Electronic dog training
Here is a short remote dog collar training article that is taken from wikipedia.
Electronic training
One of the most controversial training methods involves using a “remote training collar”, otherwise known as a “shock collar”. However, it must be noted that no manufacturer refers to their product as a “shock collar”. This term is used almost primarily by the detractors of the tool. It is commonly referred to as a “static correction”.
As with other training methods, whether this tool is cruel or humane generally depends on the user. Modern remote collars have many different settings, ranging from so low that it is difficult to perceive the sensation at all, to uncomfortably or even painfully high. Which settings are used depends on the goal of the trainer for the particular dog.
There are several different ways to use an e-collar in training, depending on the goal of the exercise and the trainer’s preferred methods. The most common method is to use the collar as an operant conditioning tool (a negative punishment, in this case) to encourage rapid and reliable response to commands the dog has already learned, especially when the trainer is a substantial distance away from the dog. The collar is set at a fairly low level — somewhat annoying to the dog, but not painful or even very distracting. When the command is given, the collar button is pressed either immediately or after a very short delay. As soon as the dog completes the command, the collar button is released. It can be understood that the purpose of this procedure is to teach the dog that he or she controls the collar, not the owner. From the dog’s perspective, the dog’s own actions (performing the command or ignoring the command) turn the collar on and off. When training via this method, it is critically important that the collar only be used for commands the dog already knows, and that the stimulation setting be low enough that the dog is not visibly upset or seriously distracted by it — otherwise the training experience becomes painful, scary and confusing. Once a dog forms negative associations with the training process itself, any further progress becomes quite difficult.
The e-collar can also be used as a classical conditioning tool. By consistently pairing a more intense shock with an undesirable behavior, the dog forms a negative association and is less likely to perform the behavior in the future. The most well-known use of classical conditioning with e-collars is probably the anti-bark collar. These products do not have a remote control, but instead detect the dog’s barking and deliver a shock (or, in the case of some products, a puff of citronella oil). A human-controlled e-collar can also be used for classical conditioning, but it should be noted that this training procedure (especially in the hands of an inexperienced and inconsiderate trainer) has the most potential for abuse.
One important consideration when using an e-collar for training is that the dog’s perception of the shock appears to vary greatly depending on the environment and the dog’s state of mind. In noisy and busy surroundings when the dog is very excited and distracted, the dog may show absolutely no response to a stimulation level that would be painful under calmer circumstances. It is thus very important to always monitor the stimulation level and constantly adjust it based on the dog’s response, increasing it slowly until the optimal level of annoyance is produced and reducing it again as the situation changes. Failure to monitor and adjust the stimulation level may result in either ineffective training (no response) or pain for the dog (unacceptable).
Remote collars can also be used for other purposes besides normal behavior modification. Some trainers use very low settings as a way of getting the attention of deaf dogs, when the dog is at a distance or not facing the handler. In this case, the stimulation is not used as a punishment to modify behavior, but as a substitute for verbally calling the dog’s name. Many newer collars include a vibrate feature (like a cell phone vibrator) or an audio pager which can be used for this purpose. These features can be classically associated with the “come” command so the dog can be called back to the handler from a great distance without verbal communication.
Remote collar training is especially popular for working dogs involved in retrieving, search and rescue, and other activities where the dog is off-leash and far from the handler. The collar is very useful in these circumstances because it can completely replace the use of a leash in the training process, allowing the handler to work from a long distance while still delivering instant feedback to the dog. This type of long-distance obedience training is normally quite difficult to achieve, but becomes much easier with the collar. The e-collar can also function as an “emergency stop button” for an off-leash working dog who may be tempted to wander into traffic, cacti, skunks, or other danger — though this is purely a backup and should not be relied upon as a substitute for solid obedience training.
When used by inexperienced trainers, e-collars can confuse and scare dogs. Training from an experienced professional is strongly recommended if you wish to use an e-collar, to ensure that you are using the collar correctly. Much of the opposition to e-collar training arises from inappropriate use by unqualified trainers. The training experience as a whole is not supposed to be unpleasant for the dog. In fact, is is often a necessity that working dogs enjoy their training activities (especially for search and rescue, detection, and other play-driven jobs). This enjoyment of the “game” forms the entire basis of the dog’s working drive. It is very much possible (normal, in fact) for dogs to enjoy a training regimen based on appropriate use of an e-collar in combination with positive reinforcement rewards and praise. Maintaining this overall enjoyment of the training regimen is not difficult at all if the collar is used properly and humanely by a qualified trainer.