I am shortly getting a puppy which is a retriever breed and often used as a gundog. I was quite shocked to hear that many gundogs are trained using spray collars. Not only that, but many owners of this breed feel the need to use spray collars to get a good recall.
After all I have learned regarding behaviour, I don't think I'd feel comfortable using one with my dog. Are these collars really necessary and are they frequently used?
Tony Cruse, by email
the only retriever owner I know who uses one does it to stop her dog eating dead prey! I am gobsmacked to read there are recall problems. I'd keep that collar under lock and key until every other reputable training failed......which I doubt it will.Go with your gut instinct - you can train your dog without resorting to this.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that some gundog trainers use spray collars, and sometimes even shock ones. I do know of a Springer Spaniel that was a complete pain, forever running off in the woods following scents and not recalling and it was cured by the use of a spray collar. In a very short time the warning beep was enough to make him return and eventually he was fine just wearing it not switched on, and now has a perfect recall without it - he has learned the correct behaviour.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit on the fence with this as I don't really like the thought of aversive training techniques, but on the other hand a dog with a recall is likely to have a much happier life that one that doesn't!
Like Christine, I don't think this is a black and white issue. I have previously used a spray collar - very much as a last resort - on one of my rescue bitches who has a very high 'predator drive' - see my comment under 'cat trouble'. It eased my conscience slightly when I read 'The Culture Clash' by Jean Donaldson, in which she states that this is one of the few situations in which she might consider the use of negative reinforcement in training the recall: "(a)predation problem (is) one of the toughest things to fix, and the dog's life or quality of life hangs in the balance".
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