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Remote Training Collars and their Use

There have been calls to ban the use of remote training collars, and in fact, some European countries have already done so. To criminalize any use of remote collars for dogs, irrespective of whether the use is appropriate or not, is unnecessary and misguided.

Modern remote collars are humane and effective training tools when used appropriately, and they can enhance animal welfare. 

All countries have existing legislation in some form that makes it an offence to cause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal. Therefore inappropriate use of remote collars that causes unnecessary pain and suffering would already fall under existing legislation, and does not require the creation of a new offence.

To make any use of remote collars a crime is misguided and inconsistent with animal welfare. Remote collars can be used humanely and effectively as part of an overall training program, which enhances animal welfare.

There should, at least, be an exclusion for appropriately trained persons to use remote collars. Concerns about remote collars are usually due to thinking that dogs can be corrected too harshly or inappropriately, and that people use these collars when they do not know how to train, or out of frustration. However, this applies to all different ways of training a dog. Abuse can occur with any training collar or leash, or even with no tools.

Remote collars are humane training tools when used appropriately

Research has shown that a key reason that dogs are abandoned at shelters is due to behavior problems. There are many dogs that would not be alive and happy today if it were not for the use of remote collars. Remote collars can enhance animal welfare by assisting the management of dog behavior to ensure that a dog is well behaved and able to fit into its family situation or society in general.

Scientific research supports appropriate remote collar use

Scientific studies have demonstrated that remote collars are effective and humane in creating behavior change. (See references at the end).

In fact, research studies that have evaluated appropriate use of remote collars have invariably found positive results. (Appropriate use is where the dog understands which behaviors can control the stimulation, and the dog has been shown how to avoid the stimulation.)

The studies which have shown negative results of remote collar use have been limited to situations where the collars were not used appropriately. (e.g. the dog has not been shown the right behavior to avoid or turn off the stimulation, and has not been shown how to respond so that low level stimulation will be effective).

Scientific research shows that training involves both positive and negative consequences

Training a dog appropriately so that it is genuinely under control involves positive consequences as well as negative consequences.

Psychological learning theory, in particular operant conditioning principles, have been scientifically established through research. Operant conditioning is the basis of effective dog training, and involves using positive and negative consequences, to change behavior. Positive consequences are commonly called rewards; negative consequences are commonly called corrections.

It is an incorrect assumption that there should never be any negative consequences, or corrections. This is an ideology that some people hold, however it is not based on psychological learning theory, which addresses both positive and negative consequences.

Training effectively includes being able to stop certain behaviors. Use of only rewards or positive reinforcement cannot, by definition, stop behavior. Rewards increase behavior. To train using only positive consequences has inherent limitations, as it is one-sided and does not use the full spectrum of operant conditioning principles.

There are numerous studies, including those involving complex human behaviors, that demonstrate that behavior change is more effective and lasting when a combination of rewards and punishments are utilized.

Remote collars have a number of advantages over other types of corrections, such as:

• remote collars are useful for handlers, including the physically disabled, who may not be able to manage a leash effectively
• remote collars are particularly useful for off-lead and long distance training
• remote collars result in fewer corrections required in training
• remote collar corrections are easier to time appropriately
• it is easier to provide consistent correction levels
• remote collars can remove the need for any physical corrections, such as leash corrections.

With remote collars it is possible to communicate with the dog using low stimulation, delivering corrections when necessary, and without having any detrimental effect on the dog’s work or attitude, thereby ensuring a happy performance.

Summary

Effective training involves both corrections and rewards to modify a dog’s behavior. Remote collars can be an effective way of communicating with a dog, as well as applying corrections humanely. These collars have many advantages when used appropriately, and can promote animal welfare, by ensuring dogs are well trained in today’s society.

About the writer:

Gabi Hoffmann has a PhD in animal behaviour and psychology. Gabi tutored animal behaviour at the University of Queensland’s School of Veterinary Science. She was a consultant to the Royal Australian Air Force military working dog program, and has conducted reviews of police dog squad policies and procedures in Australia and Canada.

Gabi is a successful and competitive trainer in the sport of schutzhund, and has trained multiple dogs to Schutzhund3 titles. Gabi won the Canadian National Championship twice (2010 & 2013) with two different dogs, as well as the Australian National Championship (2003). She has competed at the World Championships four times, with a best placing of 14th in 2009.

Example References:

National Institute of Canine Experts. (2010) The truth about ecollars: they are humane and dog friendly.

http://niceorg.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/the-truth-about-ecollars-they-are-humane-and-dog-friendly/

Salgirli, Y. (2008) Comparison of stress and learning effects of three different training methods in dogs, PhD thesis, Institute of Animal Welfare and Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Germany.

Tortora, Daniel, F. (1983), Safety Training: The elimination of avoidance-motivated aggression in dogs, Journal of Experimental Psychology (General), Vol 112(2), 176-214.

Coleman, T. & Murray, R. (2000), Collar mounted electronic devices for behaviour modification in dogs, Urban Animal Management Conference Proceedings.

Eckstein & Hart (1996) Treatment of acral lick dermatitis by behaviour modification using electronic stimulation, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 32:225-229.

Schalke, E., Sagirli, Y. Bohm, I., Ott. S., & Hackbarth, H. (2010) Comparison of stress and learning effects of three different training methods: electronic training collar, pinch collar and quitting signal. Conference presentation, Institute of Animal Welfare and Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Germany. http://www.ecma.eu.com/Comparison%20of%20stress%20and%20learning%20effects%20of%20three%20different%20training%20methods%20in%20dogs.pdf

Tortora, D.F. (1992) Understanding electronic dog training.