4 PAWS NEWSLETTER

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P O BOX 1809 Fourways 2055

Fax:  086 669 6264

Email:merinda@4ourpaws.org.za

Cell: 083-377-3219

052-145-NPO

Web: www.4ourpaws.org.za

 

August 2010 NEWSLETTER

Mission: To improve the quality of life of underprivileged animals. We are concentrating on squatter camp animals and feral cats. Read more about both in our column WHAT FOUR PAWS IS ABOUT (page 6).

 

Vision: To expand by obtaining more vehicles, employing more fieldworkers and operating from our own clinic.

 

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PIECE OF LAND TO BUILD OUR OWN SHELTER!! OUR DEEPEST, SINCERE THANKS TO CHERYL AND JULIAN SHORE FOR OFFERING A PIECE OF THEIR PROPERTY, FREE OF CHARGE, TO US FOR OUR NEW SHELTER! However, to build the kennels and catteries is going to cost us roughly R500 000.00!

 

We need your help with the following:

-financial support

-building materials such as bricks, cement, sand etc.

-a handyman to assist with building kennels

-wendy houses & dog kennels

-paint

-bowls, leads, cat litter trays

-dog and cat food

-cat litter

 

SQUATTER CAMP PROJECTS:

 

The main problem in these poor areas is that people simply do not have the means, transport or finances to provide their animals with basic health care and veterinary treatment. As a result, many animals suffer unnecessarily, while others die a slow, painful death. Ignorance plays a big role in animal cruelty. Overpopulation results in numbers no community can sustain, and many animals die from starvation.

 

We provide primary health care services, veterinary treatments and sterilisations, free of charge. We also educate pet owners about proper pet care.

 

Update on the abandoned shack dogs: We shared the story of the abandoned shack in our previous newsletter, with 9 dogs (including 2 puppies) left behind. The owners left in December, never to return again! The dogs were left to fend for themselves and as a result they have become a pack of wild dogs.

 

We managed to catch 4 dogs so far; unfortunately 1 dog died probably from billiary and even more disturbing the one dog now has puppies! We are still continuing our rescue attempts.

 

We also sent out the story of the fourth dog from this abandoned shack that we have caught, with the piece of string around her neck, cutting into the flesh. We are delighted to inform you that she has found the perfect home and is now a very happy, spoiled doggie!

Before

At home with her new mommy, Belinda

 

Our own kennel project:

Most dogs in the Townships have very little or NO shelter. We have our own kennels manufactured by CHM Plastics, who manufacture the kennels for us at a special price of R350 each. Please if you can, sponsor a kennel for a Township doggie! (Please use your email address and kennel as reference.)

 

Some of the lucky dogs that have received our beautiful blue kennels! Our sincere thanks to Mercuria Energy Trading SA for sponsoring 20 kennels!

 

 

Look at my brand new kennel!

Even the cat was impressed!

What a grateful face!

 

Update on the neglected dog: We recently shared with you the story of this dog in the pictures below who was spotted by Matthew Kannemeyer. He phoned the Johannesburg SPCA several times about this dog, but did not receive much assistance. Matthew phoned us and asked if we could check up on the dog, which we did. We explained to the owner that the dog needs to be taken to a vet and insisted that we take her to our vet.

 

The findings of our vet were very disturbing. The dog was suffering from severe malnutrition, she had mange all over her body; her legs and feet were severely swollen (probably as a result from the malnutrition); she was underweight; she was riddled with worms and there was blood coming through the cracks in her bare skin. This poor dog had been in such pain and agony for such a long time! We considered legal action at the time.

 

The reality unfortunately, is that there is a good chance that this case will never make it to court, as murder, rape and child abuse cases take precedence over one neglected dog. We were also advised that even IF this case makes it to court, ONE small technicality could result in the case being thrown out and we will be forced to give the dog back to the owner. Believe me this was not an easy decision, as I also want to see the owner being punished for what she has done, but I decided not to lay a charge against the owner. I simply do not want there to be ANY chance that the dog can go back to the owner.

