Information, Education & Advice - helping dogs in need
Information, Education & Advice - helping dogs in need
About electric shock collars I How they are used I Opinions & Views I Advertisements I Wireless crates/Electric mats I
How You Can Help - Current situation in England I Scotland I Wales I EDDR Position I
What are electric shock devices?
The electric shock collar is a device which is worn by the dog (or cat), they can be controlled by a hand held unit with a remote button or go off automatically.
An electric shock (also known as a static correction) is delivered to the dog’s neck by two prongs which make contact with the skin.
In some devices the level of shock may be controlled by the handler who by pressing a button can increase or decrease the intensity and number of shocks delivered. Sometimes a warning bleep can be given first prior to the shock. Devices will differ in range and shock intensities.
There are several types of electronic 'training' collars available. These include:
Collars and other devices can be freely brought and used by anyone. Their use is wide open to abuse by anyone of any age, who can use a device to punish without supervision of any kind. (Wales has recently moved to prohibit use-read below)
To read our previous article on the 'wireless crate' and scat mat please click here.
Electric shock collars and other devices can be used on dogs of all shapes, sizes, old dogs, puppies, sick dogs, nervous and frightened dogs, dogs of any disposition whatsoever.
These devices are used by dog owners and even some so called dog trainers. For example, we know of one trainer who used an electric shock collar on a Staffie cross in a kennel, the dog was highly stressed out and not coping with a kennel environment, he was chewing his bed and generally hyperactive and unsettled, the collar was used and a shock was given to ‘calm him down and stop him from jumping up at the mesh’. Those who work daily with dogs routinely hear of how these devices are being used and promoted.
Some see electric shock collars as a quick fix or advocate their use as a ‘last resort’. Those who work with and understand dogs know that their use is damaging and fails to address the underlying behavioural issues by focusing on the behaviour rather than the cause of the behaviour. Dogs make an association between a shock and its environment at that point in time; this can be dangerous as the dog can learn to associate a punishment (the shock) with something at that time - like you the owner, an object, your other dog, it is counter productive.
Electric shocks received can be painful, stressful and cause fear.; this may trigger an aggressive response from the dog being subjected to the electric shock.
So how about a dog which wants to chase or even kill sheep? If your dog wants to - keep it on a lead and under the control of a responsible adult or risk being prosecuted. You could also seek advice from a dog trainer who specialises in this type of problem, e.g., Angela Stockdale the dog aggression specialist.
As an organisation experienced with ‘difficult dogs’ we are sometimes asked by dog owners if using an electric shock collar would help reduce their dog to dog aggression issues – the answer in our opinion is simply NO it will not and unless you want to damage your dog and possibly make matters worse, our advice is that you do not go down that route.
Opinions on Electric Shock Collar:
Current Situation & How You Can Help :Defra has commissioned a study on the use of electric shock collars. The study is to "assess the affect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of dogs" and commenced in 2007, the study is being undertaken by the Central Science Laboratory and the Universities of Bristol and Lincoln. It is expected to be completed in 2010 at a cost of £469,000. Details of the research project are available on the DEFRA website. Defra have said they will not be making any decision on whether to ban electronic training aids until they have considered the results of the completed research project.
Lobbying Government - Westminster - Your support is needed to help get these outdated devices banned. Please support calls for an outright ban by contacting your own Member of Parliament (MP) and DEFRA.
To find out who your local MP is, please visit Write To Them where you can email your letter from
You can also telephone the House of Commons on 020 7219 3000. Written letters to your MP are posted to:
Your MP - The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Also ask that your MP signs and supports the Early Day Motions that call for a ban. EDM 1570 - introduced by Tony Baldry MP and EDM 288 introduced by David Drew MP.
Please send your letters to Defra to the Minister for Animal Welfare - Jim Fitzpatrick MP - the postal address for contacting all Defra's Ministers is:
Defra
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Emails can be sent to Ministers via the Defra Helpline: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Parliamentary Bills:
The Electric Shock Training Devices Bill was introduced by Sarah McCarthy-Fry, the MP for Portsmouth North; it prohibits the sale, manufacture, hire, loan and importation or use of electric shock training devices on any animal. The Bill was aimed at all electric shock training devices, not just collars, devices such as mats and leads, which have appeared advertised on the internet over recent years.
