Study Outlines Reasons To Ban Electronic Collars For Dogs

A review of the scientific question finds at that topographic point are risks to using electronic collars inwards domestic dog preparation too says it's fourth dimension for a ban.

Photo: Parilov / Shutterstock

By Zazie Todd, PhD

Last year, a positive punishment to punish a domestic dog for an unwanted behaviour. They are too sometimes used every bit negative reinforcement by applying the stupor until the domestic dog does the demeanour that is wanted. These days many electronic collars cause got a fourth dimension confine on the application of shock, making it less probable they are used every bit negative reinforcement.

The newspaper considers all 3 types of electronic collars:

• Antibark collars that are activated past times dissonance too automatically give a stupor when the domestic dog barks
• Electronic boundary fences that cause got hush-hush sensors. When the domestic dog crosses the boundary, the dog’s neckband gives an electrical shock
• Remote-controlled collars that enable a soul to deliver a stupor to the domestic dog via a remote control.

The newspaper concludes,

“...there is no credible scientific evidence to justify e-collar purpose too the purpose of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs. On the contrary, at that topographic point are many reasons to never purpose these devices. Better preparation options exist, alongside proven efficacy too depression risk.”

They acquire on to recommend a ban on the sale, purpose too advertisement of electronic collars across Europe.

The newspaper outlines reasons people may give for using electronic collars: they say they work; they desire fast results; they’ve tried it on themselves too think it didn’t wound (not taking into describe of piece of job organisation human relationship differences betwixt human pare too domestic dog skin); they think the risks are lower inwards the long-term than other alternatives; or they think it volition live on cheaper than hiring a domestic dog trainer or beast behaviourist.

The newspaper looks at the scientific evidence too demolishes all of these reasons. Ultimately, the purpose of electronic preparation collars poses risks to beast welfare, every bit flora inwards Ziv’s before review of aversive preparation methods to a greater extent than generally.

For example, people who purpose stupor collars may halt upward paying to a greater extent than on a domestic dog trainer or behaviourist if purpose of the neckband affects their human relationship alongside the domestic dog or the dog’s welfare. The application of stupor may outcome inwards fear, aggression or learned helplessness. Poor timing on the business office of the trainer volition increment these risks.

Studies exhibit increased fearfulness too stress inwards dogs trained alongside stupor collars. And it is possible for dogs to associate this alongside things other than the demeanour beingness punished, for illustration alongside the trainer, the location of the training, or (in the instance of boundary fences) alongside people or dogs who hand to live on walking by.

Meanwhile, at that topographic point is no question that suggests electronic preparation collars are to a greater extent than effective; inwards contrast, at that topographic point is around question that suggests positive reinforcement leads to improve results. (For example, ane written report flora no benefits to the purpose of stupor collars to instruct recall but around risks to beast welfare).

So although people give diverse reasons to back upward the purpose of electronic collars, at that topographic point is no evidence to back upward those reasons. The newspaper says many people are reluctant to purpose electronic collars too prefer to purpose humane methods.

The newspaper too considers spray collars that release a puff or air or a spray of citronella when a domestic dog barks. They say that if spray collars are used, it should live on nether the supervision of a veterinary or behaviourist. The collars create non address the campaign of barking, too this needs to live on taken into consideration.

"...there is no credible scientific evidence to justify e-collar purpose too the purpose of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs"

And they recommend physical fences instead of electronic fences. One written report flora a higher adventure of escape alongside electronic fences compared to a physical fence.

The scientists too consider people’s sources of information almost domestic dog training, which are oftentimes poor. This way many people may non know positive reinforcement is a improve way to educate dogs.

This is an of import newspaper that clearly states the many problems alongside the purpose of electronic collars inwards domestic dog training. It remains to live on seen whether the European countries that create non already ban stupor collars displace to enact such a ban.

Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, Scotland, Sweden, Wales, too around parts of Commonwealth of Australia already cause got a ban on electronic collars. England has plans to ban them.

In the meantime, if anyone is wondering whether or non to purpose an electronic neckband on their dog, this article gives many reasons non to create so.

If y'all require attention alongside your dog’s behaviour, choose a proficient domestic dog trainer who volition purpose positive reinforcement.

Professional organizations recommend the purpose of reward-based preparation methods (see seven reasons to purpose reward-based preparation methods).  You powerfulness too similar my post the ultimate domestic dog preparation tip. You tin too read almost my ain article (published inwards the same number of the Journal of Veterinary Behavior) on why don't to a greater extent than people purpose positive reinforcement to educate dogs.

Subscribe to to larn to a greater extent than almost how to cause got happy dogs too cats. And if y'all dearest , y'all tin support me on Ko-fi.


If you’re interested inwards the science, I travel on a listing of dog preparation question resources where y'all tin notice the question on domestic dog preparation methods (as good every bit places to read almost it for free).

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Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes almost everything from preparation methods to the human-canine relationship. She too writes a column for Psychology Today too has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, alongside her husband, ane dog, too 2 cats.

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Reference

Masson, S., de la Vega, S., Gazzano, A., Mariti, C., Pereira, G. D. G., Halsberghe, C., Leyvraz, A.M., McPeake, K. & Schoening, B. (2018). Electronic preparation devices: give-and-take on the pros too cons of their purpose inwards dogs every bit a ground for the set contestation of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology (ESVCE). Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787818300108


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