Episode #229 The Shocking Truth about Shock Collars & Invisible Fences

In this eye-opening episode, we’re tackling one of the most controversial topics in dog training: shock collars and invisible fences. Are these tools truly effective—or are they causing more harm than good?

Join us as we uncover:
 ⚠️ The rise of electronic collars and containment systems
 🌍 Global bans and why many countries are saying no
 🧠 The physical and psychological risks to your dog
 🏡 Why physical fences are a safer solution
 🐾 The power of positive reinforcement training

Whether you’re considering training tools or simply want to understand the science and ethics behind them, this episode will empower you to make informed, compassionate choices for your pup.

Listen in and reflect—because a well-trained dog starts with trust, not fear.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
A question we get asked quite often is about the
use of e-collars, meaning shotcollars.
This could be a controversialsubject.
Today, I want to give you mythoughts on them.
Welcome to the Puppy TrainingPodcast.
I'm Amy Jensen, founder ofBaxter Bella, the online puppy
school.
Here we are all about helpingyou create the best possible

(00:23):
experience raising a puppy, fromtraining tips to practical
tricks, all aimed at fostering ahappy, well-behaved dog who
truly feels like part of thefamily.
So if you are ready to enjoythe journey and strengthen the
bond with your dog, let's getstarted.
Hello you guys, today we aretalking about something that is

(00:47):
somewhat controversial in thedog world.
There's lots of different ideasout there and I respect
everyone's different viewpoints.
Today I want to share with youmy viewpoint and where it comes
from.
So today we're diving into thistopic that sparked much debate
in the canine community the useof shock collars and invisible
fences.
Are they effective trainingtools or do they pose

(01:10):
unnecessary risks to our dogs?
Let's explore the facts.
So, first of all, the rise ofshock collars and invisible
fences has been pretty greatover the last several years.
Shock collars and invisiblefences have gained popularity
because they're more of like aquick fix right.
It's that quick, easy buttonfor behavioral issues and
containment.
Now these devices deliver anelectric stimulus to deter our

(01:32):
dogs from doing unwantedbehaviors or prevent dogs from
crossing boundaries.
There are lots of differenttypes on the market.
If you have an invisible fence,it means that your dog wears a
collar and there's a boundaryset up around your yard and when
they cross that boundary thenthey receive an electrical
stimulation to try to deter themfrom wanting to leave that area

(01:54):
.
If you have an e-collar on themso maybe you're walking at a
park and you don't have them onleash but you have an e-collar
on them then you're carrying alittle remote that you're able
again to administer thatelectrical stimulation at any
given point to try to deter yourdog from doing an unwanted
behavior.
If we look at a globalperspective, many countries have
recognized that there ispotential harm in these devices.

(02:16):
In England, as of February 2024, the use of remote electric
shock collars on dogs is banned.
The European Union came out andsaid that several member states
have prohibited electronictraining collars due to welfare
concerns.
So these bans reflect a growingconsensus on the importance of
humane training methods, whichreflects our training philosophy
here at Baxter and Bella, wherewe used rewards, praise, things

(02:38):
that our dog wants, to motivatethem to want to do good
behavior, and if there's abehavior that's unwanted, that
we don't like that our dog isdoing, we teach them what to do
instead.
Research indicates that shockcollars can lead to increased
anxiety and stress.
Some dogs may develop fearresponses leading to behavioral
issues.
As a trainer, this is my mainconcern when it comes to using

(02:58):
this type of equipment.
I work with a lot of doodlebreeds, and doodles are a more
highly sensitive group of dogs.
I would say what I hear a lotof is a person might try a
collar that delivers anelectrical stimulus to their dog
when they're doing somethingthat they don't want them to do,
and patterns evolve.
So, for example, a dog has acollar on and it's a boundary

(03:19):
collar, so an invisible fence,and a little boy rides by on a
bike and the dog gets shocked.
And then the next day the doggets shocked, and then the next
day the same thing happens, andthe next day the same thing
happens, and so, over time, thisdog is learning a pattern of oh
, when I see a little boy on abike, I'm going to get this
electrical stimulation that Idon't like and they start to
associate the little boy on thebike with the negativity.

