If your dog is biting, you may be wondering if you can use an ecollar to stop biting behavior. I wondered the same thing after my dog bit me and knocked me down multiple times.
You may see on my Dog Products I Use page that I use a dog eCollar, along with the eCollar I found most reliable.
See the eCollar I like here (after trying 3!)
Before you judge me for using an eCollar, see the image of my arms after Blanco bit me in the video to the right.
Blanco was still biting regularly after over a year of “positive reinforcement” training with multiple dog trainers and methods.
I called his biting more of nipping than biting because it sure sounds better, but the biting behavior got quite bad as you’ll see in the video.
Are eCollars Bad?
In my heart I feel like ecollars are bad when they are used to shock a dog. Therefore I put off using an ecollar as long as I possibly could.
Using an ecollar to stop biting was the only way I could keep my dog, Blanco, because the biting had gotten so frequent and bad.
Plus how could I find a suitable new home for a dog that was biting?
Dogs need for their owners to be confident and in control, not fearful. This was impossible when I was afraid my dog would bite me whenever he got triggered. I knew I had to get the biting to stop for both my and Blanco’s sake.
This led me to finally hiring a dog trainer that used an ecollar.
When to Use an eCollar on Very Mild Shock
Based on my own experience and years of dog training, I concluded that e-collars used to end biting can be a necessity even though they deliver a very mild shock.
In my experience, the times to use an ecollar in shock mode are:
- When the life of a dog is in danger
- When a dog owner is in danger
- And when positive reinforcement training hasn’t worked with that dog
I have also had good experience using ecollars on vibration with my labrador for other behaviors that aren’t dangerous like biting is.
For general dog training, such as come, sit, and stay it wasn’t necessary to use an ecollar.
But an ecollar was required to get my dog to stop biting. I think everyone has to do what is best for their dog.
And all dogs are different.
It’s our job as dog owners to know our dog and do what’s best for them after extensively studying dog training or working with dog trainers. I had done both.
Can Treats Be Used to Get a Dog to Stop Biting?
Some dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement training.
Most positive reinforcement dog training is treat based, however.
So I ran into real trouble on the occasions that I didn’t have instant access to treats when my dog showed signs he was about to bite.
Plus, Blanco is very obsessed with food, unlike some dogs. His food obsession completely distracted him from training.
So I wasn’t able to get my dog to stop biting with treats for positive reinforcement.
How I Used an eCollar to Get My Dog to Stop Biting
I explain why and how I used an ecollar to get my dog to stop biting me in the video below.
Note that Blanco wasn’t an “aggressive dog” even though he got labeled as an aggressive dog by dog trainers because he had bitten. This meant he could no longer participate in most group dog training programs.
The Labrador breed is very sweet natured.
Blanco was just confused and anxious at times.
For my dog, using an ecollar to stop biting was a good decision for me and Blanco.
Plus I got to discontinue using the ecollar to get my dog to stop biting after the first training.
Now I very rarely need an ecollar other than in the vibration mode for the come command when Blanco gets super distracted on the off leash hiking trail.
