Electronic training devices should never hurt a dog. They're designed to startle and get the dog's attention, when they are used properly.
Things to consider: Your dog's sensitivity and reactions, three different responses, and letting your pet adjust to her training collar.
Adjustable Sensations - Electronic training devices usually come with adjustable settings for the level of correction your dog will feel. When dog training with such devices, always start on the lowest setting and only increase it incrementally if the dog does not respond with the desired behavior. That way you can avoid "correcting" the dog any more than is necessary.
Varied Responses - When using electronic training devices like electronic dog training collars and fences, you will witness one of three different responses in your dog -- either the dog will get scared and bolt across the boundary in a panic (not desirable), he will freeze in place (more desirable, but still not quite right), or he will turn around and return to you in the center of the yard (the singular desirable response). If your dog does not respond to each correction with the latter response (turning back into the yard) then you've got more training to do. In these cases, use positive reinforcement (like praise and dog treats) to encourage the dog to exhibit the desired behavior each time he feels the correction.
Dry Runs- Get your dog used to wearing the dog-training collar every time she goes outside before you ever begin "official" electronic training.
