re shock collars, there is very definitely a valid place for them
it's not because the dog keeps barking or won't stay off the couch or keeps jumping on ppl at the door.
it's for when the dog is going to get killed if he keeps doing what he's doing - even temple grandin says so.
example: if you live in rattlesnake country, confronting a snake is no time for clicks and treats. you see the dog nosing up to a snake and ZAP!!!! dog gets the very clear message in a non-lethal way that snakes *hurt*.
example: if you have a dog with a high prey drive that likes to chase deer or (worse!) sheep and other domestic livestock, you can click and treat all the livelong day but it's not going to snap him out of prey mode. temple explains that prey drive is nothing like anything humans have - it's not fear, it's not aggression, it's not hyperness - it's when the dog (or cat) has become a pure killing machine. treats just ain't gonna cut it. so you wait until the dog is just about up to his prey and BAMMO! dog learns that the sheep gods are watching him and will lose interest very quickly. a short, sharp shock applied at the opportune moment is far better than your dog getting shot for being a sheep-killer.
example: your dog won't stop chasing cars and you live near a busy road.
basically, anything that is likely to get your dog killed if he doesn't stop NOW is when you want to use the shock collar.
if it's just a nuisance and annoying, that's when you just have to suck it up and invest the time and energy in proper training.
and yes, in a perfect world, the dog would be under control or restrained at all times but we all know how realistic that is.