Ok, here's my take on shock collars. If the dog is going to die or wear shock collar - I'd recommend the collar just to try and SAVE THE DOG'S LIFE in the short term, while working on the dog using positve training methods for the long term. What qualifies as saving the dog's life? The dog runs and chases cars.... chase car = get run over = death. If your dog does not have a firm grasp on stay or come (and you're too moronic to keep the dog leashed when outside), use the collar when he's somewhere near cars until you are able to get a consistent come or stay... and the training for come or stay is to be done WITHOUT the collar and using all positive training methods. It won't happen opvernight - training requires patience, timing, and consistency.

All I've seen with shock collars on a friendly, excitable dog is that they turn the dog agressive towards what the dog was trying to play with. So if she knocks over your daughter in what she deems as play, if you were to go shock her, she'll think your daughter hurt her, and not connect that HER jumping prompted YOU to push a little button that delivered a "pulse". If you deliver a shock a half dozen times as she attempted to play with your daughter, she will then start snarling and growling at your daughter the next time your daughter comes near because she associated the shock with YOUR DAUGHTER, not HER OWN actions.