Told myself I'd never use a shock collar, then bought one for my own dog last month

My lab kept bolting after deer near the river trail, so after three close calls I caved and dropped $120 on a training collar, and now I'm stuck wondering if the peace of mind is worth feeling like a hypocrite every time I clip it on.

2 comments

2 Comments

miller.rowan26d agoMost Upvoted

Calling yourself a hypocrite for keeping your dog from getting killed is kinda silly.

parker_palmer4425d ago

Push back on that. Every time you clip that collar on, you're telling your dog that pain is the price for trust. You spent weeks building a bond where he looks to you for direction, and now you're replacing that with a zap. What happens when he's off-leash someday and the collar's dead or left at home? He's learned nothing except that sometimes the chest gets a shock. That deer trail is still right there. You're not being a hypocrite, you're admitting you took the easy road instead of doing the real work. Long line, whistle training, a solid recall before he ever gets near that river again. That's the version of you that sleeps clean at night.