If you used a shock collar, you might worry about the safety of your dog. Some pet owners don’t know how high they should fit their dogs’ collars. How do I know if my shock collar is too high?
In recent times, shock collars have been used for training pups for several reasons.
While training clickers can still do the job effectively, shock collars will still give the same result on many puppies’, especially bigger ones.
The major difference between shock collars and training clickers is that shock collars can be used to get the attention of your dog even when they are not able to hear you.
A lot of puppies get excited and may not be able to respond to other types of training stimuli except that of the shock collar. As such, you can use the shock collar as a great way to get the attention of your pup in the meantime before switching to more subtle methods.
If your pup is one who doesn’t stay in a place, the shock collar can be used to keep your dog safe in your house.
How does the shock collar work?
Basically, the modern shock collar is composed of different stimulation levels which range from “unnoticeable” to “able to light Wichita”. One of the most frequently asked questions among new users of shock collars is on the ideal level which is safe for use on your dog.
To know the perfect stimulation level for your dog, below are some of the basic steps to follow:
Put on the shock collar and test it on yourself or a person:
Once you get a shock collar for your dog, the best way to know what level is just right for your dog is by first testing it on yourself. Put the prongs on your hand or strap the shock collar onto your thigh or calf.
If you do not want to feel any stimulation then there is no reason your dog should feel any stimulation either. Once you are aware of the stimulation level and how it feels, you will be less likely to increase the level of stimulation while the collar is on your dog.
Starting with the smallest level of stimulation is the first step when you are putting on the shock collar. From there, you can begin to slowly increase the stimulation level. Make sure you record the point where the stimulation is not noticeable to the point when it begins to hurt.
Although the range will not be the same when your dog is wearing the collar, it will still be similar. If you begin to feel pain at level five, then delivering a level fifteen to your dog is pure evil.
Put the collar on your dog:
After checking the stimulation levels on yourself, then you can go on to put the collar on your dog. Allow your dog to wear the collar normally without inducing any stimulation whatsoever. Let your dog get used to the collar and let him wear it when going for fun activities like going for a walk.
Leave the transmitter at home and ensure the collar turned off. Do this twice or thrice till your dog gets used to it.
Find A Good Level
Over time, your dog will get used to wearing the shock collar. Once this happens, find a good stimulation level for your dog. The idea is to get your dog in a position where he is not paying any attention to you. However, ensure that your dog is close to you so that you can observe him.
Begin by setting the stimulation level to the lowest possible. After that, deliver stimulation. If the collar is a high quality collar that has a lot of stimulation levels, your dog may not even notice.
Continue by increasing the stimulation level by the smallest level and then observe the reaction of your dog. The reaction you are looking for should be a subtle change in your dog’s behavior. This could be in the form of:
- An ear twitch or
- A head turn
Do not increase the level such that your dog is crying out or yelping. If you have gotten a subtle response from your dog, then note this as the operational level which you can use to start training your pup.
Your aim is to discover the exact level which will induce a response or reaction from your dog twice. Thus, start small at the lowest level possible and then increase the stimulation level until you have gotten a subtle reaction twice.
This will be the start of your dog’s training level. Do not forget this. A rule of thumb is to use the lowest effective level to reinforce a known behavior.
FAQs
How high should you set a shock collar?
Generally, to know the right level of stimulation that is ideal for your dog, wear the collar on your dog and start at the lowest level possible, slowly increasing it until you have gotten to the level that can induce a response from your dog.
The response should not be one that has your dog screaming in pain, it should be just enough to get their attention so that they can stop what they are doing and then pay attention to you.
What setting should a shock collar be?
The shock collar should be worn under the chin of your dog at the lower side of their neck. This position will ensure that the collar is kept in place and will not mistakenly slide off your dog’s neck and harm your dog in the process.
What level should I start my shock collar?
Once your dog is wearing the collar, it is ideal to begin at the lowest stimulation level available.
How do I know if my shock collar is too high?
To know if the stimulation level of the shock collar is too high, the best method would be to test it on yourself. Although it is not the same with dogs, it is quite similar and will give you an idea of what the initial shock feels like.
Continue to adjust it to the level which is bearable until the level you cannot manage. If you notice it is too high for you, chances are that it is high enough for them.