ORIGINAL: Doc E
"Age" doesn't have much to do with it. What it does have to do with is how far along the dog is in it's training.
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Yes. Absolutely.
It is plain and simple a reinforcement tool. The dog has to know what that "shock" means. It means the same thing as you saying NO. If the dog does not understand the command SIT, then shocking it and telling it to SIT will not to a damn bit of good, other than make the dog afraid of everything.
I didn't start Dutch (my swamp collie) on the collar until he was over a year old. Mostly because I didn't have one. The trainer who put him through basic retriever obedience and force fetching started to condition him, and I finished the job myself.
If you have been reading about dog training, you have probably heard the writers/trainers talk about obedience drills and training. The importance of which cannot be stressed enough. Once your dog understands what all the commands mean, then you can crack down on him because he knows better.
From what I gather, your dog is still a puppy (less than 6 months), but it sounds more like its still under 12 weeks. Right now...this is a critcal bonding time. Make everything fun. Lots of love, lots of praise. You can start teaching sit, heel, kennel and come...and most importantly teach the dog its name....but leave everything else for later. Once the dog knows its name, and once it accepts being walked on lead...thats the dogs way of saying...ok...I'm ready to start learning Dad. But when they are very young...they want to do what they want to do...and that is usually play, sleep and eat. Thats ok...thats what puppies do. After 12 weeks....most of the bonding is done...and you are usually accepted as the boss. Hardheadedness does happen though.
The collar for Dutch has been great. Most of the time, I could probably just put it on him and not even turn it on. He isn't afraid of it at all. And he knows what a nick is. I really don't have to go above his base level at all to be honest..unless there is a big time distraction like another dog around...then he needs a little bit firmer reminder.
There is nothing wrong with using an e-collar....you just have to recognise what its there for and what you can potentially do to your dog if you abuse it.