Dog training collars for fearful dogs can be helpful tools for pet parents. However, it’s important to remember that training collars should only be seen as one component of an overall behavior modification plan. Positive reinforcement training – rewarding your dog with praise and treats when they act correctly – is considered the preferred method for behavioral modification by most professional trainers.
Conversely, aversive techniques such as physical punishment often send the wrong message to our canine friends and can increase anxiety and fearfulness. Furthermore, this “dominance” training often leads to resentment among dogs – possibly leading to potential health hazards as well.
If you decide to utilize a training collar, always ensure it fits perfectly. A collar that is too tight can lead to over-stimulation of your pet; one effective rule of thumb for measuring fit would be holding up the box (or bottom part) and rotating it around their head; if this can be done easily then your collar may be too loose for your needs.
Make sure to begin by using sounds or tones and vibrations before progressing to static shocks, since most dogs typically don’t require these levels of aversive stimulation. Most trainers and animal behaviorists recommend trying various training methods before resorting to collar training.