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| Photo: SebiTian/Shutterstock |
By Zazie Todd, PhD
Recently, I reported on a study past times veterinary behaviourists inwards Europe that concluded past times calling for a ban on all 3 types of electronic neckband across Europe (remote-controlled, boundary, together with bark-activated collars). Another newspaper past times MD Sylvia Masson et al, published inwards the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, investigates the purpose of stupor collars inwards France, together with or then of the results are surprising.
For i thing, they exhibit that fifty-fifty alongside people who purpose stupor collars at that spot is a lot of back upward for regulating them.
But they besides exhibit a sizeable minority – fifty-fifty alongside people who produce non purpose stupor collars – that mistakenly state they are the most effective agency to resolve behaviour issues. This shows a demand to larn the message out that positive reinforcement is an effective agency to prepare dogs (see seven reasons to purpose reward-based grooming methods together with literature review recommends reward-based training).
The effectiveness, equally reported past times the electronic neckband users, was non peculiarly high (51.1% of those who used remote-controlled collars, together with 25.5% who used bark-activated collars, said it had worked together with they could halt using it). As well, users of remote-controlled collars together with bark-activated collars reported to a greater extent than abnormal behaviours inwards their domestic dog than those who did non purpose them.
The newspaper concludes,
“based on this survey, it appears that inwards a real-life setting, ECs’ [electronic collars] powerfulness to modify behaviors is limited. Thus, together with equally expected, the risks associated with their purpose are increased. Consequently, EC should non live on used inwards everyday life without regulation.
However, answers inwards this questionnaire exhibit that or then owners yet mean value that EC tin solve behavioral issues amend than whatever other existing method. Considering the high purpose revealed past times our results, a huge communication move toward earth has to live on done. In the electrical flow survey, 78% of questioned owners inquire for a amend rule of ECs. This seems to live on a much needed together with achievable finish that would confine the access to devices (e.g. through the internet).”
Most people who used a stupor neckband did then afterwards trying 2 or fewer alternatives (75%) together with without taking professional person advice (71.8%). 12.7% of stupor neckband users did non effort whatever option prior to using the collar.
The most mutual alternatives that were tried earlier using the stupor neckband were “group grooming inwards a club” together with looking on the internet. The adjacent most mutual alternatives included books, advice from a veterinarian, a person trainer, together with ‘none’.
People’s purpose of stupor collars was associated with having a bigger domestic dog (more than 40kg), the domestic dog non existence spayed or neutered, together with the domestic dog existence used for protection or hunting. It is non known if the dog's sexual condition is linked to behaviour issues, and/or to the owner's unlike handling of the dog. The authors banking concern annotation that or then disciplines may purpose electronic collars past times tradition, equally those who did agility or obedience grooming were less probable to purpose them.
“Based on this survey, it appears that inwards a real-life setting, electronic collars' powerfulness to modify behaviors is limited"
Electronic collars were to a greater extent than probable to live on used on dogs less than 2 years old. As well, users of electronic collars were to a greater extent than probable to state their domestic dog showed excitement together with aggression.
There are or then interesting differences betwixt those who did non purpose electronic collars together with those who did. People who did non purpose them were less probable to conduct maintain tried grouping grooming inwards a club, together with to a greater extent than probable to conduct maintain read domestic dog grooming books or used the internet.
95.2% of those who did non purpose electronic collars together with 77.9% of those who did idea their purpose should live on regulated. 60% of non-users together with 14% of users idea at that spot should live on an outright ban on electronic collars.
According to the electronic neckband users’ ratings, although a bulk (58%) said they would recommend them, inwards fact they were non peculiarly effective. The bark-activated collars, which were to a greater extent than ofttimes used on little dogs (weighing less than 10kg), were the to the lowest degree effective together with had the highest charge per unit of measurement of reported injuries (burns from the collar) at almost 11%.
But boundary collars together with remote-controlled collars besides were non reported to move equally good equally mightiness live on expected. This suggests real-life grooming purpose is non equally effective equally when the collars are used past times trained professionals inwards controlled settings.
Not surprisingly, the top dog argue people gave for using bark-activated collars was due to barking. Boundary fences were typically used because of lack of a physical fence, but an American study works life dogs escape from electronic fences at a much higher charge per unit of measurement than from a physical fence.
The most mutual argue given for using a remote-controlled stupor neckband was for retrieve (coming when called). However, it’s worth noting that an experimental study using professional person trainers works life that positive reinforcement is but equally effective equally stupor collars for instruction recall, but that there are risks with the purpose of stupor collars.
The survey asked 1251 domestic dog owners inwards French Republic virtually their purpose of electronic collars. It’s of import to banking concern annotation this is non a illustration sample, then the results may non reverberate the beliefs of French people equally a whole. In particular, those who completed the survey were to a greater extent than probable than the full general population to conduct maintain a pedigree rather than a mixed-breed dog, together with to a greater extent than probable to conduct maintain a domestic dog that weighs to a greater extent than than 10kg.
The purpose of stupor collars inwards this study is much higher (26%) than works life past times Blackwell et al inwards their study of stupor neckband purpose inwards the UK (3.3%). Since neither is a nationally illustration sample nosotros can’t describe conclusions virtually the relative purpose of electronic collars inwards each solid ground (but banking concern annotation that the British authorities late announced a ban on ii of the 3 types of stupor collars inwards England).
The newspaper concludes that bark-activated collars together with remote-controlled stupor collars should live on banned. In this study, few people used boundary fences, but the authors banking concern annotation they could besides live on banned equally physical fences together with reward-based grooming methods are a practiced alternative.
This is an interesting study that shows substantial back upward for the rule of stupor collars inwards France. At the same time, it shows at that spot is much move to live on done to learn people how to effectively prepare dogs together with bargain with behaviour problems using reward-based methods.
For the sum fix of results, encounter the newspaper (link below). If you’re interested inwards the wider enquiry on domestic dog grooming methods, my dog grooming enquiry resources page has a listing of articles along with places where y'all tin read virtually them.
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Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy
. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes virtually everything from grooming methods to the human-canine relationship. She besides writes a column for Psychology Today together with has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, i dog, together with ii cats.Useful links:
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Reference
Masson, S., Nigron, I., & Gaultier, E. (2018). Questionnaire Survey on The Use Of Different E-Collar Types inwards French Republic inwards Everyday Life With Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 View To Providing Recommendations for Possible Future Regulations. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.05.004
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