(03:40):
Dogs learn through patterns andthat's an unfortunate pattern
that we really don't want todevelop.
So just be aware of the risksinvolved and what kind of
unintentional patterns mightthen crop up.
Yes, sure, we're keeping ourdog in a boundary, so that might
be a win in your book.
But then, oh, now our dog hasproblems with little boys on
bikes.
That's a big behavioral issuethat we then have to dissect and

(04:04):
try to reverse, which can bepretty difficult and
time-consuming.
These kinds of tools can alsocause physical injury to our
dogs.
A collar may malfunction, whichcan cause burns or sores on our
dog's neck.
And the third one is aggression.
I kind of mentioned this in myfirst example, but the use of
aversive stimuli can result inincreased aggression in some
dogs.
So we just want to be aware ofwhat kinds of patterns could

(04:25):
develop when our dogs arewearing these things.
And if that our dog does see alittle boy riding a bike and
they tend to cross the boundarybecause they're excited and they
want to go see that little boyand then they get that
stimulation that can becomenegative and we don't want to
then have to work on helping ourdog like kids again.
Right, that can be a big thingto me.
The risk of causing fear,anxiety or even aggressive

(04:46):
behavior in my dog and thepotential physical harm to my
dog is just not worth it ornecessary.
So what do we recommend?
If you do need a fence for yourdog, a physical fence.
Physical fences offer a saferalternative for containing your
dog.
Number one they're reliable.
Unlike invisible fences,physical barriers prevent our
dogs from leaving the yard andprotect them from external

(05:06):
threats.
I've heard of many cases wherea dog wearing an invisible fence
collar just breaks the boundarybecause, hey, it was worth it
for this one time.
I'd rather just take that shockand go chase that deer, because
that looks like way more fun.
So again, physical fences justprotect our dogs.
We don't have to worry aboutthem.
Okay, do I feel like I want tojust run through this?
Is it worth it?

(05:27):
To me today, a physical fencecan take that worry out of the
equation.
I'm a big fan of peace of mind.
I can rest assured knowing mydogs are safe within a secure
boundary.
So for me, I go with a physicalfence.
Training methods that focus onpositive reinforcement have
proven effective and humane.
They build trust.
Trust is a big thing with meand my dogs.

(05:48):
Reward-based trainingstrengthens the bond between me
and my dog and they are excitedto work with me.
There is nothing better thanseeing that your dog is excited
and happy to do a trainingsession.
Also, positive reinforcementencourages desired behaviors.
Again, we focus on what do Iwant my dog to do, and then I
show them how to do that andthen I can pay them and reward
them for the good behavior.

(06:09):
That motivates my dog to wantto repeat the good behavior
without the use of fear or pain.
And long-term success is aproduct of positive
reinforcement.
These methods lead to lastingbehavioral changes and a happier
, more confident dog, which isreally what I want Now.
While shock collars andinvisible fences might offer
immediate results, it seems likethat great quick fix or an easy

(06:31):
button for dog training.
The potential physical andpsychological harm to your dog
is significant.
Embracing positivereinforcement and investing in
physical barriers not onlyensures your dog's safety, but
also fosters that trusting andloving relationship that we are
looking for.
Thanks for tuning in today.
You guys Remember the path to awell-behaved dog is paved with
patience, understanding andcompassion.

(06:57):
Your dogs will be happy andthey will thank you for that.
I hope you guys have a greatweek.
Happy training.
Thanks for tuning in to thepuppy training podcast.
I hope today's tips help youfeel more confident and excited
about raising your dog.
Remember, with a littlepatience and consistency you can
create a loving bond and awell-behaved pup who's a joy to
have in your family.
If you found this episodehelpful, be sure to subscribe,

(07:20):
leave a review and share it withfellow puppy parents.
For more resources, visitBaxter and Bella online.
Until next time, happy training.