DEFRA animal welfare minister Ben Bradshaw confirmed the Government’s current position. It did not support the Bill and thought that the issue would in time be dealt with through regulation and secondary legislation.
This Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on December 13th 2006 and its second reading House of Commons on 27th April 2007, the Bill has been now been dropped.
To read the parliamentary discussion on this issue – go to: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070427/debtext/70427-0003.htm
The Animals (Electric Shock Collars) Bill was a Private Members Bill introduced by David Rendel MP. It was a Bill to ban the manufacture, sale or use of collars which administer electric shocks to animals (not just dogs). The Bill had its 1st reading in the House of Commons on 12th February 2003, but unfortunately it ran out of parliamentary time and there was no 2nd reading.
There have been several Early Day Motions submitted to Parliament.
In Scotland the government run a public consultation on electronic shock collars and other devices, such as electric mats, the consultation closed on 30-11-07.
In 2008 they announced that they would not move to ban electric collars until Defra had completed its research on the devices.
Motion - Scottish Parliament:
S3M-428 Electric Training Devices—“That the Parliament condemns the sale and use of electric training devices to train and control dogs, with the exception of electric fences which operate on a different principle; considers the use of such devices to be cruel and unnecessary; understands that positive training methods train dogs more quickly and reliably; recognises that, because dogs have a strong bond with humans, their natural instincts can be utilised to train them easily, and believes that the Scottish Government should consider the introduction of a complete ban on the sale and use of electric training devices at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Please write to your Member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) and urge them to sign Motion S3M-428 – Electric Training Devices
To locate your MSP please visit:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/apps2/msp/msphome/default.aspx
or
http://www.writetothem.com/
Wales is the first part of the UK to ban the use of electric shock collars on dogs and cats.
In June 2008 Wales Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones AM stated her intention was introduce a law to ban the use of electronic training devices in Wales, following consultation (there were three consultations on the draft legislation).
The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 was laid before the National Assembly for Wales on 23-3-2010 which voted to approve the ban on using electric shock collars on dogs and cats in Wales.
Using their devolved powers under section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the ban became law on 24-3-2010.
Under section 2. of the legislation it is now prohibited for a person to-
(a) attach an electronic collar to a cat or a dog;
(b) cause an electronic collar to be attached to a cat or a dog; or
(c) be responsible for a cat or a dog to which an electronic collar is attached.
A person who breaches any of the prohibitions in regulation 2 commits an offence and, on summary conviction, is liable to imprisonment, a fine, or to both.
For details of the legislation please click here- http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/wales/wsi2010/wsi_20100943_en_1
Minister Jones said: “I am very pleased that AMs have backed the Assembly Government’s proposal to ban the use of electronic shock collars in Wales.”
The AWA 2006 allows for subordinate legislation to be made especially under section 12 to promote animal welfare. The use of collars was not previously mentioned in the ACT, but sec.12 has given the powers to make a regulation to address this.
The Regulation includes collars which are used in conjunction with electric fencing and electronic shock mats and electric leads.
The Regulation does not apply to the use of electric fencing used to contain livestock. It does not apply to air and citronella type collars or vibrating collars (often used on deaf dogs).
If you see electric shock devices advertised and/or promoted, politely let your views be known. Be vigilant and do not support those who promote their use or condone their advertisement.
We do not support the use of electric shock devices including collars, leads and mats. We believe that training dogs through fear, pain and discomfort is not necessary or humane. POSITIVE, KIND methods are proven to train dogs reliably and most importantly are proven to actually work. We believe that the use of these devices is not effective, not necessary and should should be prohibited through legislation.
Webmistress I Terms and Conditions I Contact Copyright © 2010 Endangered Dogs Defence and Rescue Ltd |