Success for BVA’s campaign to ban electronic shock collars in England

Following years of campaigning by the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the Government is to ban the use of electronic shock collars for dogs and cats in England from next year.

Under draft regulations now laid before Parliament it will be a punishable offence for a person to attach an electronic shock collar to a dog or cat from 1 February 2024.

BVA has worked tirelessly alongside other organisations including The Kennel Club, RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Battersea and Blue Cross, calling for a ban of these aversive training methods across the UK. Wales took the progressive step to ban them in 2010 and now England is to follow suit.

Commenting, BVA Junior Vice President Anna Judson said:

“This step is a real win for animal welfare. We know from research that using fear as a training tool is less effective than positive reinforcement and can take a toll on the animal’s overall welfare.

“At BVA we are pleased to see that Defra has listened to expert advice from veterinary surgeons and behaviourists who have first-hand experience of what can go wrong when aversive training methods are used to control and punish animals. We look forward to seeing the regulations get the stamp of approval from both Houses of Parliament.

“We’d encourage anyone dealing with pet behaviour issues to always speak to their vet to rule out any underlying health issues which could be causing unwanted behaviour, and to get advice on how to manage any issues positively and humanely. Your vet can also refer you to an accredited behaviourist for expert help as necessary.

“With an effective ban on the use of these devices already in place in Wales and hopefully soon in England, BVA will continue its campaign to push for similar legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as an outright ban on the sale and import of shock collars across the UK.”

A robust body of research, including a notable study by the University of Lincoln (2019), shows that the application of electric shocks, even at a low level, can cause stress, pain and fear and that positive training methods are more effective in terms of the animal’s health, welfare and behaviour. The 2022 PDSA PAW Report found that 20% of dog owners had used aversive training devices including shock collars, equating to 2 million dogs in the UK being subject to negative training methods.

For more information, please see BVA’s joint policy position with BSAVA on aversive training devices.