Are E-Collars Humane & Safe? An Honest Answer
It depends on how they are used, and experts disagree. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends reward-based training only and lists shock collars among the tools to avoid, and studies have not found e-collars more effective than reward-based training. Off Leash K9 Training Asheville uses low-level e-collar stimulation after reward-based conditioning, and offers a no-e-collar program.
We use e-collars, so we have a stake in this question. Below: what the research says on both sides, exactly how we use the tool, and the questions to ask any trainer. Last reviewed: October 2026.
What the Research Says
A U.S. veterinary behavior society and several controlled studies lean against e-collars. Two of the studies also show that intensity, timing and predictability change how much stress a dog shows.
AVSAB position statement (2021)
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based methods for all dog training, including behavior problems. It names electronic shock collars, prong collars and choke chains among the tools an appropriate trainer should avoid, and reports no difference in effectiveness between shock collars and reward-based methods for teaching recall.
China, Mills & Cooper, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2020)
63 dogs with recall problems were split into three groups. Dogs trained by reward-focused trainers responded better to come and sit after a single command, and faster than the e-collar group. The authors concluded an e-collar is not necessary for recall training.
Cooper et al., PLOS ONE (2014)
When trainers used high-intensity stimulation without a warning cue, dogs showed negative behavior changes and higher cortisol. With lower settings and a pre-warning, reactions were milder, but e-collar dogs still spent more time tense and yawned more than reward-trained dogs. Owners in all groups reported similar improvement (92% overall).
Schalke et al., Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2007)
Dogs that could clearly link the stimulation to their own action showed no significant rise in cortisol. Dogs stimulated at random, and dogs stimulated for not obeying a recall command, did.
Bottom line: none of these sources found e-collars more effective than reward-based training, and the welfare risk rises with high levels, bad timing and unpredictable use. That is why the choice of tool should be yours, made with full information.
How Off Leash K9 Training Asheville Uses E-Collars
- Lowest level first. We find your dog's recognition level, the lowest setting at which your dog simply notices the stimulation, and work from there.
- Meaning before guidance. Before the collar is used for guidance, your dog learns what the sensation means through reward-based conditioning, and we keep pairing it with positive reinforcement.
- You see it first. At your first session, your trainer puts the e-collar on their own arm and demonstrates every level for you before it touches your dog.
- Not for young puppies. Puppy programs are reward-based. E-collar conditioning typically starts in Basic Obedience, generally around 5 to 6 months.
- Never a shortcut for aggression. For aggressive or severely anxious dogs, the e-collar is only one part of a behavior-modification plan, and only after an in-person evaluation. See our aggressive dog training program.
- What is included. The e-collar and leash come with Basic Obedience and in-home training, and all equipment is included in the 2-Week Board & Train. Compare tools on our e-collar vs prong vs positive training page.
Prefer No E-Collar? Basic Marker Mastery
Basic Marker Mastery ($500) is four 1-hour sessions of reward-based training: an introduction to come and sit, the place command, and loose-leash walking with the OLK9 slip lead. A 15-foot leash, clicker and slip lead are included. Details on our obedience training page and the prices page.
Questions to Ask Any Trainer Who Uses an E-Collar
- Will you show me every level on your own arm before it goes on my dog?
- What is my dog's working level, and how did you find it?
- What do you do if my dog freezes, tucks the tail or tries to avoid you?
- Is there a program without an e-collar if I want one?
- Will the collar be used for fear or aggression, and who evaluates that first?
Frequently Asked Questions About E-Collars
Are e-collars the same as shock collars?
Technically, yes: both deliver an electric stimulus. E-collar usually means a modern remote collar with many adjustable levels, often with tone or vibration too, while shock collar is the older term critics use. Off Leash K9 Training Asheville works at the lowest level your dog notices, but the level and the timing, not the name, are what matter to your dog.
Do e-collars hurt dogs?
At high levels or with poor timing they can cause pain and stress, and a controlled study of recall training found more stress signs in e-collar dogs than in reward-trained dogs even at lower settings (Cooper et al., 2014). Trainers at Off Leash K9 Training Asheville start at your dog's recognition level, the lowest setting the dog notices, after reward-based conditioning.
What does the AVSAB say about e-collars?
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's 2021 position statement recommends reward-based methods only and lists electronic shock collars among the tools a trainer should avoid. If you share that view, the Basic Marker Mastery program at Off Leash K9 Training Asheville uses no e-collar.
At what age can a dog start e-collar training?
Not as a young puppy. Off Leash K9 Training Asheville uses reward-based methods for puppies and typically begins e-collar conditioning in Basic Obedience once a dog is developmentally ready, generally around 5 to 6 months, and only after a reward foundation is in place.
Can you train my dog without an e-collar?
Yes. Basic Marker Mastery ($500) is four 1-hour sessions of reward-based marker and clicker training, with a 15-foot leash, clicker and slip lead included. Off Leash K9 Training Asheville will talk through both options with you at a free consultation.
Is an e-collar right for a fearful or aggressive dog?
Be cautious. The AVSAB advises against aversive tools for behavior problems. At Off Leash K9 Training Asheville the e-collar is only one part of an aggression plan, and only after an in-person evaluation; if fear or anxiety drives the behavior, involve your veterinarian too.
Sources
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021).
- China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ. Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7:508 (2020).
- Cooper JJ, Cracknell N, Hardiman J, Wright H, Mills D. The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward Based Training. PLOS ONE 9(9): e102722 (2014).
- Schalke E, Stichnoth J, Ott S, Jones-Baade R. Clinical signs caused by the use of electric training collars on dogs in everyday life situations. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 105(4):369-380 (2007).
Have Questions About E-Collars? Just Ask.
Talk to a trainer for free, with no obligation. We will show you exactly how it works and recommend the right program for your dog, e-collar or not.