Can Aggression in Dogs Be Elicited Through the Use of Electronic Pet Containment Systems? Richard Polsky, 2000 Polsky presented a set of five case reports based on data from legal documents relating to personal injury lawsuits involving severe attacks on humans by dogs who were being trained or maintained on an electronic pet containment system (using a shock collar). In every incident, the dog was within the "shock zone" and all fences were working; the dogs must then have received a shock. Four of the five dogs were not subject to threatening behavior by the victims prior to the attack. None of the dogs gave any kind of warning prior to biting, and all bit their victims repeatedly and seriously in the head, face, back and neck. The analysis suggests that the dogs' aggression was caused by the shock. There are several unknown factors to the cases, including the training used to introduce the dog to the fence, the amount of time the dog spent outside unsupervised, and what level of shock intensity the dogs received. However, the reaction of the dogs, and especially the severity of the attacks, was inconsistent with their past behavior. Polsky concluded a "possible interpretation in terms of unconditioned aggression as a result of a dog having received electronic shock and avoidance-motivated aggression mediated through fear reduction toward human stimuli."electric pet containment systmes?

Can Aggression in Dogs Be Elicited Through the Use of Electronic Pet Containment Systems?
Richard Polsky, 2000

Polsky presented a set of five case reports based on data from legal documents relating to personal injury lawsuits involving severe attacks on humans by dogs who were being trained or maintained on an electronic pet containment system (using a shock collar). In every incident, the dog was within the "shock zone" and all fences were working; the dogs must then have received a shock. Four of the five dogs were not subject to threatening behavior by the victims prior to the attack. None of the dogs gave any kind of warning prior to biting, and all bit their victims repeatedly and seriously in the head, face, back and neck.
The analysis suggests that the dogs' aggression was caused by the shock. There are several unknown factors to the cases, including the training used to introduce the dog to the fence, the amount of time the dog spent outside unsupervised, and what level of shock intensity the dogs received. However, the reaction of the dogs, and especially the severity of the attacks, was inconsistent with their past behavior. Polsky concluded a "possible interpretation in terms of unconditioned aggression as a result of a dog having received electronic shock and avoidance-motivated aggression mediated through fear reduction toward human stimuli."

Talk

Shock Collar: The Dangers of Illusion, Pinch, Choke and Shock collars!

Shock Collar, the Dangers of Illusion, Pinch (prong), Choke and Shock collars
By David Reinecker 
Canine behaviorist and APDT member:

Misuse of these collars appears to be the most common problem. Pet owners will typically pull on these chains or use these collars after the dog misbehaved. The problem is that the dog has almost always shifted his or her attention to something else and isn’t thinking about what angered the owner. The dog then associates this random painful sensation with whatever he or she is focusing on. This can be dangerous if the dog is focusing on another object, another dog, a child or the owner.

Shock, pinch, choke, command and Illusion collars serve one purpose: to block the blood flow to the dog's brain.

According to neurologist and animal welfare advocate, Jean Zuniga, MD, PhD, these collars can actually cause permanent damage in the dog.

Strokes happen because not enough blood gets to the brain. Blood flow stops when an artery carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked. The technical name for this type of brain attack is cerebral infarction. It is also called ischemic stroke. "Ischemic" refers to a condition caused by a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part.

Other behavioral side effects could occur, including fear of a certain person or a certain area. Or worse, the dog could become aggressive toward people or places he or she associates with the pain.

Even in experienced hands, it can take several repeated attempts before the dog associates the shock or choke with the wrong behavior and even more before he or she learns how to avoid it by acting the correct way. Then, of course, there is the chance of accidentally pulling on the chains at the wrong times or a shock collar malfunctioning, confusing the dog even more.

According to recent medical studies, the use of these methods can cause numerous types of physical injuries to a dog, including vertebrae damage, fainting, spinal cord injuries, organ malfunctions, bruising of the trachea, larynx or esophagus and sharp headaches.

Further Reading

Stratton,D.B.,1981. Neuroquimica. Neurofisiologia. McGraw-Hill, Mexico D.F.,393-410

Lockwood, R., Ascione, F.R., 1998. Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence: Readings in Research and Application. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN. p. 452.

Overall, K.L., 2007. Why electric shock is not behavior modification. J. Vet. Behav.: Clin. Appl. Res. 2, 1-4.