 

We did, however take a copy of the Animal Protection Act to the owner and highlighted all her offences but promised not to lay a charge against her, if she promises never to have a dog again, which she did. We will do check-ups at her house.

 

The dog is now in the loving care of Leslie and Mel, who are fostering and rehabilitating her, she does not get along with other dogs at all.

 

 

Happy ending for a lost doggie: We received a phone call from Darren Verwey, who spotted a Spaniel struggling to walk along the road, but when he stopped, the dog had already managed to get too far away for him to catch the dog. We went out to the area where the dog was spotted, but there was no sign of the dog. A little later, the same morning, we received another phone call about the same dog, from Ken Bois. This time the dog was lying in an open field, but as Ken approached the dog, he struggled up on his legs and tried his best to move away from Ken. Ken did not want to traumatize the dog any further, as he was clearly in a very bad shape, so he approached us for help.

 

As we arrived on the scene, yet again the dog tried his best to get away from us, but he was very weak. We offered the emaciated dog a full bowl of food and he gulped it all up. We offered him some more and by that time he started to trust us enough for us to pick him up.

 

The poor dogs hair was extremely matted especially, his ears. Both ears were just one very thick, long knot, that in fact did not even look like hair anymore. He must have been living on the streets for MANY weeks! Fortunately, he has found a very good home!

 

A very weak doggie with extremely matted ears

After a good bath and shaved ears, on the way to our vet, Dr Shelagh Hahn

(Blue Bush Animal Clinic)

 

Wits Campus Dog: This poor dog in the pictures below, had been living on the Wits Campus for over TWO YEARS! He survived on the cat food that is fed to the many feral cats on the premises. He was terrified of us and it took us over 3 hours to finally catch him. He was diagnosed with billiary at our vet and therefore he would not have survived at the Campus much longer. He has now recovered and if you can offer this dog a good home, please contact us.

 

 

Sweet little cat needs a loving home: This beautiful, very sweet cat in the pictures below, was abandoned by her owners at boarding kennels some time ago and she was about to be euthanized when we intervened and took her into our care. She was riddled with worms and had cancer on her ears, but other than that, there was nothing wrong with her!

 

Our vet amputated her ears and de-wormed her. She is extremely friendly and LOVES attention. Please, if there is someone out there who can offer a home to this beautiful cat, contact us?

 

I have no ears, but I am very loving and I especially love to be rubbed on my tummy!

 

FERAL CAT PROJECTS: Feral cats are a direct result of humans, not sterilising their cats, starting many years ago. Cats and kittens ended up on the streets, multiplying even more. We trap, sterilise and release ferals and urge people to feed them. Ferals cannot be re-located due to their nature and adult ferals are almost impossible to tame.

 

We receive SEVERAL calls on a daily basis from people seeking assistance with ferals on their premises. The only humane way to deal with the feral problem is to trap, sterilise, release and feed them. (Read more about ferals at the bottom in WHAT FOUR PAWS IS ABOUT.)

 

Update on the injured coal mine cats: At the end of May we sent out the story of the injured cat at the coal mine. It seemed the cat got caught in some of the machinery at the mine. Fortunately we managed to trap the cat with our first attempt, together with her sibling and rushed her to our vet, Dr Shelagh Hahn. The findings of our vet were both shocking, but at the same time, heartwarming!

 

The injured cats front paw was almost completely cut off and merely hanging on a string of skin. The back leg was seriously injured with big pieces of flesh torn out. Even more disturbing is the fact that our vet said that this did not happen recently, but at least between a week and two weeks earlier!

 

Due to the fact that these cats are not being fed at the mine, they have to fend for themselves and there is absolutely NO WAY this cat could have hunted or moved around too much looking for food. We have come to the conclusion that the tabby sibling, who went together inside the trap with her, must have brought food to her and cared for her.

 

This was confirmed at our vet, as her little sister took just as good care of her while recovering at our vet. Thanks to the 24 hour care of her little sister, who curls up to her, grooms her and comforts her, she made a full recovery. We are eternally grateful to Caron for giving a loving home to both cats! They are still quite happy inside the cage even though it is open that Caron built for them for them to live in initially until they were used to the new environment.

