Introduction
Living with an anxious dog can be challenging. Their constant stress takes a toll on the whole household, impacting the quality of life for both pets and their owners.
Faced with a stressful or unknown situation, an anxious dog may exhibit behaviors like shaking, barking, aggression, destruction, or inappropriate urination and defecation. Many anxious dogs also struggle to relax, sleep, or eat properly. Worst of all, anxiety can lead some dogs to engage in self-harming coping behaviors like licking, biting, or chewing themselves.
As a dog owner, it’s natural to want to find fast relief for a pet’s anxiety. Some owners consider using shock collars as a training method to stop unwanted behaviors that stem from anxiety. However, experts largely agree that shock collars can cause more harm than good when used on sensitive dogs.
In this article, we’ll dive into the complex topic of shock collars for anxious dogs. With input from veterinarians, trainers, and animal behaviorists, we’ll explore whether shock collars can actually help relieve anxiety, or if they tend to make matters worse.
What is Anxiety in Dogs?
Anxiety in dogs refers to a chronic state of nervousness, fear, or worry that manifests itself through various symptoms. Some common symptoms of anxiety in dogs include excessive panting, trembling, barking, whining, destructive behavior, obsessive licking, and inappropriate urination or defecation.
Anxious behaviors in dogs can be triggered by certain stimuli like loud noises, unfamiliar environments or people, separation from owners, or previous traumatic experiences. The underlying causes are complex but can include factors like genetics, poor socialization, major life changes, and medical conditions that cause pain or discomfort.
Left untreated, anxiety can significantly impact a dog’s quality of life and may lead to more severe disorders like phobias or obsessive compulsive disorder. Consulting a veterinarian is important to rule out any medical factors and design an appropriate treatment plan which may involve medications, supplements, training, behavioral therapy, and environmental changes.
Treatment Options
There are several treatment options available for dogs with anxiety, including training, medications, supplements, and pheromones. Research shows that a combination of approaches often works best. Some common options include:
Training techniques like desensitization and counterconditioning can help dogs overcome their fears and anxious responses through gradual exposure and positive reinforcement. These methods should be implemented under the guidance of a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist.
Medications prescribed for dog anxiety include fluoxetine, clomipramine, amitriptyline, and buspirone. These drugs can help reduce overall anxiety levels and symptoms, but often take weeks to reach full effect and need to be used consistently. Potential side effects vary.1
Supplements like melatonin, L-theanine, CBD oil, and chamomile can have a calming effect on anxious dogs. Research on their efficacy is limited, but they are often seen as relatively safe options to try under veterinary supervision.
Synthetic pheromones like Adaptil mimic natural calming pheromones and may relieve mild stress. Diffusers, sprays, and collars can disperse these artificial pheromones in the home or during travel to soothe anxious responses.
What are Shock Collars?
Shock collars, also known as e-collars or remote training collars, are training devices that deliver an electric shock as a form of negative reinforcement or punishment. They work by delivering a small shock when triggered, either by a handler via remote control or automatically by a bark limiter function.
There are two main types of shock collars:
- Basic or bark limiter collars – These deliver a shock automatically when the dog barks. They are designed to curb nuisance barking.
- Remote training collars – These allow a handler to deliver a shock by remote control. They can be used for various training purposes like deterring negative behavior or enforcing commands.
The amount of shock delivered can vary in intensity, from mild to very painful, depending on the settings. Most modern shock collars also have a vibration or tone mode as an alternative to the shock.
Overall, the goal of shock collars is to discourage unwanted behaviors through punishment and negative reinforcement. They aim to reduce problematic behaviors like excessive barking, aggression, or disobedience.
Arguments For Using Shock Collars
One of the main arguments in favor of using shock collars for dogs with anxiety is that they can quickly stop unwanted behaviors. According to an article on Robin MacFarlane’s website, the electric stimulation from a shock collar interrupts unwanted behavior and redirects the dog’s focus. Supporters claim this provides a fast way to curb problem behaviors that may be exacerbating a dog’s anxiety, like excessive barking, chewing, or aggression.
Advocates argue that giving a small shock right when an unwanted behavior starts occurring trains the dog to avoid that behavior. This can be especially helpful for behaviors that are dangerous or destructive. Once the dog learns to avoid the unwanted behavior, their anxiety may decrease since they are no longer engaging in those problem behaviors. Proponents claim shock collars allow owners to quickly manage behaviors before they spiral out of control.
