Pet Care Guides

The proper modern term is remote training collar or e-collar. Older terminology ("shock collar") reflects the old technology and old usage. Modern collars from reputable manufacturers deliver a tactile stimulation that ranges from imperceptible to noticeable to painful, across roughly 100 intensity levels. At low levels (5–15 out of 100 on most modern collars), most dogs report the sensation similar to a TENS unit at therapy levels — a mild tingle, not pain.

The training premise: instead of shouting a command across a field, you can deliver a small tactile cue through the collar. With proper conditioning, the dog associates that cue with a specific known behaviour (usually "come"). The cue then works at any distance, in any environment, regardless of noise or your dog's focus.

The same device, used wrong, becomes a punishment tool: high levels delivered after a behaviour, intended to suppress that behaviour. This is where the harm comes from. It's the same physical tool used two completely different ways.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) takes a cautious position: aversive training tools should be a last resort, used only after positive reinforcement methods have failed, and only under guidance from a qualified trainer. This is the consensus position across most Canadian veterinary behaviourists.

The European veterinary community has gone further — e-collars are banned outright in several EU countries (Germany, Austria, Sweden, parts of Switzerland). Canada has no federal ban, but Quebec has restrictions and most major Canadian dog training certifications (CCPDT, PPG) prohibit their use entirely as part of their ethics codes.

The honest summary: most modern professional Canadian trainers don't use e-collars. The minority that do are typically working with specific working-dog populations (livestock guardians, hunting retrievers, search-and-rescue) where the off-leash environment makes other tools impractical.

An e-collar can be ethically appropriate when ALL of the following are true:

· The dog has completed positive-reinforcement obedience training and has solid recall (90%+) in low-distraction environments

· The dog will be off-leash in environments where a missed recall has serious consequences (traffic, livestock, wildlife, large open spaces)

· You commit to proper conditioning protocol (described below) before any field use

· You use the lowest effective level — almost always under 15/100 on a quality collar

· You use it as a remote cue (tap = come), not as a punishment after misbehaviour

If any of these conditions are missing, an e-collar is the wrong tool. Specifically: e-collars are never the right answer for reactivity, aggression, anxiety, or barking. Those are emotional behaviour problems that get worse with aversive correction.

An e-collar used without conditioning is just a punishment tool. Proper conditioning teaches the dog that the tactile cue means a specific behaviour, and removes the surprise/fear element entirely. The standard protocol takes 2–4 weeks:

Week 1: find recognition level. Start at the lowest setting. Watch for any visible response — ear flick, head turn, eye blink. Increase by one level only until you see a small response. That's your recognition level (usually 5–12 on most quality collars). Do NOT go higher.

Week 2: pair with known cue. Use the recognition level alongside your existing "come" command. Verbal "come" immediately followed by collar tap (continuous stim) and the dog comes for a high-value treat. Repeat many times daily in low-distraction environments.

Week 3: reverse the order. Now collar tap first, then verbal "come" only if needed, then big reward when they come. The dog should start to come on the collar tap alone.

Week 4: increase distraction gradually. Practice in increasingly distracting environments. The collar tap should remain at the same low recognition level throughout. If you find yourself needing higher levels for harder distractions, the conditioning isn't solid yet — go back to week 3 environments.

If you see any of these, stop and re-think:

You're using a level above 25/100 regularly. High levels mean you're delivering real discomfort. This creates fear-based compliance, not learning. Lower the level or stop using the collar.

Your dog "jumps" or yelps when stimulated. The level is way too high. A properly conditioned dog at proper level shows a barely-noticeable head turn or ear flick, nothing more.

Your dog avoids the collar. Reluctance to wear the collar, hiding, or visible stress when you bring it out. This means they've associated the collar with punishment, not communication.

You're using it to stop barking, jumping, or pulling. Punishment-based corrections for these behaviours have well-documented long-term costs — including increased aggression and anxiety. Use positive-reinforcement methods for these issues. Many owners discover that what they thought required an e-collar actually responded to better leash work or environmental management.

Your trainer recommends starting at level 30+. Find a different trainer. Modern e-collar training starts low and only goes higher in specific, controlled circumstances.

Cheap e-collars (under $50) have inconsistent output, no waterproofing, and limited range. They're actually more dangerous than quality e-collars because the inconsistent output can deliver unintentionally high levels. If you're going to use one, buy quality from a recognised brand:

· Range: minimum 500 m, ideally 1–3 km

· Stim levels: at least 100 discrete levels for fine control

· Vibration and tone modes: use these first; they often work as well as stim and are non-aversive

· Waterproof rated: IPX7 or higher (your dog will swim, get rained on, etc.)

· Rechargeable, with battery life indicator

· Two collars from one remote — useful if you have two dogs

For most Canadian dog owners who decide an e-collar is appropriate, this is a tool used a few times a year — primarily for hiking, camping, and rural off-leash situations. It is not an everyday training device.

Most situations where owners reach for an e-collar can be solved with one of these instead:

Long line (15–30 m). A long training leash that drags behind your dog in open spaces. Gives the dog freedom but you can step on the line to stop them in emergencies. Solves 80% of recall problems without any aversive tool.

Whistle conditioning. A consistent whistle paired with high-value rewards over weeks. Many working dog handlers find whistle recall more reliable than verbal recall — it cuts through distance and noise.

GPS collar (no stim). If your only concern is "what if my dog runs off," a GPS tracker without stim capability lets you find them without ever needing to correct them. Multiple Canadian-shipped options under $200.

Professional trainer (positive reinforcement). A CCPDT-KA or PPG-certified trainer can usually solve recall problems in 4–8 sessions without any aversive tools. Look for "force-free" or "fear-free" on the trainer's credentials.

We carry the Abbidot 3300 ft Dog Training Collar (IPX7) for owners who have completed the conditioning protocol above and have a genuine off-leash safety need. It has the right hardware specs: 100 stim levels, vibration and tone modes (use these first), IPX7 waterproof, 1 km range, rechargeable. We strongly recommend pairing it with the conditioning protocol above and ideally a session or two with a knowledgeable trainer. We do not recommend buying it as your first training tool. Browse the collars & harnesses collection for non-aversive alternatives like long lines, regular collars, and no-pull harnesses, which suit most dogs better.