Before the amputation

Recovering in the care of her loving sister

At their new home

 

Sadly, not too long after that, we found yet another injured cat at the same mine, with very similar injuries. One of her legs was also hanging on a piece of string and one foot was cut off. On closer inspection, we have come to the conclusion that the cats are getting caught in HANDMADE SNARES!!

 

We have since spoken to the management at the mine who agreed to inform the staff that no snares are allowed on the premises of the mine.

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To our delight, Melanie, Dr Hahn?s assistant, who took such good care of this kitty, decided to adopt him! Lennon. as she called him, safely in the arms of his new mommy

 

FUNDRAISING:

FOUR PAWS will be the beneficiary of the SAINTs book sales on 25 September and 2 October, the proceeds from the sales will used for the building of our new shelter. The sales are held at Northriding Square (Checkers & Dros), Bellairs Drive, 9am till 2pm (Outside Checkers on upper level) Bellairs Drive Randburg (Please note it is NOT the Bellairs Mall on the corner of Malibongwe, but 3 robots down in Bellairs Drive). Please contact saints@mweb.co.za for any more info and also if you would like to offer your time as a volunteer to help out at the sales.

 

SAINTs is also selling 2011 diaries in aid of Four Paws, please email saints@mweb.co.za in this regard stating you wish to benefit Four Paws.

 

RAFFLE:

We have been given this stunning Rogz bed with toys which we will be raffling at the two book sales, we would however like to start the raffle sooner, if you are interested you can buy a uniquely numbered sheet of raffle entries for R100 (20 x R5.00) by emailing Amy on amyg@mweb.co.za along with your proof of payment into Four Paws bank account. You then sell the tickets to your friends and family (to make back your R100 you paid in) and return the completed sheet either via email by Monday 4 October or drop it off at the book sale. The lucky winner will be contacted on Tuesday 5 October.

 

 

SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

 

Did you know?

There are 45 cats and dogs for every person born

Only 1 out of 10 dogs born ever get a home

Only 1 out of 12 cats born ever find a home

There are simply not enough homes for all of them!

The bottom line?

Please help us to educate people to SPAY and NEUTER their pets!

 

A very special thank you to ALL our donors: You give us strength, courage and make it possible for us to continue our work!? PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A PERSONAL THANK YOU FROM US, NOTIFY US.

 

Many thanks to Amy Groves for doing our books free of charge, managing our Facebook, raising funds for us (as one of the founders of SAINTs), editing our newsletters and stories and being our personal advisor on many important issues.

 

Thank you to the ladies of SAINTs for doing book and jumble sales, raffles and auctions and organizing events on a regular basis, for fundraising.

 

We would especially like to mention Cloud 9 Golf for organizing a Golf Day at Bryanston Country Club, Four Paws received R18420.00. These funds are going straight into building our new shelter!

 

Thank you to BWC (Beauty without Cruelty), for sponsoring some of our sterilizations.

 

Thank you to Alicia van Loggerenberg for running our web site free of charge.

 

Thank you to Ed Jackson for auditing our books free of charge.

 

Thank you Kitty & Puppy Haven, Co-Sanc and FORA for your help in rehoming our homeless animals.

 

Thank you to our veterinarians, Dr Shelagh Hahn (Blue Bush Animal Clinic), Dr Grant Craig (Paulshof Veterinary Clinic) and Dr A S Leonard (Northriding Animal Clinic) for doing sterilisations and treatments at reduced costs. Thank you also for re-homing some of our homeless animals.

 

Wish list:

 

-FINANCIAL SUPPORT

-Dog- and cat food (especially soft food for trapping ferals and de-worming dogs)

-Cat litter

-Carpets to cut up for blankets

-Cat litter trays

-Cleaning materials such as mops and brooms

-Medicines such as dip, de-worming, vaccines

-Sponsors for kennels

-Books for book sales

-Any item that can be used for raffles

-Jumble for jumble sales

-Another vehicle to transport animals

 

Please help us to help those who cannot speak for themselves by making a kind donation and/or sending this to all your friends and family.

