Pugs That Bark: Should You Use A Shock Collar?

Is it safe to use a shock collar on a pug?   I have to say that I honestly wondered when we moved into our new house.  Bella became quite a barker.  I knew someone who had used one on their dog, but it wasn't a pug and I didn't know enough about it.  And, I would never forgive myself if I hurt Bella.

While searching for information on shock collars I found a post on dogster.com that told me all I needed to know to make my decision.  I asked a few basic questions and these were the answers I found.

What is a shock collar?  How do they work?

Shock collars rely on negative reinforcement, causing a dog to live in fear of being electrocuted for normal behaviors such as barking. (dogster.com)

Does the dog feel pain? 

Dogs wearing shock collars can suffer from physical pain and injury, ranging from burns to cardiac fibrillation, and physcological stress, such as anxiety or displaced aggression. Dogs vary in their pain thresholds; a shock that is mild to one dog can be severe to another. Electronic collars frequently disfunction, causing constant shocks or no shocks at all. (dogster.com)

Why do some dogs bark so much? 

Dogs bark from boredom, distress, seperation anxiety, or defense of territory. Young dogs, small breeds, and dogs who are chained up or left outside for long periods of time are more likely to bark. For humane and safety reasons, as well as not to annoy your neighbors, it is best to keep a dog inside when you are not home. Dogs are much less likely to bark when inside, and barking indoors is less likely to annoy your neighbors. (dogster.com)

Is there another way to prevent some of the barking?

To prevent boredom related barking, walk you dog!

I made the decision not to get a shock collar for Bella after reading this information and other information on the internet.  Because I am leary of how a shock would affect her heart and the pain she would feel I will try to deal with it in other ways.  I am walking Bella more and trying to break the behavior by correcting her immediately when she does it.  It seems to be working so far.

I don't condemn those who don't agree with my decision.  To each his own, but everyone should make an informed choice when considering an item like this for their dog.