E-collar for Fearful Dogs?????

Personally, I would absolutely NOT use an aversive such as a shock collar on a fearful dog.  I think it will only make matters worse.

I agree with Glenda.  I would not use an Ecollar unless it was my very last resort.  Since your dog is very food motivated and you are making progress however slow you think it is, I would continue on with your training.  The problem I see with him recommending the Ecollar is that I have found alot of people that use it see results fast and thus deem it a cure all.  I have thought of using it on Crusher for his recall but realize it is just because I am impatient and want results now, not because Crusher can not learn any other way.  So I have decided not to use it and instead to take my time and let him learn in a way that is better for him.  I find it interesting that this behaviourist thinks that making her feel safe  means causing her pain.  I've seen dogs with Ecollars and they do not giggle from a tickling sensation but yelp from the pain.

I would definately not use a shock collar.  I would try to get different people (ie. men) to give her a treat when she is more assertive, rather than you give her the treat, then she will look toward strangers for a reward rather than you.  Maybe a dog training class would be good, where she can be socialized with different people.

This seems like it would be very counterproductive to me.  If the dog is already afraid of people wouldn't it become more fearful if shocked by a person?  I personally wouldn't do it...

I have to agree with everyone else. I think a shock collar would make her more fearful. For instance, when she backs away, gets shocked, then she'll think something is sneaking up BEHIND her! I should think that would make her even more skittish.

Sofia is sketchy with boys/men ages 12 and up. (She hasn't had bad experiences, it is just the way she is.) I have them give her the Yummy Chummy salmon treats (wonderful stinky fish treats) and we have been working on it slowly. I find a lot of what she objects to is a)fast movement toward/over her head, b)men and boys tend to LOOM over her and she really doesn't like that. So besides trying to desensitize Sofie to the people she's afraid careful of, I have to teach the PEOPLE to be more careful how they approach a dog.

Once she sniffs and licks a hand, she's fine, though quick movement can still scare her. Also, if they get to ask her to sit or lie down for the treat, that's good, too.

I seem to be succeeding in training both the people and the dog. []

I have a lot of experience with static correction  collars.  This trainer is just flat out wrong.  Run the other way.  We use "shock collars" all of the time in training, and this trainer doesn't know what he is doing .  I would love to get his email address to discuss this theory with him.  He is creating dangerous dogs.  The dogs that come out of this type of training are the same ones whose owners pay me to fix after some idiot has screwd them up.  You may achieve some immediate results, but the longer term results will be disastrous.
 
Static correction collars (scc) should not be used to cause direct pain.  They are tools to heighten a dogs nerves and gain attention.  That is the only reason to use one.  I would love to actually speak to an owner that this method has been effective with.  You can use a scc for obedience work, and to overcome behavior roblems like getting in the garbage, digging, barking, etc. (ALL of my dogs are trained on them...including my little Manchester terrier).  So I am not opposed to the collars...they can be GREAT training tools when used correctly.
 
BUT dealing with things like fear or aggression, there is very little place for them.  Aversive techniques can be used to deal with fear, but not in the way this trainer is talking about.  The only time I have seen them to be effective is when a dogs fear is based on a lack of guide lines from the owner.  Some dogs perform more confidently when there is a clear distinction with what is acceptable behavior and what is not. 
 
An scc is a really complicated way to deal with fear. 
 
I do agree that cowering when a dog should be heeling is a form of disobedience and a some aversive techniques could theoretically improve that.  I expect my dogs, when they are told to heel, that they do so, no matter what's in front of them.  The have learned that there is nothing to be afraid of as long as I am in control. 
 
Shocking the dog when it backs away is going to give it no safe zone.  It is certainly not going to convince her the stranger is safe. 
 
So, What happens when there is no safe zone...AGGRESSION!
 
You must be very careful about how hard you push this dog.  There is a fine line between fear and aggression, and I am betting that taking away the dogs safe zone is going to take away any existing stability. 
 
