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The Mystique and Dilemma of Electronic Training Collars

By Andy Kohly 

Shooting Dog Editor

Recently a reader voiced a concern about the use of electronic training collars and I believe her concerns are very valid and right on.  To a certain degree though, I have a bit of a different view and thought that since I’m certain there are many who subscribe to many different views, this would be a good place to share our ideas.

I for one do use an electronic collar and have for quite some time.  I have found that it can save a lot of time in training but more than anything else; it provides an additional amount of control while in the field, BUT ONLY IF IT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED PROPERLY.

Picture this, one day I’m out hunting some pretty rocky terrain East of the Superstition Mountains.  As we worked our way down the side of a box canyon my dog Shiloh, became extremely “birdie”.  As we worked our way closer to the source of Shiloh’s apparent “birdiness” I noticed was acting a little differently but really didn’t give it a lot of concern.

As we neared the bottom of the canyon wall, an enormous boar javelina jumped out of a mesquite thicket and the race was on.  The javelina was obviously trying to make a hasty retreat and we had obviously startled him.  The problem was Shiloh was right behind him.

I’m sure most of the shooting dog community at least in Arizona has heard the horror stories about the grizzly carnage a javelina can wreak on a dog and I was determined not to add Shiloh to that list of victims.  I blew the whistle one blast, which Shiloh had been taught meant WHOA.  While he did slow down, I could tell the fleeing javelina was too much for Shiloh’s primal instincts. I tried one more whistle blast followed by a verbal WHOA but the only discernable effect was again, Shiloh momentarily slowing down, but most certainly not the screeching halt I was hoping for.

By this time Shiloh was gaining on the javelina and fearing the pig would turn and charge at any moment, I grabbed the transmitter for the electronic collar Shiloh was wearing and blew the whistle blast that Shiloh had been taught signifies “WHOA” and upon his very next movement after the command, I held down the transmit button until he stopped which was almost immediately.  I made Shiloh stand at “WHOA” for nearly 15 minutes in order to give the javelina time to vacate the area of operations and also to give Shiloh time to refocus.  I then called Shiloh to me and I placed him on his check cord and we walked for quite a while in the opposite direction the javelina ran, just to make sure we had a nice, safe, buffer between us before we resumed our hunt.

So, what’s happened here?  Yeah, Shiloh did receive an electronic stimulus but would evisceration have been a better outcome?  No I was not happy I did it but given the choice I’d do it again.  Keep in mind too that the stimulus a dog receives IS NOT like something you may have seen in “The Green Mile” and to answer the question I’ve been asked every time I talk about collars, yes I test them on myself before I put them on my dog.

The key here is the way in which the collar was used.  It had been introduced in training in a proper and controlled environment.  Shiloh learned that he really controlled whether or not he received the stimulus or not and more importantly the collar was used as a deterrent tool which means it is only used to teach him NOT to do something like move after he’s been commanded to “WHOA”.

Unfortunately it is true that collars can be over used and I’ve also heard that they can ruin a good dog if used improperly and I’d imagine that’s true.  However, when used sensibly, humanely and with great care, I believe they can not only be a valuable part of a dogs training program, but a real lifesaver as well.