so what is an ecollar?
There are a lot of conflicting ideas surrounding this incredible communication device, and we want to give owners as much information as possible.
so what is an ecollar?
There are a lot of conflicting ideas surrounding this incredible communication device, and we want to give owners as much information as possible.
is it a...
shock collar?
No! Shock collars are forceful devices that utilize pain to stop behaviors. While many humans choose to use shock tools for alarms or habit-breaking, shock collars should NEVER be used with dogs. They are unethical and incompatible with canine psychology.
vibration collar?
No! Vibration collars are one-dimensional devices that are often too intense to communicate with a dog. They can be too jarring for sensitive dogs or dogs struggling with anxiety. There is no way to customize the setting to fit the dog exactly.
portable dialogue tool created for use in healing therapy?
Yes! The technology behind electronic collars (or ecollars for short), was originally designed for use in human muscle therapy. If you have ever been to a chiropractor or physical therapist to have work done with a tens unit, then you are already familiar with exactly the same tech that we use with your dog. We’ve turned this incredible healing device into a tool that we can use to help your pup become their healthiest version! How do we do that? Think of the ecollar like a cell phone. If we were trying to get your attention while you were at a rock concert, we could try screaming…but it probably wouldn’t be effective. There’s just too much environmental noise! So instead, we can call you on your cellphone and have a conversation without screaming. And if when you answer there’s too much noise, you can just turn up the volume on your cell phone! With your dog, we pair the ecollar stim to our verbal cues (like sit, come, down, no, out, etc.) so this way, we can “talk” to our dogs no matter where they are or the level of mental noise. To start off, we find the lowest working number (or LWN for short). This is the lowest setting your dog can feel and respond to the ecollar stim. There are 100 levels, and most dogs work under 10 – meanwhile most owners can just barely begin to feel the stim at level 15! And if the dog can’t “hear” us, all we have to do is turn up the “volume” on the ecollar – just like a cell phone. This amazing tool allows us to create a more consistent, pleasant two-way conversation with our dogs.
want to learn more about e-collar technologies, inc.?
We have tested dozens of brands and models of ecollars through the years. The only brand of ecollar we trust to use with our own dogs is E-collar Technologies, Inc. (we prefer the Mini Educator model!), because it allows for more subtle and precise communication without the jarring or long stim of other brands.
Is it A...
shock collar?
No! Shock collars are forceful devices that utilize pain to stop behaviors. While many humans choose to use shock tools for alarms or habit-breaking, shock collars should NEVER be used with dogs. They are unethical and incompatible with canine psychology.
vibration collar?
No! Vibration collars are one-dimensional devices that are often too intense to communicate with a dog. They can be too jarring for sensitive dogs or dogs struggling with anxiety. There is no way to customize the setting to fit the dog exactly.
portable communication tool created for use in healing therapy?
Yes! The technology behind electronic collars (or ecollars for short), was originally designed for use in human muscle therapy. If you have ever been to a chiropractor or physical therapist to have work done with a tens unit, then you are already familiar with exactly the same tech that we use with your dog. We've turned this incredible healing device into a tool that we can use to help your pup become their healthiest version! How do we do that? Think of the ecollar like a cell phone. If we were trying to get your attention while you were at a rock concert, we could try screaming...but it probably wouldn't be effective. There's just too much environmental noise! So instead, we can call you on your cellphone and have a conversation without screaming. And if when you answer there's too much noise, you can just turn up the volume on your cell phone! With your dog, we pair the ecollar stim to our verbal cues (like sit, come, down, no, out, etc.) so this way, we can "talk" to our dogs no matter where they are or the level of mental noise. To start off, we find the lowest working number (or LWN for short). This is the lowest setting your dog can feel and respond to the ecollar stim. There are 100 levels, and most dogs work under 10 - meanwhile most owners can just barely begin to feel the stim at level 15! And if the dog can't "hear" us, all we have to do is turn up the "volume" on the ecollar - just like a cell phone. This amazing tool allows us to create a more consistent, pleasant two-way conversation with our dogs.
want to learn more about e-collar technologies, inc.?
We have tested dozens of brands and models of ecollars through the years. The only brand of ecollar we trust to use with our own dogs is E-collar Technologies, Inc. (we prefer the Mini Educator model!), because it allows for more subtle and precise communication without the jarring or long stim of other brands.
"I've heard that ecollars shouldn't be used with aggressive/anxious dogs..."
"I've heard that ecollars shouldn't be used with anxious dogs..."
