Citronella remote training collars

Does anyone have any advice (or opinions) on citronella remote training collars?

Lenny has been coming along quite nicely and his training is going well, but he seems to be having a hormone surge or something at the moment (he's between 16-18 months) and his recall when out and about has gone rapidly down hill. There's a particular bitch pup who he simply refuses to come away from even when they've been given time for a game.....I was thinking of maybe trying one of these collars to see if the distraction helps.

Does anyone have an opinions or advice? Is this likely to be a hormone surge around this age? He's had similar spates before when growing up, but I'm concerned that he is extremely difficult to reacall at the moment.

Thanks

The Spray Commander( citronela spray collar) has its place . I have one myself.......but it is not a substitute for training, it sounds like Lenny is going through his teenage stage, and sometimes when they reach that stage you need to start all over again with the training......keep him on a long trailing lead and dont let him get more than the length of the lead away from you....., that way you can step on it when he decides to run........... I use the spry collar( as a very last resort) on my Millie......... as she is dog aggressive and and when she fixes a stare on a dog there is nothing I can do to get her attention back on me.........so I have found the spray is the only thing that will break her consentration for a second.... at which point I can destract her attention back onto me....... and tell her she is a good girl and we then can walk on past other dogs..... without her throwing a fit!!!!!...... it all depends on your dog some dogs you will get the reaction you want some it does nothing for.................... they are expensive about £150 but you can hire them and see if they work......... some dogs it will work for a week or so then they become used to it ........... I would only use it IF! you have no other option............ they do not harm the dog it is only like a water spray........... but like i have said before its no substitute for training......... good luck!

Is this the one that sprays a jet on the neck?

I think they have their use but must not be overused and care should be taken when they are used. I would think only in exceptional circumstances like in dog-dog aggression rather than general training.

To me, such collars are not nessecary and a shortcut.
They wont do anything that you cant get from training.
Sorry to say, but just my opinion

Thanks for the advice - The last thing I want is to use this as a substitute for training. Lenny's already got his bronze good citizen award and is well on the way to getting his silver one, so you can rest assured I would never use this instead of training. It was just a thought which I thought I would explore on this website.......I still think it's something which I should consider if necessary, but I think I'll try and work through this 'bad' patch and hope Lenny comes out the other side a better trained boy!
The major problem I've had is that Lenny wasn't socialised with other dogs and had absolutely no training until we re-housed him when he was nearly 6 months old - as a result he can be very stubborn when he wants to be. We've come such a long way this last year that I feel a bit like a failure when he goes through periods like this and doesn't respond.....when really what I should do is try and think back to how bad he was when we re-housed him and remember how far we've really come.

I suppose for some people these things have a use and that is their choce, but they are not for me .
I think the same control can be achieved with good training. Also bearing in mind the extreme sensitivity of the dogs nose and scenting capabilities I do not think it is a good idea to interfere with these senses by using strong smelling substances in close proximity to the dogs nose however harmless they may be.