Ok...I live in the country with neighbors up and down the road here. People are always speeding by here even though we're about 500 ft from the road or more. My grandparents have a boxer that they use the shock collar on. (that's my Pa's business) I can see why to use one. I did use it on my Molly teaching her to be afraid of the road. Which she is to a point, when the boxer (Rascal) goes into it...so does she.

Like this evening, I let them out of the pen (because they had gone off for hours and with me calling them with no return), anyways..I let them out of the pen this evening to feed them. Rascal heard something in the distance and ran off growling with Molly right behind him not listening to my commands at all.

I return to the house to gather up the shock collar stuff and went in search of them. Found both of them jumping up on some neighbors walking (neighbors own a bunch of hunting dogs so they love dogs but what if it were children?)  I tried to get the dog's attention but no cooperation. The shock collar went on Molly and she obeyed after the first shock. I put it at the lowest setting to get her full attention. She followed me home while Rascal followed the neighbors down the road a bit but eventually came home. They're both back in their pen outside and happy as can be.

Earlier this morning, me and Molly went walking for over an hour and she got to meet some neighborhood dogs (cattle dog and 2 german sheps). One of the german sheps did attack her by jumping on her and growling. Molly was in the wrong by being impolite by entering the yard of another dog. She didn't try that again to any other yard. I did let the GSDs sniff her first before we went past the house but the owner had come out onto the porch. That's when the younger GSD got aggressive. Understandable and that's what I told the owner. She's a wonderful lady that raised GSDs for a few years.

Let me know your opinions please :)

Shock collars seem to be portrayed as a fix all solution for a lot of dog owners. If your dog isn't obeying you and your commands using a shock collar won't correct the issue. Dogs are smart enough to know when it's on and when it's off. 

You need to break it down into steps to get a long lasting solution. Do they have a reliable sit, down, stay, come? If not, that's where you need to start. Have small treats on hand and a clicker (I LOVE clicker training)! Start by just clicking and treating until when you click they come running looking for the treat. Then progress to associating the clicker and treat with sit, down, stay, and come in a confined area or inside the house. Progressively increase the distance for the come aspect (ie. start in the same room and gradually move out of that room and across the house or yard). When you transfer it to outside use a long tether attached to their collar. Hold the end and repeat what you taught them in a confined area, this time out in the open. Gradually increase distance and when you have a reliable response, then work on off-leash.

Everything needs to be broken down into the smallest of steps and built upon. Think of it like legos. You have to start with one block to build and that block needs to stable and reliable in order to advance and build further.

If your dogs are not obeying you or running off, they aren't respecting you or wanting to be with you. You need to be their leader and make them want to stay by your side or within the boundaries you set for them.

My dogs go outside off leash all of the time. BUT, I always have treats in my pocket. They always know when they return to me it is a fantastic reward. I trust them without the use of treats and occasionally forget but it's always nice to have a "lure" on hand.

Also, when doing these steps starting in the house. Build up from no distractions to have having one, then two, and so on. For example, give them a sit stay command and have a friend or someone has a squeaker toy or whatever they like to distract them. Reward them generously for maintaining the sit stay. If they get up and move to the toy return them to the same spot and repeat until they understand what is being asked of them.

Also, if they still want to run away..they need more enrichment both physically and mentally. Take them for long, leashed walks or to the dog park, buy some treat puzzles (my dogs love doing them), or play fetch. You need to keep them entertained and enjoying the time spent with you. If they aren't burning up that energy getting the exercise they need to stimulate body and mind, they will try to find it elsewhere.

thank you ikaria! I love using the clicker and treats. I can't have her in the house right now since I'm staying with my GP's but she'll be a house dog one day O_o She's great on staying in the pen we have outside. I can walk away to the back porch now and she's sitting there patiently. This was all done without using the collar and just the clicker, treats, and positive energy.

I'm teaching the boxer to do the same. Molly keeps a high energy when I'm at the door..nervous and just screaming to get out with her energy which distracts the boxer. But if I'm working with her, he's all mellow and laying down waiting for me to say "okay, come".

That's what Cesar Milan was saying about respect. If your dog doesn't respect you 100%, it will show in creating bad habits which will escalate into bigger problems. Molly is such a sweet heart and she's always been my shadow until recently. Feels like the boxer is the dominate one on the property. He's not fixed (not my dog). There's nothing I can do about that. That's why this morning I had to leave him in the pen while me and Molly went walking. He would have challenged everything. I was the leader when we were walking. She stuck to my side except for one instance which she did pay for and knows not to do that again in that specific yard.

She's a work in progress :)

I rather agree with Ikaria.

To add to that - we do use a shock collar with our electric fence.  We only use it because we have two acres, with no neighbors to either side, and our Lab likes to roam.  Quite honestly, he spends almost all day outside in the summer, and I don't.  This lets him play outside, and gives me peace of mind that he is in the yard (we still check on him regularly, of course).  We don't use the shock collar as a real means of training, though, if that makes sense.  It is solely to keep him in our yard.  Without the collar on, Lucky still comes to the door when we call.  If he gets out without his collar on, and starts to bolt, he still responds when we yell.

reply to: Also, if they still want to run away..they need more enrichment both physically and mentally. Take them for long, leashed walks or to the dog park, buy some treat puzzles (my dogs love doing them), or play fetch. You need to keep them entertained and enjoying the time spent with you. If they aren't burning up that energy getting the exercise they need to stimulate body and mind, they will try to find it elsewhere.

my reply: OH YES! We have the XL Kong Ball..They both love it. She's obsessed with sticks and limbs which I'm fine with, living out in the country with 3 acres and many more acres of forest and cow pastures around us.

Every now and then I would take Molly with me when I rode my bike down the dirt road a house over from us. She sticks to my side the whole time. I have sqeakers, socks, sticks, an old sheet for them to play tugawar with, and a cardboard box that they both play with.

If I go outside and they're loose, I'll call them to me to the backporch and everytime I would give them a treat for listening. But now they'll be staying in the pen unless I'm outside with them.

Exactly Riddle! :D I wish Molly would stay in the yard like she used to. Shame on the boxer for teaching her she can be free lol

Using a shock collar for an electric fence is a different story. It isn't about training, it is all about the safety of your pet. I definately am an advocate for that Riddle. If you don't have a fence and need a means to keep your dog safe from wandering off, it's the best option you have.

We have no fence :( My GP's couldn't afford it not even an electric one.

I have an electric fence for Buddy, and I like it because it beeps before he gets shocked so I can just say "beepbeepbeep!" and stop him in his tracks. From that, I've used it to stop him from barking at cars, getting in trash, etc. 

I agree with what ika says. Far too many people use it as a "get out of jail free card" to bypass necessary training steps.  Just nailing the come/sit/stay does wonders. I had trained Buddy to do so, but he got lazy and "forgot" -.- so I went out for an hour one day and got it back in his mind. He thrived with the extra attention (mainly outdoor dog) and he got to use his brain. While a full hour of non stop might not be good for Molly, 15 minutes every 1-2 hours for a couple of days might work. 

Ok the beep thing is actually pretty hilarious.

Link Tree

I concur, Chaotic. I LOL'ed. ^_^

I didn't realize there were shock collars that were NOT part of electric fence systems.  XD  LoL.  I thought ya'll were talking about using electric fences collars for other training.

I should post a video of it, he could be going after a squirrel with intent to kill but say beepbeepbeep and he stops dead and stares at you. Little smarty pants picks up quick :P I also bought a clicker that beeps so I can build off that.