Electric Dog Collar: USEFUL?

With our dog, we may be faced with problems of obedience, destruction, running away... 😇 but is using an electric collar really useful?

These behaviors can often be mild and not very disturbing, but sometimes they can become so significant that the relationship with our companion and those around us can deteriorate.

👉 In that case:

What solutions are we considering?

What is our attitude regarding these annoyances?

Do we listen to the advice of wise and qualified people or that of people with no real skills on the subject?

In this article, we wish to provide you with our position on the use of restrictive equipment in the same way as choke chains, prong collars, pinch collars, etc.

Myths about the electric collar

Regarding the electric collar, many myths circulate about it and we wanted to bring you the reality of the established facts.

Myth: my dog does not care about treats or rewards.

You probably haven't found the right treat or reward to motivate your dog. Try various high-value treats (meat, cheese, deer antler) or activities and games (toys, tug-of-war) to determine what your pooch enjoys the most.

Myth: an electric collar does not hurt if it is used correctly.

Unfortunately, that is not true.

Electric dog collars deliver an uncomfortable electrostatic shock to your dog's skin, which can cause pain, an unhealthy increase in heart rate, and burns on your animal's neck.

You should know that the thickness of a dog's skin 🐶 (from 0.02 to 0.1 mm) is much thinner than that of a human 😉 (from 0.4 to 1 mm).

It also requires perfect timing between the undesirable behavior and the delivery of the shock, which is extremely difficult to achieve and requires a great deal of knowledge of dog behavior, so it is not within the reach of just any human.

Myth: using an electric collar is the fastest and most effective way to train my dog.

A study conducted by Cooper et al. in 2014 showed that recall training using a reward-based method was just as effective as training the same behavior using electric pet collars!

Also, more and more evidence shows that the short- and long-term use of electric collars is associated with other behavioral problems, including aggression, phobias, and stress levels that block the dog's ability to learn.

Myth: an electric collar is the only solution to protect my dog when it runs away.

There are many reward-based training solutions to address common behavioral problems such as recall or barking.

In addition to ensuring your animal's safety, cruelty-free training fosters a positive relationship with it. One of the unfortunate consequences of using aversive training methods such as electric collars can be the rupture of the bond between you and your dog.

A dog sometimes associates the pain of the shock with other elements of its environment, including its owner, and may withdraw or become aggressive.

Electric collars do not help your dog understand the positive behaviors you are looking for. They only inflict pain for undesirable or forbidden actions.

If you weren't convinced yet, we describe below 5 reasons not to use this type of collar on your beloved dog:

1) You love your furball

The bond between you and your dog is precious 😊

The use of aversive training methods based on fear and pain can cause your dog to avoid you, or even become aggressive toward you.

Humane training based on rewards rather than punishment allows you to address undesirable behaviors without jeopardizing the special relationship you share with your companion.

2) Electric collars are no more effective than humane education

While punishment-based tools, like electric collars, may change your dog's behavior, studies have shown that positive, reward-based training is just as effective.

3) Electric collars can harm your pet

Electrostatic shocks can cause psychological distress in your dog, including phobias and high stress levels, as well as an unhealthy acceleration of its heart rate and painful burns on its skin.

The use of these collars can also habituate your animal to pain (the dachshund is very resistant to pain) and cause an increase in aggression and fear behaviors.

4) Experts advise against the use of electric collars

Veterinary associations and animal welfare organizations have long recognized that punishment-based training can be detrimental to animals.

Across the world, many veterinary associations regarding training strongly advise against aversive training methods.

5) There is a better method

We understand that, as a Doxie owner and caregiver, you have to deal with undesirable behaviors such as barking and lack of recall.

There are many solutions and resources to treat behavioral problems without compromising the psychological and physical well-being of your animal.

Discover solutions through proven methods based on an in-depth knowledge of canine behavior from a professional dog trainer.

Closing Paw

The electric collar should not be used for dog training and, in our opinion, should not be sold over the counter, so you will never see them on your Dachshund Shop.

Only an experienced professional in canine behavior and training should have the authorization to use the electric collar in extreme, last-resort cases for a dog undergoing rehabilitation, and only if this solution can help it avoid the ultimate decision of euthanasia.

And you? What do you think about its use? Share your opinion with us in the comments on this subject! 😊

The Teckelshop team - 💚 last modified 01/10/2026

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