Shock collar
| Health risk | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Legal risk | Mild |
A shock collar, sometimes known as a remote training collar or e-collar, is a type of training collar that uses electronic stimulation. These devices are designed for use on dogs, and there are no commercially available collars designed for use on humans.
Background
Shock collars have two metal contacts that press up against the skin. When activated with a remote, the collar sends an electrical signal through these contacts, passing through the body in between them. Many models also include vibrate and/or tone functions as well.
Different manufacturers use different electrical signals and voltage levels in their shock collars. One manufacturer produces collars that can reach up to 8 kV.[1]
Appeal
Practitioners of this kink may be interested in the psychological aspects of control or ownership. Even if no shocks are administered, feeling the shock collar on the body can create a feeling of being controlled by another person. This kink is particularly popular in the furry community; this may be because of it involves the use of a device designed for animals on humans, which can help deepen the experience of role-playing as an anthropomorphic animal.
Some practitioners believe that the use of shock collars as a correction or punishment is safer than impact play as it does not expose the parties involved to the risk of repetitive strain injury.
Methods
Some common placement locations for shock collars include:
- The ankles
- The calves
- The thighs
- The testicles
- The neck - see notes on risks below
Risks
Health risks
There are three primary areas of health concern with the use of shock collars:
- Effects of the electric shock itself
- Secondary effects of the electric shock
- Effects of wearing a collar with metal prongs pressing into the body
From the electric shock itself, nerve damage or burns could potentially result, particularly with extended use at high power levels. The erotic electrostimulation article provides more detail about the risks associated with electricity and the human body.
As the neck is the only connection from the head to the rest of the body, it contains numerous critical organs and nerves. Some additional risks posed by shocking the neck include heart attack, laryngospasm, brain damage via hypoxia (baroreceptor activation at carotid sinus), brain damage via electroconvulsive seizure. With that said, in medical literature, there are no documented cases of shock collars directly causing fatalities or permanent injury on humans.
One of the most common risks associated with electric shock is not the shock itself but secondary reactions to it. The person who is shocked could potentially have an involuntary reaction being shocked, such as falling or flailing.
It's important to consider the risks of wearing the collar, even if it is not activated. Ensure that body-safe materials are used such as stainless steel or titanium; contacts made of nickel should not be used as this can cause an allergic reaction in some people. When worn around the neck, as with any collar, it should fit comfortably and not restrict breathing or circulation.
On dogs, the most common injury resulting from shock collar use is pressure necrosis (a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue as a result of pressure) from the prongs of the collar. This is generally a result of improper fit of the collar or prolonged wear.[2]
Wireless security
In addition to health risks of the use of the shock collar, it is also important to consider that because shock collars use wireless communication, anyone in range with the proper tools and knowledge may be able to activate the collar, either by exploiting weaknesses in the protocol or simply recording and replaying the signal.[3] In some cases, this may be able to bypass any safety systems that are built in to the shock collar module. More expensive name brand shock collar modules may provide some protection against these attacks.
Risk mitigation
Take steps to ensure that the person wearing the shock collar is only shocked when intended. If the shock collar being used is not waterproof, ensure that it does not get wet, as damage to the internal electronics could cause unknown results. Consider what protections that the shock collar has against inadvertent activation; specifically, does it have features like an automatic timeout to prevent it from getting stuck on?
Ensure that the person who is wearing the shock collar is not placed in a position where a secondary reaction could result in injury; particularly, be careful of stairs, ladders, or sharp objects. Combining the use of shock collars with bondage can be helpful to mitigate this.
To reduce the risk of skin irritation or pressure necrosis, ensure that body-safe materials are used, and ensure that the prongs make good contact without pressing too deeply into the skin. Some manufacturers offer "comfort pads" that can reduce pressure on the skin and increase the contact area.[4]
Most practitioners of this kink recommend avoiding the neck if possible and instead placing the collar on other areas of the body. If that is not feasible, avoid the front and back of the neck and instead use the sides.
Known incidents
Medical case reports
RACKWiki incident reports
References
- ↑ Dhont, Philippe (2016-12-20). "The electrical signal in e-collars" (PDF).
- ↑ "Product Safety". PETT Partnership. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ↑ Kuester, Tim. "DEFCON23 / WCTF: Shock Collar as a Service". GitHub Gist. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ↑ "TITANIUM COMFORT PAD". Dogtra.com.