Do shock collars work?

Here’s the painful truth: Shock collars can shape canine behavior.

But the key words here are “can” and “sometimes.”

Usually they do more harm than good.

Please read this article before trying a shock collar.

To understand the pros and cons of shock collars, let's consider how shock collars shape behavior, why training with a shock collar usually fails, the negative impacts of shock collar training, and why the best animal trainers prefer positive reinforcement.

Do shock collars work for dog training?

Do shock collars work for dog training? Theoretically, yes.

Shock collars alter behavior through punishment. This is called "positive punishment" because a cue is added.

For context, here's a diagram showing the different kinds of reinforcement and punishment:

Diagram of types of reinforcement and punishment.

Positive punishment is easy to understand through what I call “the hot stove principle.”

1. You touch a hot stove.

2. OUCH!

3. You learn that hot stoves hurt.

4. You don’t touch a hot stove again.

The same principle applies to shock collars.

A dog does a bad thing and gets shocked. Ouch. They don’t do it again. Simple, right?

Maybe not.

One key difference between a hot stove and a jolt from a shock collar is in the timing.

When you touch a hot stove, it always burns you immediately, and a strong association is learned.

This is not the case with shock collar training.

Why training with a shock collar usually fails

Training with a shock collar usually fails for two reasons: timing and intensity.

Timing

A hot stove delivers an automatic and immediate punishment (burning pain) for the behavior (touching), which facilitates rapid learning.

In contrast, a shock collar depends on the trainer to deliver the shock at the right time.

So, how fast is fast enough?

To be effective as a training tool, any reward or punishment should be delivered within half a second (!) of a behavior to form an association. Most people simply aren't fast enough to deliver the shock (or treat) soon enough.

Half a second comes quicker than you think.

This means the dog may have already moved on to another behavior by the time they feel the shock, and therefore fail to learn the intended lesson.

The result may actually be training your dog to stop doing the bad behavior, since the punishment is delivered after the fact. Or, if timing is inconsistent, the dog may become confused about which behavior is right and which is wrong, which can provoke anxiety or aggression (more on that later).

Intensity

The other reason why shock collars often fail is because they aren't turned up high enough when training begins.

I hesitate to share this because I don't want to encourage aggressive shock collar training, but it's true, and may be observed through the typical experience of a dog owner using a shock collar for the first time.

Here's how it usually shakes out:

A dog owner wants to stop a bad behavior but they don't want their furry friend to feel pain, so when they put the shock collar on their dog for the first time, they turn the knob to the lowest setting.

You wouldn't shock me, would you?

With the best of intentions, they wait for the bad behavior, then deliver the shock. Of course the dog barely notices, and continues to behave in the same way.

What to do?

Well...turn it up...

Again the owner shocks the dog, this time on the slightly higher setting. The dog, again, barely seems to notice, and continues behaving in the same way.

And so on, up the dial it goes, right up to the highest setting.

Making the worst of a bad situation: Turning the collar up (slowly) to 11.

Sure, the dog may jump out of their skin when the shock hits, but the shock has no impact on their behavior.

The reason for this is habituation. The dog has become slowly accustomed to the shock, rendering it ineffective as a training tool.

The dark lesson is this: Punishment must be severe enough the first time to be effective.

But that doesn't mean you should go out and grab a shock collar and turn it up to 11. Remember the part about timing (sorry Slick...you'll probably miss the half-second window), and also the other negative consequences of shock collar training.

The negative impacts of shock collar training

While shock collar training can be effective when it is intense enough and timed exactly right, it can also lead to broader, negative consequences.

Increasing anxiety and aggression

Animals that are punished with pain may develop anxiety or even aggression in response to these negative stimuli.

For example, consider fighting dogs, which are often provoked with pain to act aggressively.

Heck, consider yourself!

If someone repeatedly poked you in the face with a stick, how long would it take you to snap?

Damaging the human-animal bond

Here's another downside to using a shock collar to train your dog: They may begin to associate pain not just with the behavior, but with you, in general.

Yes, dogs are smart enough to know that the collar causes them pain. Yes, they know you are putting that collar around their neck.

This could damage the trust between you and your furry friend—more formally known as the human-animal bond.

This isn't just a sentimental concern. Damaging this bond will make your dog less likely to listen to you, or even put you at risk of misdirected aggression.

Risk of physical harm

Sadly, shock collars can cause serious electrical burns, causing long-term pain and disfigurement.

This is a particular concern when using an automatic bark collar, since the dog may not be monitored when the shocks are being delivered.

If the collar malfunctions, the shocks could be delivered repeatedly, or constantly, resulting in a truly horrifying experience for your beloved buddy, followed by an expensive vet bill and permanent tissue damage.

Why the best animal trainers prefer positive reinforcement

Using positive reinforcement (e.g., treats and praise) instead of a shock collar is not just about being nice or morally superior. Many studies have shown that positive reinforcement is the most effective training method.

For this reason, world-class organizations like Guide Dogs for the Blind rely solely upon positive reinforcement, and even the super-tough folks in the United States Military almost exclusively uses rewards (punishment is reserved for behaviors that endanger the combat K9 or human soldiers).

Military dog jumping out of helicopter into water. (Wow.)

Considering the lack of landmines and enemy fire at the local dog park (I hope), a yummy treat should do the trick. Be sure to relish your all-important role as Almighty Giver Of Treats, which, in dog world, means God.

If you’re still skeptical, consider Animal Behavior Enterprises (AKA The IQ Zoo), a company operated by Marian and Breland Keller.

For almost 50 years, the Kellers used positive reinforcement to train more than 140 species of animals to do all kinds of incredible tricks.

My personal favorite is an act they called “The Punch and Judy Show,” in which a rabbit (Punch) played the piano while a chicken (Judy) danced to the tune.

Keller Breland with Punch and Judy.

But wait, there’s more! Judy also played poker and answered math problems by pecking a gong, while Punch jumped through hoops and fired ping-pong balls from a miniature cannon, apparently at the rabbit hunters in the audience.

And they did it all for a few treats.

Shocking.