This couldn’t be farther from the truth! Thousands of dog owners around the world can attest to the incredible success of correctly implementing an ecollar to help with their dog’s behavioral issues. In fact, an ecollar is one of the best methods of communication for dogs suffering from chronic anxiety or fear-based reactivity. Ecollars allow us to talk to our dogs without physically pressuring them or disrupting their own coping skills at work. When comparing training tools, ecollars are less forceful and aversive than your everyday leash, and we have no problem with leashes! A big truth about ecollars is that they can be a complicated tool to train. As with all incorrect training, this can become a huge detriment to the individual. That’s why we only teach ecollars within our board & train program, and afterwards, we give owners all the training and practice they need to feel comfortable and confident communicating with their dog.
We are grateful to have helped hundreds of anxious and aggressive dogs become happy, healthy, and obedient companions. There have been many notable aggression and anxiety cases through the years who have benefitted from patient and compassionate training involving an ecollar. For some of these dogs, the ecollar is only used temporarily. For others, the ecollar remains the best method of communication. But for all dogs I have worked with, the ecollar has always greatly enhanced the quality of life for both the dog and owner.
science-based methods
Let’s take a look at the actual data behind some of the more recent studies regarding canine training tools, to see what the science really says.
This study from the United States found that the stim from an ecollar does not raise a dog’s stress level. Researchers sought to determine whether or not electric collars were effective without increasing a dog’s cortisol level. Essentially, researchers wanted to know: does it work without causing the pup significant stress? Twenty-one shelter dogs were fitted with different types of bark collars. Among the collars tested was an electric collar. The results showed that not only was the electric collar successful, but it was effective without raising the dog’s cortisol level. Even though it countered the researcher’s hypothesis, the ecollar worked well while keeping the dog’s stress level down.
A German study wanted to assess the efficiency of different training styles when teaching dogs a specific behavior. The study utilized one group of dogs and attempted to teach each dog three different ways – one of which was through the use of an ecollar. Of the nearly 50 dogs tested in this study, it was found that 92% of them learned readily with proper use of an ecollar. In contrast, the rewards-only training style worked for 7% of the dogs tested. To clarify the latter point, the rewards-only training style worked for only three dogs. This means that the dogs learned more easily with ecollars than with reward-only training. As an additional point, prong collars were found to be a successful tool for 76% of the dogs.
This Portuguese study attempted to prove that dogs trained with balanced methods are more stressed than dogs trained with rewards only, but they ended up proving quite the opposite! The results from their study showed that during their respective training sessions, dogs who underwent balanced training were more calmer and relaxed than dogs who were being trained using only rewards. Additionally, the study also showed that dogs who were taught with training tools tend to learn faster than dogs taught with rewards only. As a side note, the dogs who were trained with prong and ecollars displayed less stress behaviors than the dogs who were taught with training chains.
When looking at the differences of stress level from ecollar use to non-ecollar use in reactive dogs, this 2013 study from the United Kingdom found something interesting. The goal was to compare the differences of dogs being trained by trainers who utilized ecollars and trainers who are against the use of ecollar technology. When examining salivary cortisol levels, the researcher team had found that the dogs who were trained with ecollars had lower levels of cortisol than dogs trained by non-ecollar trainers. Also, dogs who were trained without an ecollar whined more frequently than dogs who were trained on an ecollar. This showed that dogs who are given clear communication via ecollar were less stressed during their training sessions.
Conducted in the United kingdom in 2010-2011, this study looked at three different groups of dogs: dogs being trained with the use of ecollars, dogs being trained without ecollars but with the same trainers, and dogs being trained with only positive reinforcement trainers. They found that there was no difference in percentage of disobedience from dogs trained by ecollar trainers versus positive reinforcement trainers; however, dogs trained with positive reinforcement were never weaned off of treats during training. There was no comparison of obedience training without the use of treats. Most owners would agree that they don’t want to bribe their dog to follow commands, so an ecollar remains an exceptional option. It should be noted that a majority of the dogs with more severe behavioral issues (defined in the study as aggressive or having no recall) were placed in the ecollar group.
A team of researchers in Portugal wanted to study the effects of training style on the long term bond of dogs and their owners. They took dogs and their owners through a series of tests to determine the dog’s comfort level in the relationship. Is the dog afraid of the owner? Does the dog trust the owner? Is the dog anxious without the owner? Pairs of dogs and owners were sorted into two categories: those who trained using balanced methods, and those who trained using rewards-only methods. What they found was that…there wasn’t much of a difference! On average, all the dogs who were tested ending up scoring about the same in terms of confidence, happiness, and lack of separation anxiety. Each owner had found what style worked best for their individual dog and devoted time and energy to create a loving relationship. That, in the end, is what matters the most.
curious how we do it?
Want to learn how we incorporate both rewards and training tools into a balanced, wholesome approach for your pup? Click below to find out!