How to Use A Shock Collar To Stop Jumping? 6 Steps

Last Updated/Info Checked on October 23, 2023 by Linda Michaels

So, your dog’s been jumping on you or the people around you lately? You could use a shock collar to correct that behavior. No problem at all. 

But how to use a shock collar to stop jumping? Here’s how:

• Let the dog wear the collar comfortably. 
• Start from the lowest settings. 
• Know when your dog jumps and why.
• Beep, vibrate, and then zap.
• Reward when it responds.  
• Repeat.

6 Steps To Use A Shock Collar To Stop Jumping 

Follow the tips to stop your dog from becoming a spring.

1. Introduce The Collar 

Introducing the collar in the right way is the first step to follow. You don’t want the dog to associate anything negative with it. Otherwise, it’ll run straight for its life the moment you show the remote or the collar the next time. 

How to do it?

Step 1: Let it sniff the collar to the point where it doesn’t reject it. 

Step 2: When you see that it has accepted the new thing around its neck, give it loads of treats. 

2. Start From The Lowest Setting 

A shock collar comes with many stimulation levels. Some have them from 1 to 16, while others go all the way up to 100. Obviously, the latter doesn’t equate to the former, but their intensities may match up to a certain degree.

That means level 1 on the former may be equal to level 20 on the latter, and so on. 

No matter what collar you’re using, always check the zap intensity on your arm before applying it to the dog. If the shock hurts you, chances are grave that it will hurt the dog, too. 

How to do it?

During training, I will keep the stimulation level to the point when the dog would start wagging its tail or moving around its head in apparent confusion.

You have to look for the subtle signs of the right shock level. The dog will let you know when it can’t bear a certain stimulation.

3. Look For The Jumping Cues 

A dog’s jump begins in the hind legs. So, look for the cues when it starts leaning on the hind legs to lunge forward. That could be tricky but that’s the best way so far. Be vigilant to see when this happens. 

How to do it?

You may look for the triggers of the jump. Does it jump or bark when a stranger arrives at your house? Does it jump when you arrive from your work? And so on. Note down those cues.

4. Beep, Vibrate and Zap 

When you’ve figured out the triggers to its jumping, it’s time to use the collar. I recommend that you buy collars with three modes of stimulation – beep, vibration, and shock. 

I use the first and the second mode to warn the dog that if it doesn’t behave, then it’s going to receive a shock. 

How to do it?

Whenever the dog’s preparing for a jump, press the beep button. Wait for his response and repeat the stimulus. Next, vibrate. The third option is to zap it when it still jumps. 

5. Reward The Response 

When the dog responds to the stimulation, reward it with its favorite treat. That’s going to help you with positive reinforcement. The dog will learn over time that jumping is going to bring back that uncomfortable sensation beneath its jaw. 

How to do it?

Hold a treat in your hand and reward the dog when it comes running toward you. Also, couple the vocal commands such as sit, no, and come here with the stimulation.

You may want to move the treat in the direction of the action. Feed the dog its treat when it successfully follows the orders. 

6. Repeat 

Training a dog takes time. It’s not like your dog will learn to obey right on the first use.

Some dogs are stubborn or aggressive enough to ignore all the training and even the shock level you’re administering. Their recall is horrible.

So, you may either increase the intensity or buy a strong collar. 

Remember, the success of training your pooch successfully remains in spending time on the sessions. 

Why Shouldn’t You Overdo It?

While shock collars have plenty of pros, they still have some side effects. Number one is their potential to hurt your dog physically and mentally.

However, that’s possible when you overdo the training. 

• Do not let the dog wear the collar all day. Make sure you remove the collar at night before going to bed.
• Do not punish your companion for harmless actions. You’ve to let it be a dog sometimes. 
• Listen to its needs when you shock it. Its vocals are going to tell you if the thing is working or if it’s hurting it. 
• Check the skin underneath its jaw, where you’ve tied the receiver of the collar. If it’s bruised or hurt, stop using the collar asap and make sure to treat the wounds on time. 
• To avoid that, rearrange the receiver to a different position after every two days. 
• Stop using the collar when the dog learns to respond to vocal commands or treats. 

Will My Dog Grow Out Of Jumping?

The answer to this question is maybe. Your doggo may shun the habit or it may get worse with time. Look for the underlying signs of jumping to be sure about it.

If it’s excitement, try to tire the dog out before the trigger. If it’s sensing danger, remove the cause altogether.

Use shock collars if the jumping persists despite doing everything or if there’s no apparent reason for it.

How Do I Train My Dog Not To Jump On Other Dogs?

Doing that is fairly simple but it does require immense patience because you’re training a dog to not do the most dog thing.

Socialize your dog when it’s still a puppy

Early socialization is like sending your puppies to kindergarten. They not only learn about new things but also get familiar with them. With time, their behaviors become gentler. They do not lose their minds when a new stimuli approaches.

Use shock collars to discourage him from jumping on other dogs

This is for adult dogs that haven’t been socialized well enough in their puppyhood. Use the collar in the same way I taught above. Make sure you wait for the right moment.

You also may want to use treats for positive reinforcement

Treats work wonders in obedience training. You can either desensitize the dog toward new stimuli or you can divert its attention right at the cue. Shock collars are excellent attention grabbers.

However, you can counter-condition the dog to look at you when let’s say, a stranger rings the doorbell. Alternatively, you can use confinement methods such as crating or motioning for the dog to stay behind a door.

How To Use A Shock Collar To Stop Jumping – Conclusion 

Using a shock collar is easy when you read the manual and train yourself well beforehand. Always try to make the dog familiar with the shock collar.

Then, start with the lowest settings, preferably by following the beep, vibrate, and then the shock route. Also, use treats to reward the dog when it obeys you.