I remember back in the early 80's ecollars were rather crude. I was handed one, tri-tronics, but I overcharged it. So, it only had a range 20' and only one setting, zap. I was like 15 years old and running the dog in the park. I was trying to call her and trying to make the ecollar work by continually pressing the button. But ofcourse she didn't listen. Then she ran into range. Zap, and she went straight up into the air. I couldn't stop laughing.

Alot of old-timers don't like using them but then again alot of old-timers will use a switch, bb gun, or whatever. We use to shoot the dog when it ran too far. Didn't hurt them but it would stop them as they would turn around wondering what's moving the grass and the sound would excite them. But every so often we would lose a dog over the horizon and it would hold up everyone's hunting or we'd have to change our plans when a loose dog would run through the field flushing all the birds.

Actually, everytime you press the button on the highest setting, you abuse the dog. It's an extension of your hand as you may reach out a cause pain. That's why everyone says be very careful or the dog can become funny, ie. suddenly aggressive or suddenly very timid. When I use it, generally, just a warning tone will make my dog obey.

I think eventually, the ecollar is going to be common place. Here we have only small spaces to hunt and everyone uses an ecollar so they don't bother other hunters or the dog doesnt go on private property.