I am always reading or hearing others talk about this “fall out” of remote collar dog training.  They state that dogs trained with remote training collars will have long term effect such as more fear and anxiety.  I find this information incorrect.  I have trained hundreds of dogs using remote training collars and have not seen this outcome.  Now don’t get me wrong, there is a right and wrong way to train with these collars or any other training method for that matter.

Here are a couple stories of client that started training several years ago and their thought about remote collar training, in their own words.

Zeke & Lucy (started training in Dec. 2008)

“As a paramedic who has treated numerous dog bites and a fatality from a dog mauling it was vital to me that my dogs could be trusted around children. I’m also very attached to my dogs and either of them sustaining serious injury or death would be devastating for me so I needed a reliable recall. With this in mind, we asked Summer Milroy for e-collars and the training to use them effectively. My wife was originally reluctant to use the collars until I had used them on myself (both anterior forearm and my neck) above the level that we would usually use on the dogs. Both dogs responded very well to the training and it is now very seldom that I even use the controller for the collar because Lucy and Zeke are usually listening for us even when out of sight. We frequently hike or ski and our dogs are our constant companions on our outings because they are well mannered and have a reliable recall to keep them from endangering themselves or others. On a recent hike I heard the dogs barking and looked over to see a large cow moose right next to the trail. Zeke was directly in front of her barking and Lucy running to join him. I stopped and called “Zeke come! Lucy come!” Both dogs immediately stopped barking and ran back to where I was working my way away from the moose and into the brush. As we worked around the moose, both dogs would periodically look back toward the moose that was looking at us with her ears slicked back. In a conversational voice I said “No, leave it.” Both dogs then followed me until we were able to intersect the trail again away from the danger. That is one of many incidents involving moose, bear, DallSheep and other people aggressive dogs where I was able to keep my dogs safe by getting them to obey even when excited or scared.

I know there are those who believe that using the e-collars is cruel, but nothing can be further from the truth. What is cruel is penning up a dog or leaving them alone because they cannot be trusted to accompany you. I’ve shocked myself in the neck and I don’t have the protection that a dog does (my neck is skinny and shaved). The dogs own behavior bares this out; when they see me pull the collars off the shelf, both rush up and try to be first who gets the collar on. For them the collars mean fun. When the collars come off is when they sulk because they know that they’ll be inside the rest of the evening. I also have two of the sweetest dogs ever who’s greatest fault is that thinking that 70 pounds is lap-dog size. I never worry about them around children other than bowling them over while running and playing. Our veterinarian has even commented on how friendly the dogs are during exams and even while getting stitches.

Lucy and Zeke are the best dogs anyone could ever ask for and I owe a lot of it to the e-collars and training we received from Summer Milroy at On the Ball K9 Training.”

~Rhett Paulson – Anchorage Alaska

Zoe (started training in September 2008)

“Three years ago we rescued the cutest little Pit-Lab girl we named Zoe. She was an energetic bundle of cuteness and so fast!!!! Oh, she was naughty and to get her to walk on a leash was the most frustrating experience. I started using a choke collar to teach her not to pull, to no avail. I didn’t like the idea of a pinch collar. I was at a loss for how to train her and as she grew she was increasingly difficult to control and was more and more aggressive toward other dogs. Walks at the park were out; if she were off leash she would run and couldn’t be called back. On leash she could nearly pull my arm off. So we stayed home and with lack of exercise she became unmanageable. I found our trainer Summer and her assistant Modi with “On the Ball K9”. They were Zoe’s saving grace.
After seeing Zoe in action Summer recommended among other things, an e-collar, I was appalled at the thought of “shocking” my baby into
submission. I was resistant and had to think about it, and we tried training without the collar. I was at the end of my rope and the next step  would have been the pound for her. I couldn’t in my heart do that to her without giving her proper training, I would have failed her. So Summer brought the collar and we gave it a try. First, I tried it on my own hand and while it zapped me, I wasn’t electrocuted!  After learning the proper techniques with this qualified trainer, Zoe and I learned to walk on leash, she learned to come when called, she was less aggressive with other dogs. She learned to sit and stay. This was a miracle!

When Zoe walks now we still use the collar. She jumps and prances and wiggles, she knows it is time for a walk, she noses the collar and sits quite still while I put it on. When she needs correction as she still does at times, she doesn’t flinch, cry, or yelp. She is voice-corrected twice and if she doesn’t respond
just a little “nick” and she is back behaving like the young lady she has become. I believe with all my heart that this collar saved my dog’s life, should she gone to the pound with her bad behaviors, I’m sure they would have put her down. I found it more humane to train her in this fashion, than to allow her to be put down. Should I train another dog I would again turn to an e-collar again. Thank-you Summer and Modi!”

~Arlene Briscoe and Zoe – Anchorage Alaska