There’s a lot of information on training, and everyone thinks their way is better, and there is an abundance of information that it can be hard to sort through and many of which contradicts each other. Each method has its own value, but some of the training tools involved can be intimidating, controversial, or downright illegal!
The types of controversial training tools we’ll be talking about today are things that are based on action-based consequences, like the pressure or pinch of a prong collar and the shock of a shock collar.
Why are these training tools controversial? Do they even work? Are they a form of animal abuse or should we freely use these tools freely to train our dog?
- Positive vs Negative Reinforcement
- Positive vs Negative Punishment
- Prong Collars
- Shock Collars
- Choke Chains
- Head Halter
- Conclusion
Positive vs Negative Reinforcement
Many training methods today use the idea of positive reinforcement: the act of rewarding positive behavior to encourage it to happen again. When your dog sits, she gets a treat, right? That’s positive reinforcement! It helps to correlate the command “sit” to something good happening afterward, and they are more likely to repeat the behaviors.
Negative Reinforcement, on the other hand, is when you take away a negative stimulus, and the removal of the negative stimulus helps to reinforce the behavior. A tame example is when you push your dog’s butt down to sit. The removal of that pressure, which may be undesirable to your dog, is the “reward” for the sit.
There are two other types of training methods that you should know.
Positive vs Negative Punishment
Positive Punishment sounds like a weird term, right? Punishment is inherently a negative word, so why would we put a positive word like the punishment is somehow…good? Well, have you ever flicked a rubber band at yourself to stop thinking about something? I’m sure you’ve watched a sitcom that uses this logic within one of their episodes. The idea of positive punishment is that there’s an undesirable consequence after an unwanted behavior. It’s supposed to make it less appealing and, therefore, less likely for it to happen again. In doggy terms, that might include spraying your dog with water (which, doesn’t work ever) or bopping your dog on the nose with your knuckle.
Negative Punishment, on the other hand, is when you take away a desired stimulus due to an unwanted behavior. For example, if your dog is pulling while on a walk you may stop walking and wait until your dog stops pulling. The hope is that your dog stops pulling in the future. The term itself sounds a lot worse than it is
These 4 training methods are constantly implemented, and some are more controversial than others. Why? Something like bopping your dog on the nose, however softly, might be seen to other humans as abusive.
Some training tools are controversial because they actually use one of these four methods of training mentioned above.
Prong Collars
Prong collars, also known as pinch collars, are made of metal chains with prongs that stick out at the end of each link. These prongs also allow the collar to be made bigger (by adding chains) or smaller (by taking away chains).
This is a training tool, with the idea that the pinching done by the collar on the dog’s neck will be irritating enough that the dog will stop pulling. The prongs themselves should be blunt. This type of training collar is illegal in countries like Spain, France, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and Germany. Many other organizations, including dog trainers from corporate stores, won’t allow the use of prong collars in their training programs.
Why are they controversial?
Part of their controversy comes from the fact that they look like a medieval torture device. They look scary, and will be perceived as scary, and I really do think that’s the main reason. Another reason may be that most people, without experience in training, believe that they can cause harm to the dog’s jugular vein. Many people believe that it’s also meant to cause pain.
I’ve used a prong collar on my dog. He gets excited easily when he sees other dogs, he is a golden retriever, after all, and when his hips worked better it would take all of my energy to stop him from pulling me. I tried it out on my arm to make sure it wouldn’t hurt before trying it on my dog, and he seemed more irritated by it than anything else, but it helped me have more control over him instead of being dragged through the street.
Are they harmful?
If used improperly, yes, you can cause unwanted injury to the dog. A prong collar should be treated like a training device: used for short periods of time and allow for your dog to walk without it periodically. Don’t ever pull or jerk the leash while using a prong collar either. Don’t use them on smaller dogs, either. These were always meant to be used by bigger and stronger dogs. The ends should be blunt and smooth. Anything less than perfectly smooth will absolutely harm your pup.
Alternatives
The best alternative methods would be to get your dog into a training class and using treats whenever your dog walks beside you. This may not work for all dogs, though. Using a head halter or an easy walk harness may also help.
Shock Collars
Shock collars have always been a popular training tool, but I personally have never found them effective anyways. Shock collars provide a shock to the dog’s neck either by manually pressing a remote control, by the decibel of the dog’s bark, or by a specialized fencing that activates the shock when your dog passes through it.
