Our Favorite E-collar Question: What Level?
Okay. This is the most common question, at least after “when can we take the e-collar off?” Neither question has a straight answer, either. But I think the most succinct response is you can take it off when you can take it off (might be never) and the right level is the one that works (in most cases).
Most people don’t realize that we can use our e-collars (aka big, scary shock collars) in a variety of ways. We have 100 levels, and I cannot feel it until it’s on a level 12. I can tap it quickly, or I can apply constant stimulation. This means I can be very gentle with an e-collar, but I can also make it very uncomfortable.
But then you also have to consider that what is uncomfortable to one dog might not be to another. Every dog is unique, and genetics play a major role in what dogs perceive and how they respond. As if that isn’t enough to consider, you need to break it down even more because even the same dog will have varying degrees of sensitivity depending on the state of mind at the time (usually impacted by environmental factors).
Using the most appropriate level is a skill to be built by the human. If you try to set it and forget it you fail. The number on your e-collar usually gets far more attention than it deserves, and you might be getting in your own way by putting too much emphasis on it.
I’m going to break down the various functions of an e-collar and how we select a level at any given time. We also cover what it means (or doesn’t mean) when your dog does the dreaded vocalization and makes you cry yourself to sleep after.
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Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
- 00:00 – Kati opens the episode and asks listeners to subscribe before the training discussion begins.
- 01:00 – She shares business updates, including restructuring puppy training away from standalone in-person puppy programs.
- 02:00 – Kati promotes the online course “10 Days to a Great Place” for beginners starting e-collar training.
- 03:00 – The main topic begins with the common question: what e-collar number should owners use?
- 04:00 – Kati explains that e-collars can be used in many ways, including as shock collars with nuance.
- 05:00 – She notes the Mini Educator has 100 levels and she cannot feel stimulation until level 12.
- 06:00 – Kati says an e-collar can be very gentle, describing low stimulation as a whisper.
- 07:00 – She explains that vibrate can startle dogs more intensely than low electrical stimulation.
- 08:00 – Low stimulation can help some dogs relax, while vibrate often makes them tense or reactive.
- 09:00 – Kati compares vibrate to a broken watch because it is rarely the right intensity.
- 10:00 – She says vibrate lacks the adjustable range needed for different dogs and different contexts.
- 11:00 – Owners fail when they leave the collar fixed on one trainer-selected number.
- 12:00 – Kati argues beep is weaker than vibrate because it is only a sound association.
- 13:00 – Conditioning begins by teaching dogs the sensation comes from the handler and can be turned off.
- 14:00 – Dogs usually notice low levels sooner than humans, especially in low-distraction environments.
- 15:00 – Stopping unwanted behaviors can happen quickly, while teaching place and down takes more repetition.
- 16:00 – Handlers should increase levels when dogs ignore known commands, become distracted, or make mistakes.
- 17:00 – Non-compliance levels vary dramatically, from small increases for some dogs to much higher numbers for others.
- 18:00 – Kati describes holding low stimulation and slowly raising it when a dog leaves place.
- 19:00 – Repeated corrections teach the dog that stimulation can increase and behavior can shut it off.
- 20:00 – The same dog may need a much higher level around squirrels, visitors, or driveway noises.
- 21:00 – After fluency and many environments, handlers can move from guided increases to clearer accountability.
- 22:00 – Kati warns that dogs will keep taking help and warnings as long as handlers provide them.
- 23:00 – She explains that some dogs respond better to taps or repeated tapping than constant stimulation.
- 24:00 – Unwanted behaviors include jumping, barking, trash raiding, digging, and chewing shoes.
- 25:00 – For stopping behaviors, Kati says to mark with “no” first, then deliver a high consequence.
- 27:00 – She argues being too low during punishment is worse than briefly being too high.
- 28:00 – For behaviors owners never want repeated, the correction should be high enough to stop recurrence.
- 30:00 – Kati says the right number depends on the dog and the dog’s excitement in that context.
- 31:00 – She tells handlers to watch the dog instead of staring at the remote number.
- 32:00 – Sniffing can greatly increase arousal, causing needed levels to double, triple, or more.
- 33:00 – She recounts a dog ignoring level 100 while intensely sniffing in a field.
- 35:00 – Handlers overly focused on numbers may need to cover the remote display and read the dog.
- 37:00 – Kati says vocalization may mean discomfort, but it can also mean high arousal.
- 40:00 – A dog screamed at level 23 in a pet store because arousal was already extremely high.
- 41:00 – She emphasizes that vocalization alone does not prove the level was too high.
- 44:00 – Single signals, like tail wagging or yelping, rarely explain a dog’s full emotional state.
- 47:00 – Kati admits punishment for counter surfing may hurt because discomfort is what stops the behavior.
- 48:00 – A complete program combines gentle conditioning, accountability, and uncomfortable punishment for serious unwanted behaviors.
- 49:00 – Advanced e-collar use can help dogs settle and learn to keep their head down.
- 50:00 – She describes using low stimulation as information, not punishment, during a settling exercise.
- 51:00 – Kati increases levels only as the dog understands the pattern and repeatedly looks back.
- 53:00 – A gray e-collar experience happens when handlers stay in one narrow level range.
- 54:00 – Dogs stop responding when stimulation always feels the same and arousal keeps rising.
- 55:00 – Kati concludes that a complete e-collar program requires variation across the entire dial.
- 56:00 – She closes by inviting topic suggestions through email or fan mail in the show notes.