 

Banking details:

FOUR PAWS

Nedbank, Fourways

Branch code: 168405, Acc no: 1684110750

 

Many thanks to each and every supporter!

Kind regards

 

Merinda Brits

Founder and Chairperson

WHAT FOUR PAWS IS ABOUT: Our aim is to improve the quality of life of underprivileged animals.? In our urban surroundings there are two main categories:? squatter camp animals and feral cats.   Squatter camp projects: The problems with our underprivileged dogs and cats are: -Malnutrition, insufficient shelter & a lack of food and water. -Animals become sick and injured and there is no medical care available. -Animals are knocked over by cars on the roads, because there are no fences. -Dogs are put on chains mainly due to a lack of education and also because there are no fences. -Animals are multiplying uncontrollably because there are no sterilisation programmes. -Communicable diseases like distemper, parvo, snuffles, etc. are spreading, because animals are not vaccinated. -Unwanted animals, especially litters of puppies and kittens, due to overpopulation.   What we do: - Dipping and de-worming to prevent internal and external parasites. -Intensive sterilisation campaigns to prevent overpopulation and straying of animals over the roads in mating seasons. -Removal of unwanted animals and re-homing to suitable homes. -Vaccination to prevent deadly diseases. -Veterinary treatment for injuries and diseases. -Education about proper pet care. -Humane euthanasia of terminally ill animals. -Instilling awareness and respect for animals and the environment. -Confiscation of animals where intentional cruelty occurs.   Feral Projects : Feral cats are a direct result of humans? irresponsibility not to have their cats sterilised, starting many years ago.?? This has resulted in a huge overpopulation of cats and kittens living on the streets, multiplying even more.   The facts and problems with our underprivileged cats are: -People want to ?get rid? of ferals, when in fact it is impossible to get rid of them.? There are many thousands of ferals living all over in our surroundings. -Where ferals are removed, a void is created and ferals from other areas soon fill that void. -A sterilised feral colony will not allow other ferals to move in -Ferals keep the rat population under control, as rats are attracted to the same areas as ferals, normally where food is thrown away. -Feeding ferals will ensure good health and minimize the spreading of diseases. -Feeding ferals will not stop them from hunting rats, as hunting is a basic instinct. -Ferals who are forced to live on rats, mice and left over food only, suffer from malnutrition and diseases. -Ferals are being shot, poisoned and trapped & drowned all over by people. -Ferals pose NO threat to humans -Ferals cannot be re-located due to their nature, removing ferals therefore means killing them.   What we do: -Trap, sterilise and release ferals. -Educate people about ferals. -Encourage people to take responsibility for ferals in their area and feed them. -Trap as many feral kittens as we can, tame and re-home them, instead of letting them grow up on the streets.? It is however, a very difficult and time-consuming process to tame feral cats.?

 

 

The Five Most Dangerous Dogs in the WORLD!!!

The 5 Most Dangerous Dogs in the World

Posted by Ryan O'Meara on August 11, 2010 in Columns | 3 Comments

Undoubtedly it’s going to be controversial. Without fear of chicken counting, it will receive a lot of traffic. And without any element of doubt, it might cause ripples but it needs to be out there, for the public to know. We’ve decided to publicly name the five MOST dangerous dogs on the planet.

The Most Dangerous Dogs in the World

in reverse order:

5. Badly fed dog.

Badly fed dog is the animal who’s been fuelled up with a diet fit for an Olympic weight lifter, but who only ever gets to expend about 20% of the calories he takes in. He’s got lots of energy and his mismatched diet can manifest in bouts of sudden energetic rampaging. Badly fed dog would ask you to consider; how you would feel spending your day in an office when every inch of your body is throbbing and twitching as you crave the opportunity to actually use up some of those excess calories. Badly fed dog would be happier and safer if his diet reflected his lifestyle.

