Ecollar in aggression rehab

[jocomoreno]

Assuming a dog has completed all three phases of obedience and with all the controversy over the use of ecollars in aggression rehab cases; do you use ecollars in aggression rehab?
I understand the concept behind the use of an ecollar and how its less confrontational and more gentle than a pinch collar. I was just wondering if you had any problems with dogs making the wrong associations with the corrections being given. I understand timing is crucial.
Any thoughts opinions?

[Teresa]

Yes we do use e-collars in aggression rehab but not to correct aggression directly. As you stated the dog would have already completed all three phases of training. The phase 3 teaches the dog the remote collar correction associated with the same obedience commands that the hand pump corrections are used for in phase 2.

When using the collar in aggression rehab you may be heeling with the dog in the presence of a trigger ( person or dog). If the dog lunges then he is corrected by using body language to warn first and then the remote paired with the heel command. So you are correcting the dog for breaking a command, in a manner that has been taught and understood without triggers present. Same goes for sit, down etc. You would not correct a dog for lunging, growling or barking directly. Rather give an incompatible command and reinforce that. This puts you and the dog in a better position for working on counter-conditioning and desensitizing.
Timing is essential. This is why it is important to learn timing in each phase without distraction before attempting training sessions in the presence of the trigger.
The dogs seem to do really well with this concept.