Pets and Their People Blog

The Pet Professional Guild actively discourages any training tool that relies on pain, force, or fear.

Many veterinarians, animal welfare organizations, and behavior professional associations advise against using shock collars (also known as e-collars or electronic collars) as training tools. These devices, which can cause serious psychological and physical harm to pets, often rely on punishment, fear, and pain to discourage unwanted behaviors.

While proponents of shock collars often prefer the terms “electronic collar,” “e-collar,” “remote training collar,” or “static stimulation” to differentiate modern devices from older, harsher models, the underlying technology is the same: the use of an electrical current to create an unpleasant physical sensation intended to interrupt or correct behavior.

Here’s a breakdown of shock collar terminology and the mechanism:

• What it delivers: The device delivers a controlled, low-voltage electrical impulse, typically through two metal contact points resting on the pet’s skin.
• The sensation: It is universally recognized as a shock that causes pain, discomfort, and visible signs of distress (yips, crouching, yelping, or avoidance behavior) in the pet.
• The purpose: The goal is to use this unpleasant physical sensation as a form of punishment to stop an unwanted behavior, or negative reinforcement to enforce a command (removing an unpleasant stimulus when the pet complies).

The debate about whether or not to ever consider the use of shock in the training and management of pets hinges on the severity (how painful) and intent (the behavior you want to suppress).

Force-free advocates believe there should never be a training intent, however severe, that causes your pet fear, pain, or anxiety.

Instead, there are proven, humane, effective ways to safely address animal training and behavior goals.

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🛑 Negative Impacts of Shock Collars

Using aversive tools, like shock collars, carries several serious risks that undermine practical, humane training:

• Psychological Distress and Fear: The sudden, painful, and often unpredictable nature of the electric shock causes stress, fear, and anxiety. Dogs don’t always understand why the shock is happening, and they may associate the pain with something else in the environment, such as a person, another dog, or a location, leading to the development of phobias or aggressive behaviors out of fear.
  • Example: A dog is shocked while looking at another dog; he may then associate the pain with the sight of other dogs and now become reactive or aggressive in the presence of other dogs.
• Damage to the Human-Animal Bond: Training should be about building trust and communication. When interaction involves an unpleasant, painful stimulus (even if administered remotely by the owner), it can seriously damage the pet’s trust in their handler, leading to a breakdown in the relationship.
• Failure to Address the Root Cause: Shock collars only suppress a behavior; they do not teach pets what they should do instead, nor do they address the underlying reason for the behavior (which is often fear, anxiety, or lack of proper socialization). Suppressing symptoms, without addressing the underlying cause, not only negatively impacts well-being, but can also lead to the undesired behavior resurfacing, or to the pet developing new, more severe behavioral problems.
• Physical Harm: Misuse, or prolonged use of a shock collar, can cause skin irritation, pressure sores, and even burns on the animal’s neck.
• Learned Helplessness: Some pets, unable to figure out how to stop the shocks, may become “shut down” or exhibit “learned helplessness,” where they stop attempting any behavior. This compliant-looking state is often mistaken for obedience, but it is actually a sign of significant stress and emotional damage.

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✅ Humane and Effective Alternatives

Instead of using punishment, modern, science-based training relies on positive reinforcement, which is proven to be as effective for training- if not more so- while strengthening the bond between pets and their people.

• Positive Reinforcement is the process of rewarding desired behaviors with something the learner values (treats, praise, toys). Your pet then chooses to repeat that behavior because it leads to a positive outcome.
• Clicker Training, a form of positive reinforcement, is where a small handheld clicker is used as a precise marker to instantly signal the exact moment your pet performs the correct action, followed immediately by a reward. Your pet then knows precisely which behavior led to a positive outcome (reward) and chooses to repeat that behavior.
• Harnesses: Equipment like front-clip harnesses, used in conjunction with force-free training, can help discourage pulling on walks without causing pain or physical harm to your dog’s neck.
• Management: Control the environment to prevent unwanted behaviors. For example, keeping your dog on a leash or in a confined area can help keep them safe and prevent them from practicing unwanted behaviors.

Looking for more alternatives to the use of shock collars?

Listen to this episode of the PPG Podcast, where the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses kind alternatives to shock and aversives. (Recorded October 22, 2025.)

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About the Author

Niki Tudge M.B.A, PCBC-A, PCT-A, Six Sigma Black Belt, HCITB TS1, TS2 & TS3. DogNostics Founder & Faculty. Business SMARTS and Behavior SMARTS Mentor

As the founder and president of The Pet Professional Guild, DogNostics Education and The DogSmith,Niki has substantial leadership experience in the pet industry. Niki has published numerous articles on dog training and dog behavior and her pet dog training businesses have been featured in many publications including The New York Times. Niki’s professional credentials include; AABP-Professional Dog Trainer, AABP-Professional Dog Behavior Consultant, PCBC-A and PCT-A through the Pet Professional Accreditation Board and she has earned diplomas in Animal Behavior Technology and Canine Behavior Science & Technology through the Companion Animal Science Institute. Along with Niki’s business degree and MBA from Oxford Brookes University she is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, a HCITB TS1, TS2 & TS3 certified people trainer and a certified Facilitator and Business Project Manager.

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PPG Advocacy Panel: Kind Alternatives to the Use of Shock Collars and Aversives

Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson

Your panelists: Tasha Attwood, Judy Luther, Dayle Pierce, Daniel Antolec, and Jennifer Van Valkenburg

Relax and enjoy the discussion!

PPG Advocacy Panel: Kind Alternatives to the Use of Shock Collars and Aversives