04/06/2026
As a balanced trainer, I often work with clients who either want to ecollar train their dog or where I’ve recommended it as a useful tool. And with that comes the opinions from randomers… the looks, the unsolicited advice, and the assumption that tools like this are unfair.
So it’s no surprise that a lot of owners feel nervous about using one in public, we’ve all been there. I remember when I first started out, I’d keep the remote tucked away in my pocket just to avoid awkward conversations.
But confidence comes with understanding. Now, it’s something I use openly because I know the value it brings to my dogs’ lives.
Balanced training is about working the dog in front of you. Not every dog needs an ecollar and that’s absolutely fine. But just because someone chooses not to use one doesn’t mean there’s any need to be negative or rude towards those who do. Often, the strongest opinions come from people who’ve never lived with the behavioural challenges or day-to-day realities some owners manage, and in many cases have never even seen one in person, let alone used one..
When used correctly, for the right dog, an ecollar can be life-changing, better communication, more freedom, and safer, more reliable behaviour.
I’ll always advocate for the tools that help dogs and their owners live better, more enjoyable lives, regardless of opinions from the sidelines.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘦-𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.
