Stella the Beagle Cross, who is still experiencing the long-term negative impact of electric shock collars
85% Of People Think Shock Collar Use For Training Dogs Is Unacceptable, New Dogs Trust Data Reveals
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With new data revealing that 85% of Britons believe the use of electric shock collars for training is unacceptable, Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, is calling on the Government to review and ban their sale and use.
Electric shock collars, which have been banned from use in Wales since 2010, are still legally used and purchased in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Dogs Trust found that two-thirds (66%) of people in England supported a ban on the use of electric shock collars, and the same proportion supported a ban on their sale. Over half the respondents (56%) in England already thought electric shock collars were illegal.
In Scotland, three-quarters (75%) of respondents supported a ban on the use of shock collars, with a similar proportion (76%) supporting a ban on sale. A majority in Scotland (52%) also thought that use of the devices was already illegal.
Electric shock collars are designed to work by punishing unwanted behaviours through the application of a shock to the dog’s neck. To change unwanted behaviours, the shock from an electric shock collar needs to be strong enough for the animal to want to avoid feeling that painful sensation again. However, research has shown that instead of improving behaviour, the use of such devices can risk further problems and cause behavioural and physiological signs of distress.
Hannah Harris, Behaviour Policy Manager at Dogs Trust, said, “Electric shock collars are both unnecessary and cruel, a view that is shared by animal welfare experts, and thanks to this recent data, the British public.
“Research has shown that electric shock collars negatively impact pet welfare and risk causing further behaviour problems instead of improving behaviour. We believe there is no place or need for these cruel devices in modern pet ownership or training and are calling on the Government to ban the sale and use of these devices.”
One example of the long-term negative impact of electric shock collars is Stella, a Beagle Cross who has since found her forever home after spending time in the care of Dogs Trust Glasgow. Prior to arriving in the charity’s care, Stella’s previous owners used an electric shock collar in an attempt to control her enthusiastic howling.
As a result of the pain and distress she experienced, Stella became very wary of having the area around her collar touched and was avoidant during veterinary examinations. Despite extensive work by the Dogs Trust team, growing confidence, and now living in a loving and understanding home, some of these behaviours persist today.
A common justification for the use of electric shock collars is livestock worrying. However, data from five police forces suggests that most livestock worrying incidents (nearly 7 in 10) occur from unaccompanied dogs*.
Dogs Trust advice is that keeping dogs on a short lead around livestock is the single most effective way to prevent incidents. To find out more about Dogs Trust’s work on electric shock collars, and the charity’s stance on key animal welfare issues, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/our-views
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