@DebraDownSouth:
Your dig was uncalled for, no matter who you were directing it at.
My "dig" was simply stating my opinion of what is abusive. To me, hours spent locked in a crate is far, far more abusive than causing a brief uncomfortable sensation, or even a degree of pain when the trade off is time spent in freedom, running loose in a field or down the beach. I base my opinion on observation. At best, crated dogs are resigned to their fate. At worst, they are terribly distressed, often for hours at a time. That is true abuse! A fleeting painful sensation is part of life for just about any animal. Treading on thistles or getting a thorn in the paw is more painful than a brief electric shock (and I am calling it what it is). Like any training device, an electronic collar can be used abusively. Like any training device, an electronic collar can be used to give direction, dialed to a light sensation that does not approach pain, and of course it can be used strongly in case of need. Look at the dog and he will tell you if it is abuse. Perry absolutely knows that the collar is the source of the sensation…...proof of that is his attitude to commands given when he is wearing it and when he is not.......but when I call him over, holding the collar in my hands, he has no hesitation or resistance to having it put on. If I do issue a correction (yes, mild shock sensation, just a tingle) when he is out loose, he retains his composure and complies with whatever request he had been ignoring (most often "leave it", a very important command since you don't want your dog ingesting something nasty). He continues happily with no sign of distress. Nobody viewing his reaction would consider him an abused dog,
As far as crates being some kind of necessity, well, nobody used to use them when I was a kid. I didn't own a crate when I got my first Basenji, and still didn't own one when I got my second, but I did acquire one to assist with house training, and have used them briefly with the succeeding dogs until I felt they were trustworthy. My goal has always been to dispense with crates as quickly as possible, even without the added incentive of adopting a dog that was very crate averse. You will note that although I consider crates abusive, I do use them when necessity dictates. E-collars can be used the same way........when you want the dog to be loose and need the dog to be safe. A "necessary evil" if you like.
Sure, dogs can be trained to be reliable off leash without an e-collar, as all of my dogs have been, including my first Basenji. However, as is often stated on this forum, it is hard to get to that point of complete off leash reliability with a Basenji (although I have done it), and with some it probably is an unachievable goal. Hence, the backup safety of the collar. This has nothing to do with wanting a "quick fix", and I resent the implication. What is wanted is a way to keep my dog reliably safe. I took the time to teach him about the collar, so that he would understand it and not fear it. His attitude tells me that I have been successful in teaching him, and I can live with that.
Just a further note. People hear the word "shock" and are appalled. They really need to experience the sensation to know what is being proposed. Most "studies" (do check who commissioned them and what their motives may have been) use full on, high level shocks to obtain their results. I don't know of any (please point me in the right direction if there are some) that have looked at very low level electronic stimulation, so let's not compare apples and oranges. The "working level" I use on my dog is just barely discernible to me, and if I dial it any lower he doesn't react at all and neither do I. It's a tingle, a bit unpleasant, so you do wish it would go away, but it is annoying rather than painful. No doubt, a high level shock hurts! But I don't use that except in an emergency.......dog is chasing a cat or squirrel or whatever towards a road.......and again, although painful the sensation is brief! The dog reacts in the moment, and it is forgotten immediately thereafter. If he associates it with chasing something he should not chase, so much the better. He is now listening to me and returns unharmed instead of pursuing that critter into a danger zone.