4. Never had any friends dog.

Otherwise known as ‘totally under socialised dog’.

He was a little naughty when he was a puppy, so his owner decided he’d be better off being kept away from all other forms of animal life. He now spends his days obsessing over what it would be like to chase other dogs around and, by George, one of these days he’s gonna actually do it!

Never had any friends dog is going to present his owner with a lifetime of problems, he has no social skills and has never had a chance to learn natural interaction through the teachings of his own kind. He’ll meet new dogs and will be about as socially adept as a 45-year old virgin at a Playboy mansion party. He’s going to blow it. Big time.

3. Shouty.

Shouty is the dog who has spent most of his life shouting at folks or being shouted at himself. He sees people on his street, he shouts at them. In turn, his owner shouts at him. Shouty presumes being shouted at is a recognition of his excellent work. In fact, hearing his owner shouting in response to his own shouting encourages his assumption that they’re just as upset, anxious, nervous, angry as HE is about the audacity of other people/dogs/pigeons to walk past his window. Shouty is relentlessly encouraged and endorsed in his shouty behaviour and, a bit like no friends dog, shouty spends his days imaging how good it will be when he FINALLY gets his chance to get face to face with the objects of his ire.

2. House proud.

House proud dog is SO touchy about people coming to his digs unannounced, he’ll happily maim you for your insolence in trying to visit his abode without obtaining the correct visitation paperwork.

House proud dog does a line in dishing out injuries to posties, meter readers and delivery people. Fortunately for house proud dog, his owners absolutely REFUSE to believe he is capable of violence, so leave him completely unattended to dish out his own brand of justice to anyone brash enough to consider entering his domain.

1. Spoilt dog.

“That’s mine and these are mine, those are mine, I’m entitled to that, I believe that I saw that first, I lay claim to those, I own all of these, I’m the rightful proprietor of this…”

Welcome to the world of spoilt dog. Quite simply, he believes everything he wants, he can have. Woe betide anyone to tell him differently. His timid owners have never had the heart to let him know that in the human world, simply showing your teeth and growling doesn’t constitute a legal contract on the ownership of goods. They let him off and, worse, they let him keep his spoils, which he’ll gather up and place in his own corner of the world.

Sadly, spoilt dog is, one day, going to meet someone who is unaware that he has previously laid claim to every possession on earth. Unfortunately, unlike spoilt dog’s owners, this person is going to have to find out the hard way just how deep spoilt dog’s sense of entitlement runs. Really hard luck if it happens to be a youngster, blissfully ignorant to the fact that the shiny ball on the floor is spoilt dog’s most prized possession (at that VERY moment). A few stitches and a spell in hospital ought to serve as a permanent reminder though.

[What? You didn't think there was a such a thing as a list of 'dangerous dog breeds' did you?

 

E Collar Pro Argument for the use of!

This article was taken from a Gundog trainer called Martin Deeley

www.martindeeley.comthemodernremotetrainer

 

(NOTE FROM LOU)

This article in no way intends to promote the use of an e collar and I have included it for purely discussion purposes and all opinions herein are the opinions of the said author. Opinions please!!!!!

 

It is now over thirty years since the first commercial electronic collar or ‘shock’ collar as it was popularly called hit the market. This was a true ‘shock collar’ with only one intensity - “Wow!”  Because of this its use was very limited to making behavioural changes that had to be dramatic such as car and livestock chasing, and dogs that could take or be conditioned to take this intensity of stimulation, such as hunting dogs. It was, because of the technology, a very crude form of tool by today’s standards. One button and one level – hot, and it deserved the name – ‘shock’ collar. However other tools in their early days are equally as crude and difficult to apply. I can remember the first chain saws with engines that cut out, saw blades that easily came off, and machines that kicked back with no safety feature designed to stop the motor in the event of this occurring.

