Mythbusting: Training Tools in Dog Training

By Jason PurgasonDog Behavior Problems, Dog Training Tips & Advice
training tools header image

Those who champion the force free or purely positive dog training movement have developed a great number of ‘reasons’ why you shouldn’t utilize training tools and aversives with your dog while training. 

These ‘reasons’ may initially sound great to the average pet owner who does not completely understand how these tools are used and some best practices for employing them to modify behavior. 

In this article, I am going to take the ‘top reasons’ of why you shouldn’t consider these tools to train and manage your dog, and explain how these training tools can actually help you have a better relationship with your dog.

Myth #1: You love your dog, and training tools will ruin your relationship.

Opponents argue that aversive training methods based on fear and pain may result in your dog avoiding you, or even displaying aggressive behavior towards you. Fear and pain are commonly used buzzwords which are employed to invoke emotional responses from people who are unaware of how these tools work and are used. 

If your training methods (using tools or not) are creating fear and pain – simply put – you’re doing it wrong! Over the past few decades, we have been able to effectively rehabilitate some incredibly fearful dogs (usually fearful from a lack of socialization) by using an E-collar in a way that gives the dog more confidence about the things and choices in their life. 

Another part of this argument is that “humane training based on rewards instead of punishment addresses unwanted behaviors without jeopardizing the special relationship you share with your pet.” This statement tries to convince the reader that the use of training tools isn’t “humane”. 

Is it humane to keep a dog constantly confined to a crate or small room because their behavior cannot be controlled effectively? Is it humane to keep a dog isolated because it has a behavior problem that doesn’t allow it to interact appropriately with other animals and humans? 

These are typical solutions from force-free trainers. Isolate the dog, avoid any stimuli that will cause a response, and reinforce behaviors that you want. I agree that we should always reinforce or reward behaviors that we want, and it’s something that we are constantly reminding our clients of. However, there has to be a clear path for the dog to make appropriate decisions in life and that often comes with understanding boundaries and limits. By understanding what is wanted, and just as importantly, what is unwanted, your dog will have the clarity needed to make decisions that will create a stronger relationship with you.

dog wearing e collar

Myth #2: Shock and prong collars are not more effective than humane training.

Here we are again with” humane” training. Training tools are incredibly effective, as well as reward-based training. Balanced dog trainers will never argue the value of well-timed rewards. Training tools do have some limitations during the teaching or acquisition phase of training where the dog is learning new behaviors. In most cases, rewards, and the introduction of other training tools, such as a clicker, can sometimes obtain the best results. 

Training tools are often used during the proofing phase and other stages of dog training. This is where the dog learns that the behaviors are not optional and that we expect them to perform and respond appropriately in a variety of environmental conditions. Many pet owners struggle with their dog responding well in controlled environments – at home, for example – but being completely “out of control” elsewhere. Often, this is the result of never moving past the acquisition phase of training.

Myth #3: Shock and prong collars can harm your dog.

This is a statement that is repeated a lot by opponents. The definition of harm is “physical injury”. I would contend that training collars have no greater likelihood to cause physical injury than commonly used buckle collars, harnesses, and head leading devices. In my years of working with clients and helping rescues and shelters, I have been exposed to dogs that have had severe necrosis as well as other serious injuries caused by these commonly recommended devices. 

Another popular, but entirely false, claim is that e-collars cause “burns” on the dog’s skin. Modern e-collars do not produce stimulation that can cause skin burns! Often, pressure sores are mistaken for burns and are typically a result of fitting the collar improperly (too tightly) or leaving it in one place for too long. I’d point out that these same errors can be made with other “recommended” collars.

dog looking up wearing ecollar

Myth #4: The experts advise against using shock and prong collars.

This statement is a tricky one when you investigate who is regarded as an expert. The common definition for expert is “a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.” For years, opponents have repeated this message when referring to veterinarians and veterinary medical associations. I would agree that these groups are experts in veterinary medicine, but not in dog training and dog behavior. 

The other group that is often brought up in this statement are “humane organizations”. It’s not made clear who these “humane organizations” are exactly, but I would suggest that it refers to force-free and purely positive advocates.

Myth #5: There’s a better way.

It is often suggested that there is a “better way” to train and resolve your dog’s unwanted behavior instead of utilizing training tools such as e-collars and prong collars. The direction most force-free advocates lead dog owners towards is reward based dog training in lieu of training collars as a solution to resolving jumping, running away, aggression, resource guarding and other common dog behavior problems. 

What is commonly misunderstood is that many dogs with behavioral issues often have a lengthy learning history where the inappropriate behavior either led to reward (self-reinforcing behaviors) or aided them in obtaining what they wanted. Because of this learning history and correlation with reward, utilizing a reward to replace the behavior is rarely successful. In order to eradicate unwanted and often dangerous behaviors, we often find that the use of training tools is the only strategy that offers any reliability and lasting effect.

Myth #6: Dogs trained with training tools release more cortisol (a stress hormone) than dogs trained with reward-based methods.

This statement has been debunked scientifically. In fact, the work of Schalke, Salgirli, Bōhm, and Harbarth in 2008, showed that in a pair of parallel studies, researchers tested the cortisol stress levels, as well as the overall efficacy, of three different consequences: the prong collar; e-collar; and a quitting signal with 42 Belgian Malinois police dogs. 

A “quitting signal” is a verbal signal that lets the dog know that its behavior is not going to be rewarded. The dogs in this particular study were trained with the quitting signal in advance using food and toys for approximately four months. 

In the study, dogs were asked to heel, and then a decoy appeared attempting to incite the dog. If the dog made a mistake and failed to heel as it has previously been taught, the applicable correction was given – either a prong collar correction, electronic collar correction, or they were given the verbal quitting signal (non-reward). Researchers then examined the level of stress each correction produced.

Researchers determined that the quitting signal generated the highest levels of stress (measured by cortisol levels), and the e-collar produced the lowest levels. This is the opposite of what the popular reward-based community claims.

three dogs laying on grass

In conclusion

There is a lot of noise in the dog training industry, and the volume is increasing, day by day. This noise presents opportunities for misinformation to be spread. Advocates of certain philosophies take their suppositions – backed without scientific research – and try to mold them into facts. They leverage social media to play on the emotions of pet owners, but the number of Likes on a Facebook post cannot transform opinion into fact. 

As a dog owner – particularly if your dog has behavioral issues that are affecting your quality of life – you owe it to yourself to block out the noise. Instead, do your research, speak to trainers across the industry, and decide for yourself the best path forward. You – and your dog – will be grateful that you did.

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By Jason Purgason

Jason Purgason is the President of Highland Canine Training, LLC, with over 25 years of experience working with dogs and their owners.