A couple columns back, I wrote about finishing up the training of your working dog. Several people reacted negatively to the picture of my dog wearing an e-collar.

The last 15 years or so, the use of e-collars has become very common in working breeds. I have used them for several years, and find them quite useful. Many oppose the use of such equipment. Most likely they have never seen one used properly or have seen or heard of someone who has abused and ruined a dog with one.

I have to admit, I had reservations myself about using a collar that shocks my dog. My opinion was the e-collar was a tool used to punish an animal. There have been so many horror stories of dogs made vicious or useless due to improper usage. I was fortunate enough to see the collar used properly, and realized it wasn't a tool of punishment, but of reinforcement.

When I first saw an e-collar or electric collar used, it was obviously causing the dog pain. I freaked out on the handler using it on his dog. His dog would yip every time he pushed the button, which infuriated me. I asked him how he would like it if I put the collar on him. I wanted to see his reaction when I shocked his neck until his hair stood on end and smoke came out of his ears. I remember being so put off by this piece of equipment, that any handler using one on their dog was seen as abusive. A few years later, I met a guy using one on his dog. The animal seemed rather unaffected by it.

I realized that my view of the collar was impaired by a handlers’ misuse of the tool. I was informed by the man that the dog should never give a pain or negative response. He took the collar off his dog, and said put it on your arm. With some hesitation, he finally talked me into it. When he pushed the button on the controller, I only felt a slight buzz. It caused a shock that was nearly imperceptible. The controller had a dial on it, and that enabled him to set the level of stimulation as to not hurt the dog.

I still didn't understand why and how they should be used. He informed me that the collar is best used to get the dog’s attention if out of hearing range. He also said it could be used to stop the dogif it was about to be endangered by going into a road or something else hazardous. He also taught me how to stop a dog from committing unfavorable actions with one. His final word on the system was that all his future work dogs would wear one, and that he didn't know how he ever trained without one.