Alright, let’s gab about these here dog collars, the ones that give them a jolt, you know? The ones them city folks call “e-collars” or somethin’ fancy. I call ‘em zappers, ‘cause that’s what they do – zap your poor dog.
No need for zappin’, I say. Back in my day, we didn’t have none of that fancy stuff. We had good ol’ common sense and a firm hand. And you know what? Our dogs listened. They weren’t perfect, mind you, but they knew who was boss.
- Training without the zap
- Good treats work wonders
- Patience is key
Now, I ain’t sayin’ trainin’ a dog is easy. It takes time and patience, like raisin’ a young’un. You gotta show ‘em what you want, over and over again. And you gotta be consistent. Can’t be lettin’ ‘em get away with somethin’ one day and then punishin’ ‘em for it the next. That ain’t fair, and it sure ain’t gonna teach ‘em nothin’.
These days, folks are all about quick fixes. They want their dogs to be perfect right away. Well, life ain’t like that. Good things take time. And zappin’ your dog ain’t gonna make things faster. It might scare ‘em into doin’ what you want for a little while, but it ain’t gonna teach ‘em respect. It’s gonna teach ‘em fear. And a scared dog ain’t a happy dog, and it ain’t a well-behaved dog neither, not in the long run.
Instead of zappin’, try givin’ your dog a treat when they do somethin’ good. Dogs love treats! Heck, I love treats! It don’t gotta be fancy, just somethin’ they like. A little piece of chicken, a bit of cheese, even just a pat on the head and some kind words. That’s what I call positive reinforcement, and it works like a charm.
You see, dogs, they wanna please you. They really do. They just don’t always know how. It’s your job to show ‘em, gentle-like. And if they mess up? Well, don’t go screamin’ and yellin’ at ‘em. Just show ‘em again what you want. And be patient. They’ll get it eventually.
I heard tell that some folks in England, they banned these zappin’ collars. Good for them, I say. They got it right. There’s plenty of other ways to train a dog without hurtin’ ‘em. I mean, would you wanna be zapped every time you made a mistake? I sure wouldn’t.
Using your voice is powerful. Dogs understand more than you think. They understand tone of voice, they understand body language. Use that to your advantage. Speak firmly, but kindly. And always, always be consistent. If you tell them “sit,” make sure they sit. And reward ‘em for it when they do.
And don’t go listenin’ to them folks at the pet store tryin’ to sell you one of them zappers. They just want your money. They don’t care about your dog. You care about your dog. That’s why you’re readin’ this, ain’t it? You wanna do right by your dog. And zappin’ ain’t right. It’s cruel and unnecessary.
Building a relationship with your dog is like buildin’ a bridge. You need trust, you need respect, and you need understanding. And you can’t build that with a zappin’ collar. You build it with kindness, with patience, and with love. That’s the best way, the only way, in my book.
I’ve seen folks use them shock collars, and the dogs, they just cower and shake. That ain’t right. A dog should be happy, should be waggin’ its tail, not tremblin’ in fear. And some folks use choke chains too, them things that tighten around their necks. That ain’t good neither. You wouldn’t want someone yankin’ on your neck, would ya? Treat your dog the way you want to be treated, that’s what I say. Golden rule applies to critters too.

There are so many good ways to train a dog without resortin’ to zappin’. You can use a clicker, you can use treats, you can use praise. You can even just use your voice and your hands. It takes time, yes, but it’s worth it in the end. You’ll have a dog that trusts you, that respects you, and that loves you. And that’s more valuable than any quick fix you can buy.
So, next time you think about usin’ one of them zappin’ collars, think again. Think about your dog, think about how they feel. And choose kindness instead. It’s the better way, the right way. It ain’t about fancy training techniques, it’s just plain ol’ common decency and good sense. Your dog will thank you for it, even if they can’t say the words.
Discussion about this post