Can a shock collar kill a dog? This is a common concern among pet parents who want to train their active furry friends using shock collars. In this article, we will analyze whether a shock collar can hurt your dog or cause marks, burns, injuries, and skin irritation. 

Well, a shock collar can be uncomfortable, but it should NOT be painful to your dog. These collars deliver a mild stimulation (0.01 amp) to your dog’s neck to modify the unwanted behavior. Thus, when used correctly, a shock collar does not hurt your dog and is an effective tool for training your strong active pup.

In the past, we often called these devices “shock collars” because they could only deliver one level of shock. But now, with better technology, we use more humane and specific terms like “e-collars,” “remote training collars,” or “bark control collars” to describe them.

Can a Shock Collar Hurt a Dog?

Shock collars are made for dogs and, when used right, shouldn’t hurt them. The electric stimulus delivered to the dog by the shock collar is 0.01 amp. The electric output capable of burning your dog’s skin is at least 100 amp.

Thus, it’s a myth that shock collars by themselves hurt your dog. Whether they can cause harm depends on how you use them and your dog’s temperament.

Shock collar burns occur when the electrodes or prongs on the collar come into direct contact with the dog’s skin for an extended period, causing heat and friction. 

Shock collar marks, on the other hand, are typically caused by prolonged or excessive use of the collar, resulting in skin irritation or burns. 

Meanwhile, shock collar sores develop when the collar is worn too tightly or if it rubs against the dog’s skin repeatedly, leading to friction and irritation that may result in open wounds or sores.

How Does Shock Collar Work?

A shock collar typically consists of a receiver worn around a dog’s neck and a remote control held by the owner. 

When the owner activates the remote, it sends a signal to the receiver, delivering a vibration or mild electric shock to the dog. The intensity of the shock can usually be adjusted depending on the desired level of correction. 

Shock collars are often used in dog training to discourage undesirable behaviors such as excessive barking or disobedience.

When training your dog with a shock collar, start with a low correction level. If your dog does something you don’t want, like barking too much, press the button to correct them. If they listen and stop, great! You can stop there.

Usually, dogs learn quickly after feeling just a vibration, so you might not need to use the shock often. Save it for when other methods don’t work, and always be gentle and patient with your furry friend.

How to Wear Shock Collar Safely?

Here’s how to wear a shock collar in 3 simple steps without hurting your dog:

1. Fit the collar: Adjust the shock collar to fit snugly around your dog’s neck, ensuring it’s not too tight or too loose.
2. Position the receiver: Place the receiver unit on the front of your dog’s neck, just below the jawline, with the electrodes making contact with the skin.
3. Secure and test: Fasten the collar securely and test its functionality at a low level to ensure proper contact and functionality before beginning training.

Safety Features in Shock Collars

Modern shock collars often include various safety features to ensure the well-being of dogs:

Adjustable Intensity: Most shock collars allow owners to adjust the intensity of the shock, ensuring it’s appropriate for their dog’s size and sensitivity.

Warning Signals: Some collars emit warning signals, such as beeps or vibrations, before delivering a shock, giving the dog a chance to respond to commands without the need for a correction.

Automatic Shut-off: To prevent overcorrection, many collars have an automatic shut-off feature that stops delivering shocks after a certain duration or number of consecutive shocks.

Waterproof Design: Collars designed to be waterproof allow dogs to wear them during outdoor activities or in wet conditions without risking damage to the device.

Safety Timeout: Some collars have a safety timeout feature that limits the duration of continuous shocks, preventing potential harm if the button is accidentally pressed for an extended period.

Remote Lock: A remote lock feature prevents accidental activation of the shock function, reducing the risk of unintended corrections.

Low Battery Indicator: A low battery indicator alerts owners when the collar’s battery needs to be replaced, ensuring the device remains functional and reliable.

7 Tips to Prevent Shock Collar Injuries 

• Ensure the collar fits comfortably around your dog’s neck. Too tight, it will cause marks. If too loose, the collar contact points will rub against the dog’s skin, tempting him to scratch the neck area.
• Do not wear the collar for extended periods as it can cause sores around the neck. The maximum time your pup should wear an e-collar is 12 hours with breaks of 15 minutes after every hour.
• Attach the use of the shock collar with positive gestures. Give your fur baby treats when he follows your command to encourage desired behaviors.
• Avoid Continuous Shocks: Limit the duration of shocks and avoid continuous or repetitive corrections, which can lead to discomfort or stress for your dog.
• Monitor Behavior: Pay attention to your dog’s behavior and well-being during and after training sessions and adjust your approach as needed to ensure their comfort and safety.
• Keep the collar clean. It is a good idea to clean the collar regularly to prevent dirt and debris from accumulating on the collar. Dirty collars irritate your dog’s skin, making him scratch the neck area.
• Do not attach a leash to the e-collar. This is because the tension from the leash and the electrical stimulation from the collar can not only confuse your pet but put too much pressure on his neck, too.

