Hey there, I bought an e-collar to help with recall training. It arrived 4 days ago. While testing it, her reaction suddenly changed from nothing to a loud yelp when I adjusted the setting. I stopped using it and put it away. Since then, she has been acting tired and scared around me, especially when it’s time to go out. Did I traumatize her? I feel awful and just want her to be happy again.
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I’m happy you recognized your mistake. Forgiving yourself and keeping in mind that this is a chance to improve as a dog owner is now crucial. We’re all human, so please accept your faults.
YouTube has a ton of helpful channels that teach people how to train without using force. kikopup is my particular fave. The way is through positive reinforcement.
Don’t beat yourself up! It sounds like your pup might have associated the e-collar with discomfort. Even a low setting can be startling, especially during testing. I can guarantee you’re not the first owner to experience this. The good news is puppies bounce back fast! Ditch the e-collar and focus on building trust again. Lots of love, playtime, and yummy treats will go a long way. For recall training, there are tons of positive reinforcement methods that work wonders.
I’m so sorry to hear you’re worried you may have traumatized your dog with the e-collar. Based on the research, it seems you did the right thing by stopping use immediately when you saw your dog’s distressed reaction. Using an e-collar improperly, even unintentionally, can cause pain, fear, and lasting psychological damage in dogs. Your dog’s lethargy and skittishness around you are signs they are still recovering from the trauma. The best thing now is to rebuild trust through positive reinforcement training using treats, praise, and play. Avoid the e-collar completely going forward. Consult a certified trainer who uses humane, force-free methods to help with any training challenges. With time and care, the bond between you and your pup can heal. Don’t be too hard on yourself - we all make mistakes, but what matters is learning from them to give our dogs the best life possible. Sending you and your dog strength during this difficult time.
Using an e-collar repeatedly can traumatize dogs, causing them to associate the collar with pain and fear. This can lead to problems like anxiety, depression, and aggression. Additionally, e-collars pose the risk of causing serious physical injury.