Dog Health Questions: Dog training shock collars?

I need opinions from those who have used shock collars to help with the training of their dogs.

My dog is 8 months old, large and active. I would only use the collar for recall when we go off leash in the field, NOTHING else seems to be working. I have tried praise, treats, making excited noises, leash training, but if he sees another person, dog, or anything else, I do not exist anymore.
Now, I know some people are highly against these collars, and I do want your opinions too, but keep in mind, these shocks are NOT a high voltage, I have put it on my own hand, it is a small, low shock that simply gets their attention. I do not see what is wrong with that. I would never use it for barking or anything cruel, just for his own safety and for the sake of other people and dogs in the field.

I need advice on how to go about the recall training the right way, because I do not want to start off wrong.

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I personally see No problem with some one using a shock collar when they know what they are doing. I think most people including myself have no Idea on how to use a shock collar effectively so I usually worn against it-
However, there is a guy who goes to the same park area I do to let his dog run and he uses a SUPER long lead. I assume it's rope- tied to his collar- and he uses that to train. He's out there every day and when his dog doesn't come back he just real in the line- I think it's a great idea- The dog feels free without actually being free to get away:)

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• I am buying a remote training collar for recall training my Mini Aussie. I have tried treats, clicker training, praise, using a long rope, running away from her, and nothing works.
  
  What I'm going to do is start with her on a long rope and when I call her and she ignores me or tries to go in another direction, I'll give her a little buzz, then recall her again. Then when she gets good at recall, I'd use the collar for when she goes off line, so she doesn't try to herd anyone/anything.


• i have a amstaff terrier, big muscular dog with very high pain tolerance.
  it said on a website not to even use a shock collar on this type of dog because he prolly wouldn't even feel it lol. but i got one anyway because nothing else worked, when he went outside, and for walks.
  to keep him in the back yard, i simply watched him and when he got to a certain point of leaving the back yard, i hit the "beep" button wich only lets out a high pitch noise you can hear as well. at first he paid no attention to this and kept going forward, after he got to another point i would hit the shock button (and yes i have tried this on my self many times on all the levels) so after while i didn't have to shock him any more . he knew as soon as he heard the beeping noise to stop and turn around. and nowa days he can roam freely without any collar or leash in the yard because he knows. as far as walking goes back in the day i put him on a leash and the shock collar and when he would try and pull me to go after someone or a squirrel or etc... then i would "beep" him and that's all it took. now all this time i used treats when good, and voice commands as well. so now he doesnt need the collar at all. its all voice commands now.


• my dogs have an invisible fence all around the yard which they were trained on so that they know the boundaries of the property and how far they can go. The dogs first hear a beeping noise and then if they go too far they get a shock. I think that if the dog is smart enough it will rarely get shocked, because the dog will pick up what it can and can not do. I think that if nothing else works this is definitely a good idea.


• I read the answer you got from ashley and she is right. I've trained hounds for years on a nintey foot rope and a shock colar. It has been very productive. Like humans dogs also have their own mind. The smarter the dog the less you have to sting him or her. I've had dogs that it only took one time, no joke. Probably the worst took two weeks. Just remember dogs like treats and praise. So be sure to let them know good or bad. I also use voice commands for standard training. Keep the commands simple. No. At. Good. and so on. Once the dog learns the voice commands should take over.