Zapper collar brought my dog Alfie to heel
I WELCOME the finding that pet collars that give dogs mild electric shocks are humane and in the animal’s best interests, according to a survey of vets (Mail). I moved to the New Forest and my once well-behaved, well-trained, twoyear-old crossbreed Alfie was off, chasing hares, rabbits and deer. After losing control of him for the fourth time, I was in tears. He had come close to running into a busy road, had disappeared over two large fields, upset swans and had become a risk to himself and others. When a friend suggested a training collar, I was horrified. But I had to consider my choices: keep him on a lead all the time, which would have been cruel; take a risk and pray nothing nasty would happen; or take strong steps to retrain him. I paid £220 for a training collar that can be set to vibrate as well as give mild shocks. I have had to use the vibrate button only twice along with the new verbal command of ‘Here!’. The first time, Alfie was confused, but as he was on a lead, he soon realised the vibration would stop if he came back to me. The second time, he was back like a shot. Now, he responds immediately to the command ‘Here!’. He wore the collar for six weeks when we went out on long off-lead walks, but I never had to use the vibrate button. He was not at all nervous of this collar. Months passed and Alfie became a little over-confident again, so I put the training collar on him again. He immediately remembered the training and realised ‘Here!’ means: ‘Come back now!’ I don’t think I will have to use the collar again. Yes, it’s a dog’s natural instinct to chase, but Alfie is domesticated and for his safety it is important he has been trained to come back when called. PAMELA BOUYSSOU,
Wimborne, Dorset.