Can I use shock collars or hit my dog to correct bad behavior?

Shock collars, bark collars, and clicker training are all acceptable ways of training pets. The down side is they are ineffective if not done properly. They are great modalities in the correct hands that know how to implement them and do it correctly to where the dog understands what is being asked of them. Consulting a behavioral/trainer that is experienced is the best way to achieve positive results.

No, I never recommend shock collars. They are cruel and can make things worse. I also never recommend owners work with aggressive behaviors on their own, it's too dangerous. Jackson needs to see a professional behavioral therapist to help deal with his aggression. Ask his vet on Monday for a recommendation to one. Best of luck.

Yes, unfortunately a shock collar is cruel and should not be used on a dog. Some humane alternatives are boundary training or teaching Piper to come, without fail, every time you call her so that she remains in your yard. Another possibility is to explain your situation to your neighbors and ask that they not throw food into their yard. If they are doing it to feed squirrels, possums, etc., that is their right and there's not much you can do about it. If it's any other reason, you might try asking them to load the food up with sriracha, tabasco or other unpleasant flavor to deter Piper from going after it. If you have some friends in the subdivision who are not near your neighbor, how about asking if you can use their yard? Good luck with this. If you need further info, you can click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

I personally recommend against them. Most bark collars work by delivering a shock to your dog, in an attempt to "stop" them from whatever behavior they are doing. However, this often either causes pain to your dog, or starts an association of the shock with other things, such as you, or a nearby child or person, which may cause redirected aggression instead. Instead of shocking your dog when they bark or do something they shouldn't redirection through positive reinforcement is a better option. it can help build a bond with your dog without resorting to pain or fear, and while still stopping the problem. If your dog likes to bark, say, when someone walks past the house, you can instead get your dog's attention with a favorite treat or chew toy, moving them to a different room and refocusing their behavior on that, instead of the person causing them to bark. If they are distracted or upset, refocusing them into a sit or down (far enough away that the stimulus causing them to bark isn't as distracting) can help change the behavior from "bad" (barking) to "good" (sitting), which you can then start to reward if they present that behavior instead of the bark in the future. It does take longer to work with positive reinforcement and redirection training, but the overall result is a change in your dog's underlying behavior, rather than just a band aid that can lead to fear, redirected aggression, and at worse severe injury. If you're curious to work on more positive reinforcement behaviors, speaking with a local dog trainer or animal behaviorist (specialists in behavior training specifically) is best as they can work with you in person on any specific problems you're having.

This is a lot of questions, and talking with one of our experts in a consultation may be useful for figuring out the basics of puppy training. Another good option is to enroll in a puppy training class together where you can learn to train with positive reinforcement, better communicate, and both get on the same page about house rules and basic obedience. I do NOT recommend shock collars at all as these are likely to just frustrated or even scare your dog. They work to stop problem behaviors by causing pain or fear, instead of figuring out how to turn a "bad" behavior into a positive one through redirecting or stopping the behavior before it starts. As for potty training, without knowing your puppy's age or what you've tried already, it is hard to give a good answer. Making sure to take your puppy outside frequently (every hour if needed for very young dogs) and especially after waking, playing, eating or drinking can help provide opportunity to go outside successfully. Inside, when you are not at home, looking into crate training or blocking off your puppy's access in the house to only an easy to clean kitchen or laundry room with potty pads can help prevent accidents and encourage good behaviors.

Shock collars are ineffective and often times just cause your dog to fear you, or in your case, not react at all. I recommend immediately stopping its use and contacting a trainer in person for help and proper positive reinforcement training to address the issue you are having.

Thank you for submitting your question. Your parents are wrong. Hitting a puppy hard enough to make it cry is abuse. This is not an appropriate way to train a dog. It had been the recommendation so time again ago, but has been proven ineffective at best and as you have seen in your pup harmful. Punishing a dog by hitting them makes them fearful of you. It will build anxiety and can cause the dog to act out in aggression. Hitting with the offending object does not teach them anything. Dogs do not make past associations as in they will not remember chewing the object or why you are upset. It is the dog owner's responsibility to keep objects out of reach of the dog. This can be achieved by crate training the dog to keep them and your belongings safe while the dog is unsupervised. I hope this information helps you and Persephone!