How to Treat Shock Collar Injuries

Accidents can happen, and despite our best intentions, shock collar injuries may occur. Here’s a general guideline to treat them:

• Clean the Area: Gently clean the injured area with mild soap and water to remove any dirt or debris.
• Apply Ointment: Apply a thin layer of antiseptic to the injured skin to prevent infection and promote healing.
• Cover with a Bandage: If the injury is open or bleeding, cover it with a clean bandage or gauze pad to protect it from further irritation.
• Give Rest: Allow your dog to rest and avoid any activities that could aggravate the injury, such as excessive scratching or rubbing.
• Monitor for Improvement: Keep an eye on the injury and watch for signs of improvement, such as reduced redness or swelling. If the wound doesn’t improve, consult your vet.

5 Best Shock Collars

Quick Pick

If you are pressed for time and want to make a quick buying decision, this section is for you.

Want an all-rounder dog shock collar? Go for the Jugbow Dog Shock collar as it has 1-99 shock levels, allowing you to choose the level appropriate for your furry friend.

Do you need a shock collar with an impressive battery life? Bousnic collar is your pick. With a working time of one month remote and 15 days receiver collar, it won’t disappoint you during your camping trip.

Tight on a budget? PIOUNS Dog Shock collar will give you all the benefits of a durable and effective dog training collar without breaking the bank.

Brand	Modes of Training	Range	No.of Dogs	Charging Time	Battery Receiver (Stand by/working time)	Battery Remote (Stand by/working time)
Jugbow	4	3300 ft	2	2 hr	33 days stand by	45 days stand by
Delupet	3	1600 ft	4	2 hr	35 days stand by	45 days stand by
Bousnic	3	3399 ft	2	2 hr	15 days working time	30 days working time
Maisoie	3	1300 ft	2	2-3 hr	15 days stand by 10 days working	90 days stand by /40 days working
Piouns	3	1000 ft	2	3 hr	15 days working time	60 days working time

Best Overall: Jugbow Dog Shock Collar

Want to train your dog in the most humane way possible? Try Jugbow’s dog shock collar. It features four safe modes of training: beep, vibration, safe shock, and shock boost. The shock mode offers a wide range of stimulation levels (1-99), allowing you to carry out precise and effective training. 

Most of the time, you won’t even have to use the shock feature as its beep and vibration option is enough to deter your pet from unwanted behavior. 

With an admirable range of 3300 feet, this collar allows you to train your pet both indoors and outdoors.

Your pet can roam freely without wandering off. Plus, the convenience of one remote supporting two collars means you can train two dogs simultaneously, perfect for multi-pet households.

Besides functionality, it’s super comfortable too. The soft nylon strap keeps your pup’s skin itch and rash-free. The silicone cover on the metal prongs further ensures that his skin is protected. Also, the metal prongs can be removed, allowing you to use the collar for long periods.

The collar is waterproof too, so your canine friend can freely dunk and jump in water without damaging the receiver.

Overall, it’s one of the most effective collars. One thing we didn’t like, though, is the negligible difference between the regular and boosted pulse. The regular pulse, used for day-to-day communication, should have a lesser intensity than the boosted pulse.

Best with Multiple Pets: Delupet Dog Shock Collar

If you have dogs who keep you on your toes, this collar is for you. With three training modes (beep, vibrate, shock) you can turn your savage Labrador into a good boy. It has an impressive range of 1600 ft so you can train him from a distance.

The remote has a sleek design with big buttons and a clear screen perfect for the elderly and people with poor eyesight. Like the other collars in this list, this shock collar is waterproof too, so playing in the rain with the collar on is not a problem.

The thing that sets this e-collar apart is that it allows you to train 4 dogs with a single remote. The collar has a memory function, so you don’t have to reset it every time you put it around your pup’s neck.

However, it takes time and practice to fit this collar before it starts working. You might need to tighten it a couple of times so that the contact points stay in touch with the dog’s skin.

Best Battery: Bousnic Dog Shock Collar

If you love camping, the Bousnic dog shock collar will level up your camping experience. 

