Shock collars for dogs are counter-productive and dangerous

To stop their dogs from barking incessantly, some pet owners resort to using the shock collar. — 123rf.com

There are different types of shock collars: those with a button you have to press, which hurts your pet, and those that react automatically to any noise.

Setting aside the question of what kind of person would intentionally hurt a pet and believe it to be OK, it is important to note that vets and animal behaviourists point out that shock collars are actually dangerous.

For all shock collars, the US Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) notes that being subjected to pain causes “possible personality adjustment injuries”, meaning you get a traumatised dog that may easily turn vicious.

In tests done by the CVM, shock collars that react automatically are also set off by any loud noise, including car doors slamming, bells, thunder and lightning, and so on. Therefore, your pet may be quietly asleep and then be tortured by electricity because there is thunder or the neighbours are slamming their car doors.

Other studies have found that shock collars cause distress that leads to depression, eating issues, burns, displaced aggression and health issues that include heart and blood pressure problems.

As such, countries are now banning shock collars. The bulk of these are in the EU, with legislation in others, reportedly planned for the upcoming year.

Bottom line: Would you put a shock collar on yourself or your child and expect it to go well? So, don’t do it to your pet.

A shock collar that is used on dogs to stop them from barking. The problem is, the collar responds to thunder and the sound of car doors slamming, as well. Photo: 123rf.com