Someone just told me...

[CathyBogart]

That Jasper would be better off back at the shelter than wearing a shock collar when I leave the apartment.

I thought.....I'd post that here...because I'm too pissed to say much without getting banned from that board.

[Karen]

I'd have been tempted to ask them to spend a couple weeks in a kennel at the shelter, then reconsider the notion. Jasper is a loved doggie with a home - that's far better than any shelter situation, and so much better for him emotionally as well. Give him a good belly-rub from me, okay?

[Lady's Human]

Lady would have a reply to that, but I can't type in doggie, and dog curses don't translate well to english.

[sasvermont]

Goodness. I would hope there would be an alternative. I don't know the entire story. And guess what? Electric fences are "shock collars" too, arent' they? I guess if you have no other way of dealing with the pupsters issue(s) then you have to use it!

I guess I should keep my trap shut when it comes to shock collars as I don't know how much of a shock the collar actually gives the dog.

I highly trust Karen's opinion - more than anyone here..... so if Karen is ok with it, then I am sure I am too, in the long run.

Could it be the term "shock" that gives the collar the stigma?

[lizbud]

Well, it's none of their business is it? Unless you asked for an opinion
they should MTOB. I didn't even know you used a shock collar.

[mike001]

Why in the world would someone say something as silly as that? Nothing wrong with shock collars when used properly, some high profile trainers recommend them as a training tool.
Shock collars come with up to 6 degrees of "shocks". You can set it for the mildest, which is more of a surprise than anything, sometimes that's all a dog needs.
Thinking a dog is better in a shelter is lunacy. I think the mental shock of a shelter is far more harmful than a loving home with a training aid that won't last and will teach the dog manners.


I'VE BEEN BOO'D

[lady_zana]

Goodness. I would hope there would be an alternative. I don't know the entire story. And guess what? Electric fences are "shock collars" too, arent' they? I guess if you have no other way of dealing with the pupsters issue(s) then you have to use it!

I guess I should keep my trap shut when it comes to shock collars as I don't know how much of a shock the collar actually gives the dog.

I highly trust Karen's opinion - more than anyone here..... so if Karen is ok with it, then I am sure I am too, in the long run.

Could it be the term "shock" that gives the collar the stigma?

I don't know how much of a shock they give the dog either but if it is about the same as an electric fence (and I would guess it is) then there is absolutely nothing wrong with a shock collar (used correctly).

Growing up, my family had an electric fence around our yard to keep our doggies in. I got "shocked" by the fence several times. It's not really painful; it's more surprising than anything else.

I'd say the word "shock" in shock collar is what most people get stuck on. They are thinking about major bolts of electricity or the old versions of shock therapy and that's simply not what a shock collar is. If it had a different name, people probably wouldn't object so much, even though it's the same thing.

[Miss Z]

I imagine that those sorts of people who make comments such as that to an owner that they, deep down, know is a perfectly humane one, would be the first ones complaining to you every day about how much noise your dog makes when you're away if they happened to be your neighbours.

Silly people have no choice but to make silly comments, only the sensible ones can choose what they say.