Lots of energy expended on Dog Whisperer, what about the pervasiveness of Shock Collar use? « Responsible Dog ~ It’s all about dogs

Quote:
"The authors, Schilder and van der Borg (2004), concluded three negative effects from the use of e-stimulus devices
(shock collars). They are as follows:
1. This type of training is stressful
2. Dogs are feeling pain
3. Dogs learn to associate the collar with shock and the presence of the handler / owner!"

Yes, but Cesar's on TV and portrayed as a prophet.

When I see NYPD service dogs on TV, their training is rewards based, and their confidence is built up; they are also family pets for the handlers! One called Aragorn, was both patroll & search & rescue.

If shock collar usage is pervasive there, they are keeping it off camera, presumably to avoid a public outcry?

As it is, it seems lobbying for legislation is the only effective response to shock collars, as the practioners appear to disregard findings of studies, and are using the same tactics as Climate Change Denialists, trying to discredit the science & ignoring clear evidence of problems.

Unavailable in my country

Steven R. Lindsay discusses this study in volume three of his "Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training." Here are some of his comments on it. Emphasis is mine

He continues for quite a while. Making two additional points.

He continues:

This was an intentionally deceptive study, designed to reach predetermined conclusions that couldn't have supported the findings that it reached even if it had been competently done.

* if U told me it was dark at midnight, i'd go outside to check.

* there are hundreds of other studies that support the take-home message that shock as a training-tool is more
stressful, has greater potential for fallout, & those side-effects tend to be more severe than any side-FX of pos-R -
AKA positive-reinforcement, reward-based training, or whatever other label one might prefer.

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

Someone else made this point, but as far as I am concerned, it does not even matter if the evidence showed that electric shock collars actually DID train dogs because for me, inhumane methods are not an option.

However, from what I have read the majority of scientific studies seem to show that they don't work longterm and/or cause other problems. There is a paucity of evidence which shows otherwise.

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Throughout history
Every mystery
EVER solved has turned out to be
Not Magic. T. Minchin

And you'd discover that you're just as wrong as you are in citing this study. It's widely known as the most flawed Ecollar study ever done.

There are just as many studies that show that this is NOT the case. If you'd care to cite them one or two at a time I'd be happy to point out their fallacies or show, as I just did, where others have.

"Humanity" and "inhumanity" is just an opinion. Since you've never seen my work or any dogs that I've trained, you opinion is based on air. The Rescue organization I gave a seminar for thought they were GREAT! They purchased some Ecollars and are using them to train dogs in their care before they adopt them out to give them some reliable OB.

Gonna have to call "nonsense" on this. But since you make the claim, please present those studies. I'd LOVE to see them. I've trained MANY dogs with Ecollars that I followed until they passed, including several of my own. NOT ONE OF THEM had their training "not work long-term."

Show us those studies please. I've probably seen most of them and as I just did with this one, have put the lie to them.

You are quite right Lou, it is down to a matter of opinion but that doesn't mean to say that yours is right and everyone elses is wrong. I am not surprised that the rescue you worked for were happy to use them as there seems to be a huge difference in attitude to these devices between the UK and the USA, just as there are with many other things.

At the end of the day you can trade scientific studies with Terry until the cows come home but the simple fact is that no matter what evidence is presented people will always have their own perception of whether this method is right or wrong, and after all, perception is reality.

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