| Re: shock collar
Before saying anything about the ecollar, I feel strongly about something else. I could be entirely wrong about this but...
Since you have a very strong bond with your dog and he is very well trained and obedient in all respects except this food thing, I'm wondering why you are making such an issue of it. I'm wondering if you have created the problem, and you are risking that otherwise excellent relationship you have by pitting yourself against your dog and insisting that you will "win" this one. The last episode of growling that you described - it does not sound like food aggression at all to me (the food was not even around and he was guarding nothing) but rather an intense state relating to the entire process of feeding. I agree with putting his food in the crate (if you use a crate) or in some out of the way place and simply leaving the food and your dog alone, totally alone. I do not see why you need to force the issue.
As to the ecollar. Have you thought out exactly how you would use it in this situation and what it is you think you will teach him? I can only think of one way you could use it, and that is to punish him with a zap for... for what, growling? You want the ecollar to make him stop growling? Or you think that zapping him is going to make him eat, and let you pet him and bother him while he eats or he gets zapped? Makes no sense to me at all. He is stressed enough. You zap in the last situation you described and either he will shut down from fear - getting a punishment for some reason he does not understand, or he will respond with aggression, trying to protect himself from an unwarranted attack.
Unless you have some explanation that I am not able to think of as to how and why you would use the ecollar on him for the behavior you describe, I think it would be a terrible mistake to use it. I hope you kept the receipt and will return it.  |