Please join the Kennel Club in calling upon the Government, Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly to introduce an outright ban on this barbaric method of training dogs.

Timeline of the Electric Shock Collar Campaign

The Kennel Club has long been campaigning for electric shock training devices to be completely banned across the UK.  Electric shock training devices train a dog to respond out of fear of further punishment, having received an electric shock when it does not perform what is asked of it, rather than from a natural willingness to obey.  In order for the devices to serve effectively as a training tool, the dog has to perceive the shock as painful - moreover if the dog does not respond, the punishment has to escalate, creating further potential for abuse.

The Kennel Club has welcomed recent consultations issued by the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government seeking views on whether to ban electric shock training aids including collars, leads and mats.  For further details on how to get involved in the campaign please see the following sections below.

Scotland

The Scottish Government  issued a consultation seeking views on the use, sale, distribution and possession of electric shock collars and other such training devices including electric mats and electric leads in Scotland. The consultation closed on 30 November 2007 and the results of this consultation have yet to be published.  
In the meantime, the Kennel Club is urging all those who support the campaign and wish to see a ban in Scotland to write to your MSP and ask them to write to the responsible Minister, Richard Lochhead MSP, outlining their support for such a ban.  Your MSP can also sign Motion S3M-428 Electric Training Devices.  You can find out who your MSP is by visiting www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/msplocator.htm  

A standard form of words can be found by clicking the link below:

Suggested form of words to a MSP

Wales

The Welsh Assembly took the decision to ban the use of shock collars using existing scientific evidence earlier this year and is clearly now leading the way. The second consultation regarding implementation has now begun.

Trish Law AM has put down a Statement of Opinion regarding the issue. A second consultation is now underway and the Electronic Collars Manufacturers Association has stepped up its efforts to overturn the proposed ban in Wales.

The link to the motion can be found at
http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-guide-docs-pub/bus-business-documents/bus-business-documents-state-opinion.htm?act=dis&id=119814&ds=3/2009

We encourage you to write to your AM and ask them to sign the Statement of Opinion and also respond to the consultation.

The closing date for responses is 27th May 2009, and the consultation letter and document can be seen at
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/awshockcollardraftregs2009/;jsessionid=YJMdJvmPPLxyD12ptmXTbRpGh4RLnpTD977p6n7pxpQ6J00dy8CV!1614610361?lang=en

The Kennel Club is delighted that after many years of campaigning Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has announced the Welsh Assembly Government will ban electric shock collars in Wales.

Said Elin Jones "After giving due consideration to the arguments, I propose to introduce a ban on the use of electric shock collars in Wales.” She further commented that Wales was “leading the way” with this ban now in place. Elin went on to explain that the ban would stand on any product that induces a shock from which a dog cannot escape. 

This is the first ban of its kind in the UK with Ministers praising the Kennel Club for their relentless pursuit of this subject. Speaking after the announcement Trish Law (AM for Blaenau Gwent) commented “I must just pay tribute to those individuals and groups who have successfully lobbied for a ban, in particular the Kennel Club which has diligently and tirelessly relayed with clarity to AMs its inarguable case for a ban.”

CAWC Issues Consultation on Electric Shock Collars

The Kennel Club is alerting dog owners to the fact that the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) has issued a call for evidence to assess the implications of using electric shock training aids on companion animals.

CAWC is seeking information in relation to direct experience of both the use of these devices and alternatives in relation to achieving specific training goals. The Kennel Club would encourage any dog owner who has had a negative experience of using an electric shock collar to respond to the questionnaire.

The Kennel Club has lobbied for several years to ban electric shock training devices, recently resulting in an unprecedented decision by the Welsh Assembly to issue draft regulations restricting the use of them based on existing scientific evidence. 

You can view the CAWC consultation by visiting: http://www.cawc.org.uk/

Westminster

Although there has been no consultation issued by DEFRA the Kennel Club remains committed to keeping the issue high on the political agenda.

David Drew MP has tabled an Early Day Motion on the issue and the Kennel Club is encouraging people to write to their MP asking them to sign EDM 288 to show their support for the issue.

You can find out who your MP is by visiting www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/

You can also talk to your MP at his or her surgery and you may find our Surgery Guide useful:

MP's Surgery Pack

This link also allows you to write to your MP and encourages them to respond: http://www.writetothem.com/

You can find the electric shock collar campaign time line by clicking the link below:

Electric Shock Collar Campaign timeline

YouTube clip of man with electric shock collar

In this video clip (about half way through) you will see a man put a shock collar on himself to see if it hurts. This clip does not feature any electric shock training devices being used on animals. The person in the video has lent his support to the campaign after learning what the device does and has said he would never use one on his dog.

Kennel Club Position on Negative Training Devices

Read the Kennel Club's position on the best way to train your dog.

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