A couple columns back, I wrote about finishing up the training of your working dog. Several people reacted negatively to the picture of my dog wearing an e-collar.

The last 15 years or so, the use of e-collars has become very common in working breeds. I have used them for several years, and find them quite useful. Many oppose the use of such equipment. Most likely they have never seen one used properly or have seen or heard of someone who has abused and ruined a dog with one.

I have to admit, I had reservations myself about using a collar that shocks my dog. My opinion was the e-collar was a tool used to punish an animal. There have been so many horror stories of dogs made vicious or useless due to improper usage. I was fortunate enough to see the collar used properly, and realized it wasn't a tool of punishment, but of reinforcement.