I would focus on teaching the dog that you are the safe zone.  I would not push her to approach strangers ever.  If she doesn't want to interact...who cares.  Focus on teaching her to be confident around you.  If that means walking in a heel behind you...so be it. 
 
I would seriously like to discuss this technique with this professional.  In 8 years of professional training and behavior modification I have never heard of this working.

Nor have I.  Run - FAST!
Get yourself a copy of "The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell. 

E-collars are banned in other countries for a reason.I wouldnt use one on any dog lettalone a fearful one!

Thank you guys so much. I kind of got a uneasy feeling when talking with this guy, but I wanted to make sure I was on the right track. I guess I should have gone from my gut from the start. Sally and I will be finding another trainer.

There are a lot of top dog trainers who dont have to resort to electric shock treatment/fear to get dogs to do what they want,i would have to wonder why an experienced trainer would have resort to this kind of treatment in the first place,are their training skills so poor that they have to use electric shocks to get their dogs to listen to them!??. I have found that dogs "trained" this way revert back to their old ways as soon as the collar is off! I'm sure no caring owner would want to walk around shocking their dog for the rest of it's life??
I could not put one of those contraptions on my dear sweet dogs and press the button,it would kill me to do so,can you imagine the confusion these poor dogs have to endure [:@]  [&:]

I have met a fair few e-collar advocates over the years on dog boards,i can in all honesty say that the majority were arrogant pigs,they all seemed to be not so nice people! I know not all are like that,but the ones i have met have been,sadistic comes to mind

I say the same about e-collars as i do about choke chains.Would you(collective) be willing to put a choke chain on your children and PULL,would you be willing to stick an electric shock collar around your kids neck and zap them everytime the disobey you?? I wouldnt,nor would i subject my dogs to such harsh training methods.Kids and dogs arent that different when it comes to teaching,there are NO quick fixes,which it seems alot of e-collar users are after.Time,patience,reward,understanding,positive reinforcement,rather than negative punishment(e-collars,chokechains) can work wonders []

Sally i'm so glad you followed your gut on this one.Find a trainer with the skills to effectively train dogs,one that doesnt have to resort to things such as e-collars!

Try finding your new trainer here:
[linkhttp://www.clickertraining.com]www.clickertraining.com[/link]
[linkhttp://www.ccpdt.com]www.ccpdt.com[/link]

Another helpful book - "Help For Your Shy Dog" by Deb Wood

Sally, everyone has already given you the advise I would give too as far as not using the shock collar. I will share with you what happened when my naive, uneducated self used one on Boss. I will admit before continuing, I really didn't know what I was doing.. but anyway..
 
I bought one for Boss. I tried it on myself on the lowest setting so I would know what he was experiencing. I used it on him, using the same lowest setting and he DID act worse. When I pushed the button, he turned and bit at his own butt and then ran through the house. He did the same thing the next time I used it. Later that day I took him to the pet store and he actually snarled and snapped at a woman's face (never mind the fact she shouldn't have been eye level with him), I was not happy at all. I removed the collar and took it back to the store the next day, bought a training leash, some really nummy treats and some books and a clicker. I have had MUCH better luck with the clicker than anything I have tried with him, he's a clicker junkie!
 
 For a few days after I used that dang collar Boss walked around with his head hanging down, tail half tucked between his legs and moping. After I took it back I sat and thought about things and realized the dumbest thing I could have done was try to use something like that on a fearful dog who had been abused in his past. I am glad that I have learned better now, I just wish it wouldn't have been at the expense of my poor boy[sm=uhoh.gif]

Did I just get called a pig?  Wow, that was rude...
 
Anyway,
I am glad you decided to go with another trainer.  I would probably opt for a behaviorist in this situation.  Fear is a complicated thing, and it can easily be made worse.
 
Good Luck.

[sm=rofl.gif]Mic, actually, I think you got called a SADISTIC pig.
 
Thank goodness for your innate good nature!