Does anyone think this is cruel to dogs?

Question

Using bark control collar that sends electric jolt by a remote held in your hand

When the dog barks you press the button and it sends a mild shock to the dogs throat.
Is that cruel?

I saw that today. A guy was walking his dog and the dog barked. So the guy presses a button and his dog went "yip-yip" like it was in pain. It made me really really mad and sorry for the dog.

I WOULD NEVER EVER DO THAT TO MY DOG!!!!! THAT IS CRUEL!!!!! I was just wondering if I was the only one or something because it seems common.

People who answer! PLEASE READ ALL THE DETAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I think it IS cruel, my little boy is basically blind and I feel bad when he accidently taps the corner of a piece of furniture with his little head. I can't stand the thought of causing even a small amount of pain to my little boy and people think it is okay to do this to stop a natural instinct. what if they were being attacked and the dog didn't bark then, then they would be hacked about THAT! and it would be their own fault!

Answer 2

I don't think it's cruel. Any form of punishment can be cruel if used inappropriately though. We have an electric fence for our dog, and he's only been shocked 2 times. The first time was when we were training him, and the 2nd time was when he forgot where the line was when neighbor kids came to visit. Dogs are pack animals, and they WANT to know where the boundaries are, what they can and can't do. If used effectively, the bark control collar wouldn't take long to train a dog not to bark excessively. It could then be removed. If you have more time to spend with the dog, you can train it not to bark using other methods. I think it's a matter of personal opinion. If you think it's cruel, you obviously shouldn't use it. People might also think it's cruel to spank a child or eat a hamburger. It all boils down to what you're comfortable with.

Answer 3

Electronic collars are used to train obedience, to discourage unwanted behaviour and to teach dogs to remain in the confines of their yard (invisible fencing).

- There have been cases of dogs receiving serious burns from a malfunctioning unit continually delivering shocks when the owner was absent.

- Many dogs learn to behave ONLY while wearing the special collar and when it's taken off they go wild.

- The units have been known to short out in the rain and cause injury.

- Some people never take them off their dogs.

- Many units have a dial that adjusts the amount of electric shock delivered to the dog. Some people set it on very high causing much distress and pain to the dog.

The reality is that the average dog does not need to be hurt to obey. The most common reason a dog misbehaves is because it truly doesn't know any other behaviour. Just because the dog responded a few times to a command that doesn't mean the dog truly knows what you are asking. Real training takes time.

Dogs bark, whine, dig, chew, run, chase, etc. because they are dogs. They are displaying normal dog behaviour. Now, if you don't want your dog to bark incessantly you will have to teach it not to. It doesn't know what "too much" is. The majority of dogs will respond to kind training methods and patience. A shock collar is neither kind nor patient.

The only time I can think of to use a shock collar on a dog is to prevent it from being euthanized. That's after all other humane training and equipment have failed to solve the problem.

Scared dogs do not learn what you think they're learning. They learn to do what you don't want when you're not there.

These devices, in my opinion, should not be available to the general public looking for a quick fix to their dog's "problem". Many dogs have been ruined by this device.

Laziness on the part of the owner does NOT justify pain for the dog.

Answer 4

Yes I would do an electric collar so if the dog tried to cross the property they would learn not to that way they would not be running off the property and having them bite people.I have seen owners use this while there training for about 6 Mt's then afterword remove the collar put another one on Then the Dog has learn not to cross the line. It behavior mod the dog.
Just like when you tell your child no or put them on a time out.
I think it would be crueler to remove a dogs bark which I have seen done many time.Then when your done with the training you remove it.

Answer 5

yay and nay. If everything other than that was tried and did not work.

I would rather go with the one that squirts the water. I wouldn't ever use the zapper thing.

I can see where both sides would come from on this. As long as they have tried absolutely everything else and it did not work, then the dog has to learn somehow.

I would never do that though I think i would have to get use to the barking.

Answer 6

Well, I not only would do that, I have done that, and it is no more cruel than giving a tug (correction) on the dogs leash.

For those with this attitude that have NEVER in their life been shown how to use an E-collar, this little quote is for you.

"there is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance --- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
Herbert Spencer

QUOTE
"I think owners should have to wear them."

Got news for you,,,,, I have never - ever placed an E-collar on a dog without first placing it on my own arm and adjusting it to match the intensity of a correction made with that dogs normal collar & lead.
The e-collar is nothing more than a one mile long leash, and is used exactly like any other leash.
The e-collar has absolutely no ability to be cruel, that honor belongs solly with the person that misuses it, just as it does with the person that misuses any training tool.

Answer 7

I think it's very cruel. I have a dog and I'd never use one of those devices on her. I trained my dog with the positive reinforcement technique. When I want her to stop barking, I give her the command "Quiet" or "Enough" and she stops. There is no need to shock her with electricity.

Answer 8

My husband used to train dogs and he does not like them. They make one that shoots a citrus mist in front of their nose every time they bark. This causes the dog to sneeze, the dog can't bark if he is sneezing. This is more humane than the electric bark control collars. There are other ways to teach a dog not to bark.

Answer 9

It's cruel. I saw a video on TV where some moron teenager put a shock collar on and was screaming in pain. They went ahead and put it on the dog anyway. I think owners should have to wear them.

Answer 10

Yes, It is very cruel. A person should be able to control their dog without shocking it. I wonder how people who use these would like to be shocked. There are many ways to control your dog from barking and electric jolt should not be one of them.