Electronic dog collar survey

Many trainers choose not to use electric training collars

By Selena Masson

Thursday, 07 May 2009

A new survey aims to gather dog owners’ experiences of electronic training collars

The Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) is calling for evidence to assess the results of using controversial electric shock training aids on dogs.

The CAWC has set up an online survey in a bid to gather fi rst-hand experiences of the devices. It will then collate the information to produce an independent report on the implications of the use of the training aids. A CAWC spokesman said: “The survey will only take a few minutes to complete. It requests individuals to report on their most signifi cant experience of using
a device. Only one submission per user is allowed. Reports must be based on direct experience and not second-hand.”

The Kennel Club (KC), which has lobbied for several years to ban electric shock training devices, is calling for opponents of the collars to speak up. The KC’s Caroline Kisko said: “It is extremely important for anyone who has had a negative experience of using an electric shock collar to take part in the consultation.”

Shooting organisations are urging all shooters to take part. BASC’s Christopher Graffius told ST: “BASC policy on electronic dog collars is that in the hands of an expert trainer they can be very useful when all else has failed and a dog may have to be put down. Nevertheless, there is a wide spectrum of views within the shooting community on these collars. BASC encourages its members to contribute to the consultation whatever their experience of these devices.”

The questionnaire is available online at www.ecollar-survey.org.

Join other ST readers in our forums to discuss your views.

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Comments

Mike Judge

Fri, 25th Sep 2009 11:29:25

Re E Collars. I do not feel that ecollars should be used unless absolutely necessary. I had to resort to one having bought a lab that was a rescue dog 5 years old and thought sheep only existed for him to chase. ONE bump with the collar and he NEVER looked at a sheep again for the rest of his 11 year life. The whole principle is to use it at the correct time. Just as he was nearing the sheep, bump. He was convinced that the pain came from the sheep and not from me as he very quickly returned to me for attention. If he had been caught sheep chasing on the Welsh borders wher we live he would have been shot. We now on our new dog used a containment collar. Having discovered where the boundaries are, the collar whilst worn all the time is switched off.