 

Surgery at one time was done with knives but today we have micros surgery, lasers and non-invasive operations. Cataracts can be rectified and sight deficiencies corrected in minutes using modern virtually painless technology and any pain or discomfort that is present is acceptable because the wonderful results are worth it. Over the years technology has brought about many revolutions, electronics and its improvements has been the catalyst in many of them. Cars are easier to drive and safer because of it. No matter what we see in everyday life, developments have created tools and equipment that make our jobs easier and safer.

 

 The Remote training (electric) collar has also taken advantage of modern technology. No longer is it the ‘shock’ collar of old but provides us as owners and trainers with the precision of an easily understood electronic piece of equipment. Its development and design has provided us with a humane piece of equipment that is of benefit to all dog trainers and owners and provides us with the most comprehensive piece of equipment to develop, change and modify a dog’s behaviour. Our own fear of electricity and the word ‘shock’ with all its connotations created trepidation about the use of the collar. It was related in the minds of many to touching a live terminal or a hot wire fence. In the early days this was the experience but today with the ability to control the ‘feel’ of the electronic cycles, there is a tendency to refer to it as a ‘startle’ at high levels and a tickle at low levels.

 

A feeling similar at low levels to a light tingle vibration and at higher levels to a Tens machine which is used to relax muscles in athletes. Today’s remote trainers bear no resemblance in intensity or feeling to cattle fences or live electric home wiring, which many imagine. In fact when encouraged to feel the collar most exhibit surprise at the sensation. “It tickles’ or “Oooh, it’s a funny feeling, like a vibration” are the most common comments. The tickle or vibration of course comes from the cycles of electricity at an extremely low current. Children who have never experienced the feel of electricity and therefore have no pre-conceived fears or unpleasant experiences, smile or even giggle at the sensation.  

 

Where the early collars only had a ‘Wow’ button the new ones now have the ability to start at a very low level of intensity, in fact for many people and dogs it is an imperceptible level. The new collars also have the ability to provide a continuous ‘feeling’ for a few seconds, or apply split second ‘taps’ or ‘distracters which can be almost subliminal, - so quickly are they given. Using the collar we now have the ability to interrupt, shape and correct a dog’s behaviour in a way that is as near to perfection in accordance with all the rules of learning using aversives and punishment.

 

As with the word ‘shock’, aversive and punishment have been misapplied by some people to create extreme thoughts in our minds of cruelty and abuse. Both those words are often selected and highlighted with extreme examples of aversion or punishment to show they should not be used. Aversion and punishment does not automatically co-relate with cruelty and abuse which every respectable owner and trainer rejects. We all encounter aversives everyday and change our behaviour or ways of living to deal with them. If it is cold outside and we are uncomfortable, we do not suffer this, we move inside or put warmer clothes on. Similarly if we try to do a job or an action in an incorrect way, knowing that we are tempting luck, and an accident occurs or we suffer because of it, the next time we do this job we change the procedure/behaviour to avoid that ‘punishment’. If we look at the definitions of these words we realize that they do not indicate extremes, but a wide range of sensations and feelings, it is how we perceive the words that provides the problem in using them.

 

 We all learn by consequences – good consequences and unwanted consequences. Punishing consequences however have to match the misdemeanour to be effective, it has to be timed to occur at the time of the misdemeanour or be related to it and this is where the remote trainer is of the utmost benefit. There are degrees of aversives and punishment and to intimate that they are always either life threatening or abusive is to state examples far from the truth. If we feel a slight discomfort in one place we move to an area where there is none. If we touch something that creates an unwanted feeling we leave it and we learn because of this. We relate the consequences of our action to the action itself and therefore the action becomes favourable or unfavourable to us. We teach ourselves through experience, through making choices and learning from the outcome.

 

Dogs however have an advantage in that we can help them make the correct choices. We can guide them, manage them and provide controls. Like ourselves they are given opportunities to do right, and when they do there are rewards. In this way the dog itself can make decisions regarding the right actions to take, what is pleasurable, rewarding and acceptable to society and owner and what is unpleasant and not a good habit to adopt. Society has developed morals, ethics, legislation and behaviour based on these premises since time began.

