The Unshocking Truth About Remote Training Collars Pt. 1

Does your dog pull you down the street, jump onto the kitchen countertops to steal food, bolt outside of an open front door or bark incessantly? Effective and humane help is at your fingertips. These and many other common behavior problems can be solved quickly with a remote training collar.

Remote training collars have unfairly been called shock collars. The truth is, these training tools are constructed with micro amperage and do not have the capability to shock like an electrical outlet. Rather, the remote training collar is an effective, safe communication tool that teaches a dog to develop self-control and a solid sense of teamwork.
According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, behavioral problems are the number one reason pets are relinquished to shelters, as well as the largest preventable cause of death in pets in the US. Using remote training collars to promote and teach appropriate, acceptable behavior in our canine companions allows us to have happy, fulfilling and long-lasting relationships. A dog can learn polite house manners, loose-lead enjoyable walks, exhibit calm, quiet greeting behavior and behave off-leash.
The remote training collar consists of a collar with a receiving unit that the dog wears and a hand-held transmitter used by the owner who delivers the appropriate vibration. It eliminates the need for constant treats, managing long leashes or chasing a dog down to remind it to cooperate.

Experts compare the collar’s feel to the electric stimulation devices used in human medicine. Many physical therapists and chiropractors use Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, more commonly referred to as TENS unit. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes. A typical battery-operated TENS unit is able to modulate pulse with frequency and intensity. Martin Deeley, director of the International Association of Canine Professionals, says, like the TENS unit, the remote training collar “contracts and releases the muscle to give the tapping or pulsing sensation at the lowest level necessary to communicate with the dog.”
If the TENS unit is too low, it cannot be felt; if it is too high, it is uncomfortable. The correct level is different for every patient, and this also true for a dog. It is a professional trainer’s job to determine the lowest level necessary for each dog. The trainer teaches the dog the “language” of the collar. In other words, what does the vibration mean. The dog learns to look to his owner for direction whenever he feels the light tapping vibration.
Professional trainers utilize the collar as a prompt to cue the dog at the lowest level necessary to simply get their attention. It is similar to a tap on the shoulder, which cues a person to turn around and get information. The intensity of this tap can change according to the distraction level of the person being tapped. Have you ever watched a young mother chatting with her friends while her toddler is pulling on her shirtsleeve? Of course, the mother isn’t ignoring her child, she is just oblivious until the child yanks hard enough to get her mother’s attention!” The same is true for the remote training collar.

A professional trainer determines your dog’s lowest level with minor distractions, but when high level distractions are present – such as a deer running past or a ball flying by – then a higher level may be necessary to get the dog’s attention. The vibration of the collar is the same as saying “pay attention, I am about to tell you something important” much like the tap on the shoulder that precludes the information given. The professional trainer teaches the dog that the vibration means pay attention, find the boss, a direction is coming. The correct level is the level at which the dog can recognize that he is receiving a signal from the training device and it is at that level that we have the dog’s attention.

Randall Lockwood, vice president for research and educational outreach for The Humane Society of the United States says, “new technology employed by responsible manufacturers has led to products that are being used safely and effectively to preserve the safety and well-being of many dogs and strengthen the bond with their human companions.

Owners are trained to deliver the appropriate signal at the instant they want their dog’s attention. This eliminates the time delay common with a leash and collar. The remote training collar provides consistency since it is used at all times and in all situations. Moreover, a remote training collar allows the owner to maintain gentle, effective control even at a distance when the dog is off-leash, reminding him that he is part of a team.
Additionally, the remote training collar is an effective tool for people with disabilities, especially in public environments with high levels of distractions.
Sean Hayes, engineering manager for Tritronics, a leading manufacturer of remote dog training equipment, asserts “the remote training collar is much easier, safer, more consistent and provides less distraction to the dog. The dog is receiving the same stimulation every time. Compared to other training devices like a choke collar, which should be used properly, the remote collar allows perfect timing, and is more humane and effective.”