In our quest to bring information to the wider gundog community within the Uk, we constantly come across training methods using the so called e-collar, most of this information comes from the US where e-collars are widely used in training gundogs.
In today's world, information on any subject comes in abundance via the internet, blogs, news alerts or social media and should always be treated with caution and evaluation.
It appears the use of the e-collar is an accepted practice in the US, but is generally frowned upon within the UK and now banned in Wales.
After reading a recent article emanating from the US, a gundog trainer was calling into question the use of such devices and suggested there was a better and more natural way of training a gundog known as positive reinforcement, he then proceeded to convince readers that the use of a check cord in the face of temptation of wild bird is a much better method ! He used the term UNIQUE, which brought a smile...there is nothing unique about this method it is used in the UK all the time!
The subject of inflicting an electric shock or pulse to change behavior, has potential to create furious debate both locally and across the globe.
There are a lot of people, who immediately think it is cruel to use such methods, yet we use similar equipment to create boundaries with horses, sheep, cattle and pigs, all the time.
We also use similar equipment to protect animals from predators!
So is the objection, something to do with it being a dog? "the family pet" or the act of pressing a button knowing it will inflict pain or discomfort?
The landowner where I train and shoot, recently converted an arable field to a stock field and decided to fence the field without barb wire, hooray we hear you say but he still uses an electric top wire which can be turned on and off !
As a gundog trainer who competes all over the UK, this was great news also my clients gundogs can now jump fences without any risk of serious injury from barb wire.
The kennel Club provided regulations for organised events and competitions and a gundog would never be expected to jump a fence which is considered dangerous? in competition the responsibility is put on the competitior to confirm if she or he is happy with the fence, yet in Scotland a lot of gundog handlers do not consider single strand barb wire fence to be dangerous? I have heard on many occasion that if your dog is trained properly such a fence is not a problem. (so again the evaluation of risk and where you live may influence your opinion).
If barb wire is only a problem when the dogs make a mistake or training is inadequate, then you can apply the same view with electric collars or fencing.
It is right to use such devices can they be justified in certain circumstances ?
Should there be a system of licensing restricting wide spread use and limit irresponsible practice, which the writer occasionally sees.
Such devices are often created for expedience and are not always desirable but if an electric boundary or collar prevents a gundog running on busy road or stops a gundog chasing deer, cattle or sheep, whilst out on a free run, then for some people this would be an accepted practice, rather than months of specialised training? It would certainly be cheaper !
The problem with e-collars is that a clever dogs knows when there on and when there off ?
So if you use one, be prepared it may need to be permanent attire?
There are always different solutions to the same problem, some trainers prefer to put a dog in pen with a ram, believing the ram would remind the gundog, sheep are not to be messed with.
Gundog Training demands an obedience level which is very advance, especially if the aspirations are to work a gundog in a proper shooting or countryside environment, we specialise training people to get the best out of their gundog without using e-collars and barb wire wherever possible.
If you are having difficulty please book a
Pre Training Assessment and discover how we can train your dog without using an e-collar or barb wire.