Arguments Against Using Shock Collars
Many animal behavior experts argue that shock collars are cruel and can actually increase anxiety in dogs. The electrostatic shock can cause psychological distress, including phobias, high levels of stress, and depression (Source). Dogs subjected to shocks may display more fear, anxiety and stress-related behaviors. This can lead to neurotic behaviors like excessive barking, chewing, tail chasing, etc. Shock collars may also damage the bond between owner and dog by eroding trust (Source).
The use of shock collars relies on applying an aversive stimulus, which can actually increase a dog’s anxiety. Excitable or nervous dogs in particular are more likely to develop excessive fear and aggression when shock collars are used. The threat of punishment can worsen fearful or aggressive behavior rather than improving it. Overall, shock collars work by inducing fear, pain and distress, which are unreliable and risky methods for modifying a dog’s behavior (Source).
Studies on Effectiveness
Several studies have examined the effectiveness of shock collars at reducing anxiety-related behaviors in dogs. A meta-analysis published in 2007 looked at 15 different studies on various training methods, including shock collars. It found that shock collars can be effective for eliminating unwanted behaviors in dogs in the short-term, but there were risks of increased anxiety or aggression associated with their use. The authors concluded that positive reinforcement-based methods should be prioritized over punishment-based methods like shock collars.
A study in 2018 specifically evaluated anxiety behaviors in dogs wearing shock collars. Dogs were exposed to various stimuli designed to produce anxiety, including unfamiliar objects, noises, and environments. The study found that the dogs wearing the activated shock collars displayed significantly more stress-related behaviors like lip licking, yawning, and shaking compared to dogs not wearing shock collars. This suggests that shock collars may actually increase anxiety in dogs rather than decrease it.
While some studies have shown reduction in specific unwanted behaviors with shock collars, there is limited scientific evidence showing they successfully reduce separation anxiety or other anxiety disorders in dogs. More research is still needed on the long-term impacts of shock collars on canine mental health.
Expert Opinions
Many veterinarians, animal behaviorists and dog trainers do not recommend the use of shock collars for dogs with anxiety. Here are some expert opinions:
According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Jones, “Several studies have reported that shock collars cause undue stress to dogs.” She notes that shock collars can worsen anxiety and fear aggression in some dogs.
Certified dog trainer Sarah Hogarty states, “Excitable or nervous dogs are more likely or at a higher risk of developing excessive fear and aggression when shock collars are used. The pain and fear caused by the shocks can lead to long term psychological damage.”
Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker says, “I believe shock collars are inappropriate for most behavioral issues. And I truly believe they are counterproductive for fearful, anxious and stressed dogs.” She advocates for positive reinforcement training instead.
According to applied animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell, “Shock collars can modify a dog’s behavior temporarily. However, there are significant risks of increasing a dog’s anxiety and fear in the long run.”
Alternatives to Shock Collars
There are several other effective and more humane options for managing anxiety in dogs besides shock collars.
Behavioral training can help a dog learn new ways to cope with stress and anxiety. Working with a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist using positive reinforcement training can teach a dog alternate behaviors to perform instead of anxious or aggressive responses. This helps the dog feel more in control and less distressed in triggering situations.
Medication prescribed by a veterinarian is another option. Anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and natural calming supplements can help take the edge off a dog’s anxiety and make them more receptive to behavioral training. However, medication alone is rarely a complete solution and should be used alongside training.
Environmental management can reduce sources of stress and anxiety in a dog’s everyday life. This includes things like setting up a safe, quiet space for the dog to retreat to, minimizing loud noises, maintaining a predictable routine, discouraging punitive interactions, and using calming aids like pheromone diffusers.
In many cases, a combination of training, medication, and environmental management is the most effective way to help an anxious dog live a happier, more relaxed life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are valid arguments on both sides of the debate about using shock collars for dogs with anxiety. While some owners report success with proper use, there are also risks of making the anxiety worse or causing physical and psychological harm to the dog. Experts generally recommend a more positive approach, using desensitization, counterconditioning and other humane techniques under the guidance of a veterinarian or certified trainer. Ultimately, each owner must weigh the benefits and risks carefully when deciding on the best treatment options for their anxious dog. The key is to explore all alternatives first and use shock collars only as a last resort, if at all.
The most important thing is keeping your dog’s wellbeing at the forefront. Work closely with professionals to create an individualized treatment plan that helps your dog cope with anxiety in a safe, ethical and effective manner. With patience and compassion, you can help your dog live a happy life without anxiety controlling their behavior.