Pauli, A.M., Bentley, E., Diehl, K.A., Miller, P.E., 2006. Effects of the application of neck pressure by a collar or harness on intraocular pressure in dogs. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 42, 207-211.

Schafe, G.E., Nader, K., Blair, H.T., LeDoux, J.E., 2001. Memory consolidation of Pavlovian fear conditioning: A cellular and molecular perspective. Trends Neurosci. 24, 540-546.

Schilder, M.B.H., van der Borg, J.A.M., 2004. Training dogs with the help of the shock collar: Short and long term behavioural effects. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 85, 319-334

The dangers of illusion, pinch choke and shock collars.

Shock Collar, the Dangers of Illusion, Pinch (prong), Choke and Shock collars

By David Reinecker (Professional dog trainer and canine behaviorist) Misuse of these collars appears to be the most common problem. Pet owners will typically pull on these chains or use these collars after the dog misbehaved. The problem is that the dog has almost always shifted his or her attention to something else and isn’t thinking about what angered the owner. The dog then associates this random painful sensation with whatever he or she is focusing on. This can be dangerous if the dog is focusing on another object, another dog, a child or the owner. Shock, pinch, choke, command and Illusion collars serve one purpose: to block the blood flow to the dog's brain. According to neurologist and animal welfare advocate, Jean Zuniga, MD, PhD, these collars can actually cause permanent damage in the dog. Strokes happen because not enough blood gets to the brain. Blood flow stops when an artery carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked. The technical name for this type of brain attack is cerebral infarction. It is also called ischemic stroke. "Ischemic" refers to a condition caused by a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part. Other behavioral side effects could occur, including fear of a certain person or a certain area. Or worse, the dog could become aggressive toward people or places he or she associates with the pain. Even in experienced hands, it can take several repeated attempts before the dog associates the shock or choke with the wrong behavior and even more before he or she learns how to avoid it by acting the correct way. Then, of course, there is the chance of accidentally pulling on the chains at the wrong times or a shock collar malfunctioning, confusing the dog even more. According to recent medical studies, the use of these methods can cause numerous types of physical injuries to a dog, including vertebrae damage, fainting, spinal cord injuries, organ malfunctions, bruising of the trachea, larynx or esophagus and sharp headaches. Further Reading Stratton,D.B.,1981. Neuroquimica. Neurofisiologia. McGraw-Hill, Mexico D.F.,393-410 Lockwood, R., Ascione, F.R., 1998. Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence: Readings in Research and Application. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN. p. 452. Overall, K.L., 2007. Why electric shock is not behavior modification. J. Vet. Behav.: Clin. Appl. Res. 2, 1-4. Pauli, A.M., Bentley, E., Diehl, K.A., Miller, P.E., 2006. Effects of the application of neck pressure by a collar or harness on intraocular pressure in dogs. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 42, 207-211. Schafe, G.E., Nader, K., Blair, H.T., LeDoux, J.E., 2001. Memory consolidation of Pavlovian fear conditioning: A cellular and molecular perspective. Trends Neurosci. 24, 540-546. Schilder, M.B.H., van der Borg, J.A.M., 2004. Training dogs with the help of the shock collar: Short and long term behavioural effects. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 85, 319-334

Dr Yin (Veterinary Surgeon)

Some Techniques Triggered Aggression

The highest frequency of aggression occurred in response to aversive (or punishing) interventions, even when the intervention was indirect:

• Hitting or kicking the dog (41% of owners reported aggression)
• Growling at the dog (41%)
• Forcing the dog to release an item from its mouth (38%)
• "Alpha roll" (forcing the dog onto its back and holding it down) (31%)
• "Dominance down" (forcing the dog onto its side) (29%)
• Grabbing the jowls or scruff (26%)
• Staring the dog down (staring at the dog until it looks away) (30%)
• Spraying the dog with water pistol or spray bottle (20%)
• Yelling "no" (15%)
• Forced exposure (forcibly exposing the dog to a stimulus – such as tile floors, noise or people – that frightens the dog) (12%)

In contrast, non-aversive methods resulted in much lower frequency of aggressive responses:

• Training the dog to sit for everything it wants (only 2% of owners reported aggression)
• Rewarding the dog for eye contact (2%)
• Food exchange for an item in its mouth instead of forcing the item out (6%)
• Rewarding the dog for "watch me" (0%)