I’m going to jump right into a very controversial subject. Should I use an e-collar to train my dog? For those of you that don’t know what an e-collar is, it’s the new term for a shock collar. The collar is placed on your dog, when asked to do something, if they don’t listen, the owner uses a remote control to send a small zap to the dog’s neck to get their attention and say, “hey, listen to me.” Some say it doesn’t hurt them; it’s just a small static shock to get their attention. They even have an option that you can send an audible signal or a vibration before the shock. But there is a large group of trainers and dog parents that feel this is an inhumane way of training. Yes, this includes the underground containment fencing that claims to keep your dog on your property without using a physical fence. 

My dad was a dog trainer and breeder of hunting dogs, but his methods relied on coercion, intimidation, pain, and fear to make dogs comply. His training wasn’t just harsh-it was fueled by anger, frustration, and selfishness. As a teenager, I learned to use shock collars and choke chains because that was the only method I knew.  However, I was never comfortable with it. 

As I grew older, I realized I no longer wanted to treat dogs in such an inhumane way. I started searching for alternatives and came across positive reinforement training. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that some old-school trainers used the term “positive reinforcement” misleadingly, simply adding treats to coercion techniques to appear modern. One such trainer instructed me to use a method called “flooding” with my six-month-old Labrador puppy, Sierra, who was fearful of unfamiliar people. Instead of respecting her need for space, the trainer had me place her in the center of a room with 25 attendees, each given a treat. One by one, they approached to offer her treats and pet her. By the second person, she refused the treats. By the fifth, she was growling. This experience taught her growling makes the unfamiliar person go away.  Since it worked for her, her growling increased to lunging. She became a very fearful adult dog around unfamiliar people and would growl and run away until she was ready to interact with them. This experience taught me a hard lesson: just because treats are involved doesn’t make a method truly positive. It took me another six months to fully understand this was not Positive reinforcement training. 

So off I went, back to square one, looking for a true positive reinforcement trainer. That’s when I discovered Pat Miller, a well-known, positive reinforcement trainer using science –based training methods without fear, force or pain. She offers academies to certify trainers in humane, effective methods. I began following her work, attended her academies, and embarked on a journey to unlearn everything I had been taught and replace it with force-free, science-backed techniques.  

Having experienced both worlds of dog training, I can tell you that while coercion and intimidation can suppress the unwanted behavior, they come at a great cost. They may provide quick fixes, but they also create deeper behavioral issues. When you take the time to truly understand your dog and teach them in a humane way, you build a trusting, loving, and reliable family member.  

Since becoming a force-free, positive reinforcement trainer, I’ve received countless calls about resource guarding issues. When I arrive to evaluate the dog, I often discover that training began with a shock collar. I also get calls from frustrated dog parents whose dogs have suddenly stopped going outside to relieve themselves and are instead having accidents indoors. During evaluations, I frequently find that these dogs were trained with an underground containment system that deliver shocks to the dog if they try and cross over the underground fence. The moment their owners bring out the shock collar, the dogs panic, hide, and refuse to go outside, fearing another painful experience. Another common call I get involves households where one dog parent uses a shock collar while the other does not. This inconsistency leaves the dog confused and struggling to understand expectations. In frustration, the owner relying on the shock collar increases the intensity, leading to a dog that either completely shuts down or responds with aggression. These cases are clear examples of how punishment-based methods create more behavioral problems rather than solving them. 

Training with intimidation and coercion goes beyond shock collars and physical punishment. Many people unknowingly use aversive methods, like spraying their dog with a water bottle or shaking a can of coins to startle them out of an unwanted behavior. While these tactics may seem harmless, they create fear and stress-ultimately making the dog associate the unpleasant experience with the person delivering it, not just the behavior.  

Another common form of coercion is physically manipulating a dog, such as pulling them off the couch by their collar, giving leash pops, or applying pressure to their body to force compliance. These methods don’t teach a dog what to do; they simply teach them to fear consequences. True learning happens when a dog feels safe, not when they are intimidated into obedience.  I often use this example: Imagine you’re at work, going through a training program, but instead of teaching you what to do, the trainer squirts you with water every time you make a mistake. You’d quickly learn what not to do, but you wouldn’t learn the correct way or understand your company’s expectations. When dog parents ask me how to be a good leader for their dog, I turn the question around-what kind of boss do you prefer? What qualities make a great leader in your workplace? The best leaders guide, support, and set clear expectations, not punish mistakes without offering a path to success. The same applies to our dogs. 

Dogs, like people, learn best in an environment built on trust, guidance, and clear communication-not fear, intimidation, or punishment. While coercive methods may seem to work in the moment, they often create long-term behavioral issues, confusion, and even fear-based aggression. True leadership isn’t about forcing obedience, it’s about teaching, supporting, and building a relationship based on mutual understanding. By choosing positive, no-force training, we give our dogs the confidence to learn, the freedom to think, and the security to trust us. In doing so, we don’t just train a well-behaved dog-we nurture a lifelong bond with a happy, confident companion.  

As for Sierra, the Labrador puppy who showed aggression toward unfamiliar people, she went on to lie an incredible life. After learning from Pat Miller, used Counter Conditioning and Desensitization to help change her perception of strangers. Within six months, she no longer saw unfamiliar people as something to fear. Once her perspective shifted, any occasional growling made me question the integrity of the person rather than Sierra’s fear.

Please feel free to comment below with any questions you may have. I would be happy to answer them for you.