But It “Only Vibrates” — The Truth About E-Collars

With attitudes towards dog training continuing to evolve across Europe, many countries are moving away from the use of aversive tools like electronic collars. In fact, a growing number of European countries—including Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands—have introduced bans or strong restrictions on the use of e-collars due to animal welfare concerns.

In the Netherlands specifically, the use of electric shock collars has been banned since 2020, with significant fines or penalties for those who use them.

This shift reflects a wider understanding that these tools can negatively impact a dog’s welfare, increasing stress, fear, and anxiety rather than addressing the root cause of behaviour.

Despite this, these e-collars—including those marketed as “vibration only”—are still widely available and often promoted as harmless alternatives.

“Oh no, it doesn’t shock—it only vibrates.”

Often, people tell me they are using a corrective collar to stop behaviours such as barking or scavenging on walks. When I ask about shock collars, they are usually quick to correct me that it is not an e-collar that shocks, but instead a collar that only vibrates.

Many will even say they’ve tested it on themselves, so it must be harmless. But here’s the real question:

It may not feel like a shock to you—but does that mean it isn’t aversive to your dog?

Why vibration e-collars are still a problem

In this blog, we’ll look at why collars that “just vibrate” can be just as problematic as shock collars—and how they can actually create more issues than they solve. The reality is, marketing around these tools is incredibly effective. Companies profit from presenting them as humane, modern, and fast solutions. Unfortunately, even some trainers promote them. It’s completely understandable that dog guardians trust these messages.

When you’re struggling with your dog’s behaviour, a quick fix is appealing. But quick fixes rarely stick.

“They work”… but at what cost?

It’s true—these e-collars can stop behaviours in the short term. But so can many aversive training methods.

The real question is:

What is the emotional cost to your dog—and your relationship with them?

A trainer I deeply respect once shared this analogy:

Imagine a friend gives you a necklace to wear to a party. Every time you reach for a drink, the necklace vibrates unexpectedly. The first time, you’d likely feel startled, confused, maybe even anxious. You weren’t told this would happen.

As a human, you have choices:

• You can take it off

• You can understand where the sensation is coming from

• You can choose never to wear it again if you want

  
  

Your dog has none of those options.

They may feel startled, stressed, or even frightened each time it happens. They may not understand that the e-collar is causing the sensation—and worse, they may associate that feeling with whatever they were looking at or doing in that moment. And they cannot escape it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJA4wgDYzp8

See above for a video of a girl experiencing a vibrate collar. She is a willing participant, your dog is not

“I tried it myself—it didn’t hurt”

I’ve personally experienced both a shock and a vibration setting on an e-collar.

The shock—even at a low level—was immediately painful and something I didn’t want to repeat.

The vibration didn’t make me jump in the same way, but it was still unpleasant. Not painful—but certainly not something I would willingly wear around my neck for long.

And here’s the key point: Your perception of discomfort is not the same as your dog’s.

Dogs experience the world very differently, and what seems mild to us might be highly aversive to them. Is it worth the risk?

The science of punishment

For a vibration collar to “work,” it has to be aversive enough to stop the behaviour. If it doesn’t bother the dog, it won’t work.If it bothers them too much, it can cause fear, stress, or shutdown.

This creates a dangerous balance:

• Too mild → ignored

• Strong enough → causes stress

• Repeated use → often leads to increasing intensity

Over time, many dogs either become desensitised or more anxious—leading owners to increase the level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHiejASuDyQ

An interesting video by Steve White who explains the 8 rules of punishment and how hard it is to apply them

The hidden fallout - The Truth About E-Collars

So what is the real truth about e-collars? Using aversive tools like vibration collars can have unintended consequences.

For example:

• A dog corrected for barking may become more anxious and bark more, or resolve to other stress-related behaviours: destruction of items, separation anxiety, reptetitive behaviours (chasing tails/ lights), self-harm

• A dog corrected on walks may also begin associating the discomfort with (and thus avoid or become more reactive to):

  • other dogs

  • children

  • strangers

  • or even leaving the house

Each correction can trigger stress responses in the body. Stress hormones like cortisol can remain elevated for days, meaning your dog may be living in a prolonged state of stress without you realising it.

It doesn’t address the root cause

The biggest issue with e-collars—whether shock or vibration—is this: They don’t tell you why the behaviour is happening.

If your dog is barking, scavenging, or reacting, there is always an underlying reason:

• fear

• anxiety

• frustration

• lack of skills

• unmet needs

Punishing the behaviour doesn’t resolve the cause—it simply suppresses the symptom. And in many cases, that emotion will resurface in other, potentially more serious ways.

Long-term impact on your dog

Whether a collar shocks or “just vibrates,” the risks remain:

• Increased anxiety and stress

• Confusion and unpredictability

• Breakdown in trust

• Potential for new behavioural issues

In the worst cases, this fallout can be far more difficult to resolve than the original problem.

There is a better way

If you’re considering using a vibration collar, it likely means you’re struggling—and that’s completely valid.

But there are kinder, more effective approaches that:

• address the root cause

• build your dog’s confidence

• strengthen your relationship

• create long-lasting results

Force-free, positive training methods may take a little longer—but they work with your dog, not against them.

Need support?

If you’re dealing with challenging behaviour, feel free to get in touch or see here for our behaviour page for support.

Remember: quick fixes rarely stick—but kind, thoughtful training does.