The collar has an impressive battery life of 15 days in working mode while the remote works for 1 month. The lightweight waterproof receiver won’t bother your pup’s neck while the conductive silicone prongs ensure that it doesn’t irritate your pup’s skin. 

The remote has an intuitive design and, like other collars in this list, has a security lock feature to prevent it from turning on in case of accidental touch. To adjust the stimulation level, all you have to do is press the finger dial on the remote and rotate. Also, you can train two dogs at the same time with a single remote.

It’s an effective collar with impressive features but there is a slight hitch. When the collar turns off, it gives off a loud beep similar to the training sound. This can confuse your furry friend, making him give an unneeded reaction.

Best for Medium Breeds: MAISOIE Dog Training Collar

Mosaic is your standard e-collar best for training medium dogs. With three modes of training and a 1300 ft remote range, you can monitor his behavior sitting in your backyard chair. 

The e-collar comes with two sets of metal probes, tailored specifically for both long-haired and short-haired dog breeds. You can even remove the metal probes and use the receiver as a regular collar for long periods. 

With the waterproof receiver collar, you don’t have to worry about the splashes of water while the adjustable collar strap helps you fasten the receiver as per your dog’s neck circumference. 

The waterproof receiver collar ensures you can confidently handle splashes of water without concern. Plus, the adjustable strap allows you to secure the collar comfortably according to the width of the neck.

Also, the remote has tactile buttons easily distinguished by touch to ensure effortless operation. The only flaw with this e-collar is its battery life.

The receiver’s battery tends to run out quickly, so you may need to charge it daily.

Best Budget: PIOUNS Dog Shock Collar

Want an effective collar but don’t want to put a strain on your wallet? Try the PIOUNS dog shock collar. It features 3 training modes: beep, vibration, and shock, with shock mode having 1 to 16 levels. 

The battery display on the remote and the receiver makes this e-collar convenient to use and the buckle, although more time-consuming than the snap closure, ensures a more secure fit.

With a range of 1000 ft, you can modify the unwanted behavior from a distance. The remote and collar take only 3 hours to fully charge with an impressive working time of 60 and 15 days, respectively. 

The conductive silicone covers won’t hurt your fur baby’s skin while metal probes of 2 sizes make the collar possible to use with both long and short-haired dogs. 

However, the collar enters sleep mode if the training button hasn’t been pressed for 5 minutes. To activate it, you must wake the collar up before it emits a beep. The delayed beep might fail to communicate the desired correction to the dog on time. 

How to Choose the Best Shock Collar? Pro Tips (Included)

1.Purpose: Determine the specific purpose of using the shock collar, whether it’s for obedience training, behavior modification, or containment.

2.Size and Breed of Your Dog: Ensure the shock collar is suitable for your dog’s size, breed, and temperament. Different models may be designed for small, medium, or large breeds.

3.Stimulation Levels: Look for a shock collar with various stimulation levels to match your dog’s training requirements. This allows you to start with lower levels and gradually increase if necessary.

4.Range: Look at the range of the shock collar, especially if you plan to use it for off-leash training or remote obedience. Choose a collar with a range suitable for your training environment.

5.Water Resistance: If your dog enjoys swimming and rain, opt for a shock collar that is waterproof or at least water-resistant to ensure durability.

6.Battery Life and Type: Check the battery life of the shock collar and consider whether rechargeable or replaceable batteries are preferable for your convenience and budget.

7.Safety Features: Look for safety features such as automatic shut-off mechanisms, built-in protection against overstimulation, and secure collar fit to prevent shock collar injuries.

8.Size of Metal Probes: Check the size of metal probes attached to the collar. Choose short or long metal probes depending on the length and thickness of your dog’s hair.

Pro Tip

Always test the shock collar on yourself before using it on your dog. This will help you understand the sensation and intensity your pup will experience, leading you to use it more humanely.

Most of the collar’s receivers are waterproof. However, you may need to seal the charging port to prevent water from entering the receiver.

FAQs

What are the reasons for using shock collars?

Shock collars are used to stop undesirable behaviors including excessive barking, aggression, or disobedience in dogs.

What is the maximum time I can put the collar on?

The maximum time you put a shock collar on your dog should not exceed 12 hours to avoid skin irritation or sores.

For what dogs you should use shock collars?

Shock collars are often used for dogs known for their high energy levels and strong-willed nature, such as German Shepherds, Pitbulls, and Siberian Huskies to address stubborn behaviors.