 

 The electric collar is where technology has triumphed in dog training. Aversives and punishment can be applied at just the right moment, the right level and at varying distances. They can be applied at a level that will penetrate the focus of a dog whether it is calm focus, intense focus or anything in between. The level and duration can be adjusted to meet the needs of the moment and once the unwanted behaviour ceases and the correct behaviour chosen it can be immediately ended and praise or other rewards given. The aim is to stop the unwanted behaviour immediately and build on the good behaviour the dog exhibits

 

 In fact this is the big advantage of using the remote training collar as part of the learning process.  Firstly the dog changes the behaviour in many instances on its own volition – let’s call it auto-change or auto–shaping, and secondly when it does what is right this activity in itself becomes self-rewarding. The dog has found a way to avoid a funny feeling or escape punishment. The relief value in itself is a prominent factor in developing the new and wanted behaviour. The new behaviour becomes far more acceptable and habitual because it is pleasurable or avoids un-pleasurable feelings.

 

 Although able to be used by the amateur in its simplest form, the use of the collar can lead us into many exciting and advantageous new methods if we are experienced dog trainers. With our knowledge of dogs and their behaviour the e-collar can become a very flexible and comprehensive piece of equipment. For example we can use it to ‘stimulate’ an action – I would even call it a motivator.   In this instance the momentary stimulation is used to prompt the dog into an action such as a sit or down. By simultaneously pressing the momentary button as you give a command the dog understands, you can prompt the dog into a quicker response.

 

The emphasis is on a command the dog understands. The stimulation has to be one the dog just feels. It’s sharpness and the momentary stimulation actually makes the dog’s mind focus on the right reaction. It becomes almost a spontaneous reaction and because the stimulation is so short, approximately one thousandth of a second, it comes and goes so quick that the dog hardly shows he has felt anything. The e-collar also leaves no residual feeling and therefore the stimulation can be described as subliminal in prompting the action.

 

 With new technology often comes the association in the minds of many people of complexity. However this is not always the case. Computers have become easier to use, cars easier to drive, eye surgery easier to perform – video recorder, well they will always be the most complex things I try to operate! But the Remote trainer (electric) collar because of its ability to change levels of intensity and duration has become easier, more versatile and flexible in its applications. It can be the most simple at its basic level for the everyday dog owner, and yet allow complex learning to be achieved by a trainer in sophisticated training sessions. It allows a trainer to be creative, to bring more learning approaches to his training and to constantly remain in contact with his dog developing a relationship built on trust and respect.

 

 I have to emphasize at this stage that the collar is not a method; it is a piece of equipment and as such does not substitute in any way a trainer’s or owner’s ability to train. For simple behaviour training such as creating a good recall, heeling, sitting and staying the collar requires little knowledge and expertise, these are simple activities that require simple instructions. However for the trainer who wants to ‘polish’ a dog for competition or who has to change a well entrenched unwanted behaviour the collar provides a very effective tool to achieve this with.  It enhances the trainer’s ability to train and achieve the desired results with the minimum of stress to his dog. There is no doubt that used in the recommended way the remote training collar creates far less stress in the dog and the trainer than any other form of aversive or punishment. For the trainer, reading a dog, building a bond, knowing the different ways to achieve the desired results, motivating a dog, and intuitiveness in training is not replaced. Understanding of the learning process and dog behaviour is still essential to take a dog to a high level of performance, and change strong undesirable behaviour. The ability to train using all training techniques and methods is still required to obtain the results required but by effective use of the collar the results can be achieved far more quickly and in a way which creates and maintains the desire behaviour and reliability of this behaviour occurring.

 

 Old dogma and superstitions die hard especially among those ignorant of the collar operations and its effective application. It is time for the emotive thoughts surrounding the remote training electric collar and the bark collar, and the fears concerning its use to be dispelled. Today’s collars have been designed by dog lovers to provide the most humane punishment and reinforcement of good behaviour available to us. Their use provides that invaluable and natural part of the learning process of any animal –where they learn what is acceptable to the society in which they live by making the right decisions in their lifestyle and becoming acceptable canine good citizens.