In many European countries, this type of collar is banned. Advancements made in this kind of collar have changed: some may provide an unwanted sound or vibration or a combination either with or without shocks. Without the shock, this kind of training device goes under the name “humane bark collars” and more research is being done to see what their effectiveness really is.
In the USA, police and military K-9 trainers sometimes still use a remote-controlled shock collar to train their dogs, but they only stay on during certain types of training activities.
Why are they controversial?
Shock collars are meant to provide discomfort, but many people will go over the top to provide pain, either knowingly or unknowingly. They can burn the dog’s skin if the shocks are set to an improper setting, and if left on too long they can also burn through the dog’s skin.
Are they harmful?
If used improperly, yes, and I have seen this for myself. A client getting her dog groomed used a bark collar, but it burned through the skin and left behind nasty burn markings. One of the groomers consulted with both me and a vet in trying to figure out if she should continue to groom the dog or wait for the skin to heal.
These kinds of collars can also inflict undue stress onto the dog. Just like with people, dog’s perception of pain varies from breed-to-breed, and some dogs become too fearful of possible shocks that it interferes with learning other commands. The remote controlled types of devices can be easily abused if a child gets their hands on it or the decibel range can be easily reached if you live in the city or if you yell at your dog.
Alternatives
Humane Bark Collars are the best alternative, but just like with the shock collar, it is a training device and not meant for long-time wear. Other than that, training your dog to grab a toy instead of barking is the next best alternative.
Choke Chains
Choke chains are one that doesn’t have a lot of negative controversy to it yet, but it’s building up. Unlike the prong collar, choke chains don’t cause a pinch but are meant to provide pressure on the dog’s trachea, which can result in choking of the dog. They are made of metal and often work just like a lead that your vet might use. When the collar is attached to one of the rings, it allows the collar to be adjusted by the dog’s pulling. When the dog pulls the chain tightens and restricts breathing, which can cause the dog to wheeze and cough. By not pulling, the dog then doesn’t have the pressure applied to their neck.
The training method used in conjunction with this device has a high potential for abuse: it involves jerking of the leash to correct unwanted behavior through punishment. This is also called “leash popping” and can jerk the dog back at times, especially when done incorrectly.
Why are they controversial?
Among many people, the choking of the dog is in itself enough to cause stares, however, the popping of the collar is also seen as mistreatment, and there is real potential for harming the neck with great ease that is almost disturbing. There have been instances of people using the device for abuse instead of training as well by allowing their dog to hang for short periods of time, and this is considered animal cruelty even in the USA.
Are they harmful?
When used incorrectly, yes, and in severe instances, could cause brain damage due to misuse and mistreatment.
Alternatives
The best alternative methods would be to get your dog into a training class and using treats whenever your dog walks beside you. This may not work for all dogs, though. Using a head halter or an easy walk harness may also help.
Head Halter
A head halter or a head harness is similar to what people use for horses. No, it doesn’t have a bit that goes in the dog’s mouth. The head harness usually wraps around the snout and head.
This is a surprising training tool that doesn’t have nearly the same amount of controversy around it but many people are still wary of its use. Proponents of the head halter claim that it helps them maintain control of the dog’s head, which can help break a dog’s focus away from something they see by pulling the head away from the object or person or animal they’re focusing on.
People who don’t like the head harness claim that it’s an unnatural force on the dog’s snout, similar to that of the muzzle.
Is it harmful?
Not when one gets the correct size for the head halter. Your dog should be easily able to pant and drink water. If your dog is unable to do those things then your head halter is too small or you have it on too tight.
Alternatives
The best alternative methods would be to get your dog into a training class and using treats whenever your dog walks beside you. This may not work for all dogs, though. Using an easy walk harness may also help.
Conclusion
All of these methods and tools are just that: Training Tools. Depending on your country some of these tools or method may be toeing the line of animal cruelty or are outright illegal to use, like the choke chains and prong collars.
Positive reinforcement is by far the best method of training, but that doesn’t mean the others don’t have some validity, but you can always get help from a professional if you aren’t sure if a particular training method is right for you.
What methods have you used? I bet you’ve used more than you think. Share your thoughts in the comment below! Do you train service K-9’s? Share your experiences with us in the comments below!
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