There is a huge range of training collars for dogs and a vociferous debate among owners and trainers as to whether these collars are humane and effective or whether they are cruel and counterproductive.

Different types of collar are used for different purposes. The two main uses are for distance control, when the dog is out of the trainer's immediate reach and is not on a leash and the second aim is to control excessive barking.

The distance training collar enables the trainer to administer a shock to the dog, by using a handheld transmitter which causes an electric pulse in the collar. This distracts the dog from whatever undesirable behavior it is currently doing and lets the trainer get his attention.

Critics of these collars maintain that they are inhumane and hurt the animal, partly because it is difficult to know how severe the pain is. This can disorientate the dog, so that it doesn't associate the shock with the desired effect. Such confusion is obviously counterproductive.

For instance, your dog won't come when you call him and pays you no attention, so you click the remote. He may well associate the pain with being called, so every time you call him you provoke a nervous or aggressive reaction, depending on the dog's temperament.

If the dog has a naturally aggressive nature he may attack you, because he sees you as the source of his discomfort and the fear that you are hostile to him. If the dog has a nervous disposition and doesn't realise why he is being punished, this will only make him worse.

That's the case for the prosecution. There will be many people who claim that one of these collars has saved their dog' life. They cite cases, where a normally obedient dog has one undesirable trait which cannot be controlled, such as chasing cars or bikes, or worrying farm animals.

If they can instantly stop this bad behavior, even from a distance, then this can save the dog's life.

Another huge area of the market for control collars is aimed at stopping or controlling excessive barking. These products are different from the distance control collars, because they are not activated by the owner but by the dog itself.

There are broadly three categories of anti-barking collar: those that emit a spray, that the dog finds objectionable: those that emit a high-pitched noise, which humans can't hear: and those that administer a static shock, similar to the distance collars described above.

These collars are often worn by the dog when the owner is not present, for instance to stop a dog from barking while the owner is out at work. This situation can cause its own set of problems. If the dog is exposed to this unpleasant or painful stimulus for hours at an end, what state will he be in when you get home?

If you have the time, the patience and the knowledge, then by far the best solution is to train your dog to bark at appropriate times and to get him to "Speak and be "Quiet" on command. You can access expert advice from several expert dog trainers, who have courses available online. More details in the links below.

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