[Talk Host]

There are a couple of people in our area who walk their dogs without a leash. They claim they have (and most likely do) a shock collar on the dog.

Two things.

1. Are shock collars an allowable substitute for a leash in The Villages and Marion County?

2. I have always thought that people who use shock collars don't love their pets very much. Could you imagine putting a shock collar on one of your children :yikes: Does the ASPCA approve of shock collars? Would you want one on your neck?

[Barefoot]

Sounds like the shock collars should be on the owners, not the dogs. IMHO.

[redwitch]

I'm not a fan of shock collars, period. Most towns will not require a lead if you can conclusively prove that your dog is completely controlled by hand or voice commands. I don't know what TV's rules on this are.

I am one of those guilty of not wanting to have my dog on a lead and, if I can train a dog to the point I was truly comfortable, I would walk my dog strictly by hand and voice commands. Training to this degree is not easy and takes a tremendous amount of time and patience. Perfect for college students and retirees.

I had an Old English that was only on a lead when he was a pup or it was absolutely mandatory. He was by my side unless I gave him the release command and that command was only for areas where dogs were free to run. He was also curb trained because I felt people had a right to not have animal feces and urine on their yards (and, yes, I was quick to pick up his messes).

I also had a couple of Afghans. There was no way that they would ever be off a lead except in my back yard, at a doggy park or when coursing.

[beady]

There is absolutely no need for a shock collar. Put the pooch on a lead for the neighborhood and take him to a dog park for his exercise. If you can't do that don't have a dog.
Those collars are cruel,
Barefoot got it right , put one on the owner.

[chelsea24]

Grrrrrrrrr, I HATE shock collars! I think they are legal, but I find them despicable. We wouldn't even allow them to be sold through my hubby's vet clinic. When they first came out, a salesman came in and my hubby tried it on his own hand. Then looked at the guy and told him to "Get the :edit: out of his clinic!" I don't know Florida laws, but they were legal in Illinois. They should be outlawed.

Puppy kisses to all the pet lovers out there! Wait a minute . . . hmmm . . . I'm a cat!

[Peggy D]

I thought shock collars were to train your pet to stay within certain bounderes, like your property?

I agree with Bearfoot, they belong on the owner!

[Barefoot]

People unfortunately use shock collars for many reasons. Not only keeping dogs within boundaries, but also to punish dogs for unwanted behavior like barking or jumping up on visitors. I think it is barbaric. Dogs can easily be trained by reward, not punishment. If you own dogs, please take the time to train them humanely. Dogs really want to please.

On page 35 The Villages 2008 Phone Book says that there are ordinances in the Town of Lady Lake and Sumter County which require pets to be on a leash when off your property.

It also says that "cats, dogs, and all other pets are prohibited from roaming free in the Villages."

[BUC]

My wife drives a school bus, I'll bet she'd like to use a shock collar, and not on the dogs.
Seriously I wouldn't use a shock collar on my dogs or invisible fence.

[redwitch]

I know some here do use the invisible fences and shock collars. I also know they are a lot milder today than they were when they first came out and are now adjustable. That being said, I hate them. I did have one dog I seriously considered using the shock collar on simply because it would never shut up unless asleep and even then would bark occasionally. He was a gorgeous Afghan, a great stud -- his pups all became champions if they were shown. I knew how to train dogs but Scooter just loved the sound of his Woof! I used every trick I knew to stop the barking and even invented a few new ones. I finally gave up. To my thinking, I was down to three choices -- the shock collar, putting him down, finding him a new home. I opted for a home in the country for him.

Losing him hurt -- I loved that dumb dog but I truly could not stand the idea of the shock collar. Like Chels' hubby, I tried one on me and I didn't like the sensation. I thought that if I, as a human who understood why it was on me and knew when it was going to shock me, got such a negative reaction, I did not want something I loved to have suffer through that every time it barked.

There are much better ways to train a dog than using a shock collar. I wish people would learn their options rather than taking the easy way out. (Ditto on declawing a cat. Talk about a truly cruel act!!!) Okay, off my band wagon.

[Number 6]

So we are going to disagree. Electronic training collars (and invisible fencing) are not "shock" collars. I have tried it on myself and cannot feel it. A one hour training session is a lot more humane than yanking on a leash. Anyway, we would never harm our dog. We would also never take her off our property without her being on a leash.

[Peggy D]

Not being a dog owner, I thought a shock collar was the invisible fence thing.
The invisible fence I can see. You don't want the pet to get out and get hurt.

People "shock" their pet to train them? How barbaric. If you're going to treat them like that--don't have a pet.

SPCA doesn't think this is cruel?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Peggy D

People "shock" their pet to train them? How barbaric. If you're going to treat them like that--don't have a pet.

[mfp509]

I would never use a shock collar and anything like that on my dog. She is on a lead and if I wanted her to get exercise I would take her to a doggie park. Also, I would NEVER declaw a cat - there are other methods to use. Declawing is against the law in CA, I think, and should be in all states. (I know this was about dogs - sorry but I have both)

[SteveZ]

The "shock collars" and invisible fence "minor irritant" collars always seemed to me like the precursor to tazing. I suppose as long as the FDA doesn't rule against their use on dogs, then small children left alone in a backyard will be next.....

The "invisible fence" seems to work with some of the breeds with little -to-no prey drive. One of the funniest things I ever saw was a neighbor's dog (Jack Russell Terrier) which used to go to the edge of the "buzz" range and stay there until the battery in the collar finally died - then the dog was off to the races!