06/07/2023
I am seeing a resurgence in corrective collars recently and I don’t think most people really intend to do harm to their dogs, but that is exactly what these “tools” are designed to do.
Made, intended or adapted.
Those are the three key words into offensive weapon legislation in Scotland (most of these rules cover bladed articles as well with some exceptions - there's always some pedant who misses the point of my posts and wants to correct me.)
If an item is made, intended or adapted to be a weapon, it's illegal to carry.
Cosh or club - made to be a weapon
Fighting knife/bayonet - made to be a weapon
Piece of wood with barbed wire wrapped around the end and a taped handle - adapted/made to be a weapon
Piece of wood with a taped handle - adapted
Baseball bat if I am arguing with my neighbour and brandishing it - intended
Glass bottle held by the neck in the middle of the street (broken or not) - intended.
You get the idea. Now, some things are better at being used as weapons than others. If I wanted to do damage to a human (I don't) I would pick something which was really good at doing damage - something designed, made. That would be my preference. If I didn't have that available, I'd have to adapt something or use something else as a weapon.
Same rules for dog training equipment.
We have to examine if a piece of equipment is made, designed, engineered to cause pain, discomfort or annoyance with fear/apprehension being the associated emotions.
Prong collars - made and intended by design to cause pain/discomfort - that's how they work.
E-collars - made and intended by design to cause pain/discomfort - that's how they work.
Choke chains - made and intended by design to cause pain/discomfort - that's how they work.
Head collars - made and intended by design to cause pain/discomfort - that's how they work.
Pet corrector/compressed air - made and intended by design to startle/frighten.
Slip leads - when used like a choke chain to tighten and correct a dog's behaviour - intended and adapted from the original purpose.
Spray bottles and rattle cans - intended and adapted from the original purpose.
One of the inane comments I often see is that you can use collar corrections with a flat collar or harness. Yes, you can. But' that's not what they are designed for and that's not how I or any other positive trainer uses them. We use them to attach the lead to prevent the dog from leaving for safety. BIG difference and obvious to anyone with half an ounce of intelligence.
Treats - made and intended to be used as positive reinforcement
Toys and play - made and intended to be used as positive reinforcement
Clickers - made and intended to be used as positive reinforcement. If the dog I'm working with doesn't like the clicker, I don't use it.
Our intent is important. I can use my hands to hit or jerk a dog by the collar or I can use them to play tug, give belly rubs, and deliver food in a way which is cool for my dog. I can use my voice to threaten or to soothe and praise, There's a difference in intent.
With aversive training tools like those mentioned above there are next to no ways we can use them out with their engineered purpose. We can't use a prong collar or e-collar positively no matter how much "conditioning" we do. They always mean do it or else. Or else I'll start to hurt, annoy, scare the dog. Always.
When we understand how behaviour works and the associations made with certain stimuli we can have our dog's welfare at the front of our hearts and minds AND still get the results we want and need from them.
As always, when I create content like this, it upsets those people who still use these tools. I get it, truly. My intent is to educate, not offend or upset. If you are offended, you took offence, I didn't give it, you don't need to take it, you can simply scroll on by like Dionne Warwick and get on with the rest of your day, this isn't your forum nor a place for you to air your views.
Made. Intended. Adapted. Keep these words in your mind when training.
Love and peace.
