May I suggest you watch the video posted in this thread then,
Shock Collars debate

I cannot gte onto Youtube at the moment, as my computer won't download the latest Flash Player, so I can't use the links.

One of my girls is a working gundog. The amount I have seen these collars abusively used ont he field, when owners have simply not bothered to train their dogs properly absolutely appalls me.

Regardless of the level of discomfort/pain they apply, they are still applying discomfort/pain, or they wouldn't work. I personally never want my dog to do something for me because the alternative is that I will inflict discomfort or pain upon them.

My gun trained girl will come instantly when called, regardless of the distraction, whether that be chasing a rabbit or deer, or attempting to say hello to another dog or person. It hasn't happened by accident, and as she has never been especially toy/food motivated it took rather more effort than it otherwise would.

She doesn't only come to me for a treat, but I couldn't give two hoots if she did. She'd still be returning because she wanted to, not because she was trying to avoid whatever happened if she didn't. I know which I prefer.

As for Cesar Milan, I'd be interested to read the thread, if someone can please link it, but I'd probably be best not to go there......

Laudenham, regardless of the behaviourist or trainer seen, the method is only as good as the person applying it. On top of that, a high proportion of training classes and 'behaviourists' are useless. Sadly, negative reinforcers or aversives are far easier to use and take far less time to train with. I don't doubt they work, but they work for the wrong reasons.

If a dog persists in an undesirable behaviour, it is for one of two reasons. Either the dog hasn't been taught a reason not to do it, or something or someone in the environment is reinforcing the behaviour.

I don't buy into the arguement that some dogs lives are improved or saved due to electric or prong collars. You don't put a dog to sleep because it can't be let off a lead in the open, you keep it on the lead, exercise it off lead only in safe, enclosed areas, or use a long line. In situations in which a dog had behavioural issues that REALLY might require it to be PTS, I seriously doubt shock collars would work, and where they did, they would simply result in a shut down, unhappy dog.

Excellent Post!
Totally agree!

I wouldn't put anything round my dogs necks that I couldn't try out on my kids first