R. Jones-Baade that documented these damaging effects (Stress symptoms caused by the use of electric training collars on dogs (Canis familiaris) in everyday life situations. Current Issues and Research in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine, Papers presented at the 5th Int'l IVBM. Purdue University Press, 2005:139-145. [ISBN 987-1-55752-409-5; 1-558753-409- 8]).

"Let me make my opinion perfectly clear: Shock is not training - in the vast majority of cases it meets the criteria for abuse." - Karen Overall

AVSAB Guidelines on the Use of Punishment for Dealing with Behavior Problems in Animals
Shock Collars - Holly's Den "Say No to Shock Collars" Page
Shock Collars - How Shock Affects the Brain - Brain changes in learning studied, Harvard Gazette
Shock Collars - The Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group - CABTSG Policy Statement on Electronic Training Devices, an affiliate of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Shock Collars - The Dangers of Choke, Pinch, and Shock Collars
Shock Collars - Why Electric Shock Collars Must Go
Choke and Shock Collars: Obedience Training or Physical Punishment? - San Francisco SPCA
Training dogs with the help of the shock collar: short and long term behavoural effects - Matthijs B.H. Schilder, Joanne A.M. van der Borg - Dept of Ethology and Socio-Ecology; Dept of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Vets on Behavior Proclaim, Never - GoodNewsforPets.com - Steve Dale
Shock Collars - an article by Jean Donaldson
The Problem with Shock Collars by By Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., PDBC, CDBC, NADOI Endorsed, CAP2

The San Francisco SPCA believes: that dogs have the right to be trained and helped to fit into our society with the most gentle methods available. And that dogs have a right to be free from physical and mental punishment.