I suspect that Hootyhoo's problem with the electric collar is due to the fact that this device is one of the most abused training aids--in the hands of an unskilled amateur, it can do horrible things to dogs. Many dogs have become aggressive or neurotic (leading to fear-biting) due to misuse of the electric collar. However, there are times when the e-collar is necessary, and this is one of them--it's the equivalent of spanking your little child who runs out into the street. Neither the curious dog with the rattlesnake nor the little child with a speeding car coming down the street is liable to get a second chance, and carefully controlled aversion therapy is your only hope of saving a life.

Another commonly abused tool is the training or choke collar--my-daughter-the-veterinarian, while in vet school, treated numerous dogs with a bruised or even ruptured esophagus. Her (and my) preference is for the Premier Pet Products Gentle Leader head collar, but that one (if jerked hard) can injure the dog, too. But just because a method can be abused doesn't mean it can't be useful in carefully controlled conditions!

If I were in rattlesnake country, I'd want my dog to have the aversion therapy, too--but only at the hands of an expert.

We wonder the same thing about our 1 yr Cattle Dog. She saw a Bull Snake and didn't seem to want to mess with it.

But we have plenty of Rattlers here!

Dan

UPDATE; I had my one year old lab trained yesterday at Pat Calaghan's kennel. The dog is fine and I saw no "abuse" whatsoever. My dog let out one little yip on the first application of the collar when she put her nose approx. 6" from the muzzled snake. I believe the only time the stimulus is turned up to a higher level is that first encounter. The trainer is extremely knowledgable and atuned to the dog. The trainer is not the one leading the dog but is watching the dog to see every time the dog smells,sees or hears the snake. The moment the dog is aware of the snake, the stimulus is applied. I have and have used the e-collar and can say by experience that the level had been turned down for the remainder of the session. The trick is to to "remind" and reenforce the negative experience everytime the dog becomes aware of the snake. It takes a highly trained and talented person with quick reflexes to do this. The training takes only a few minutes and the dog is handled by trained assistants while another assistant stays with the owner and explains what is happening while you observe from a distance. The final test is at the end they put your dog on a 50 foot lead. A snake is placed between you and the dog and you are asked to call your dog. Then they see if how the dog reacts when it becomes aware of the snake. Well my dog and all of the others I observed used just about all of that 50 foot lead to to go as far around that rattling snake as possible. I saw all types of dogs there from scruffy little mutts to bulldogs and dalmations. None seemd to have any ill effects from the training and all did not want to be anywhere near that snake. Again the whole session was only a few minutes long. My dog has hurt herself more stepping on a sticker. Definately much much better than being bitten by a snake and the aftermath.