Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent on research into electronic dog training aids in the last ten years; what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of that research; and if she will make a statement.

My Department commissioned research projects AW1402: ‘Effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of domestic dogs’ and AW1402A: ‘Studies to assess the effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems on the welfare of domestic dogs; field study of dogs in training’, at a cost of £469,000 and £69,925 respectively. The findings of both projects were published in 2014.

Findings from these research projects informed our decision to ban the use of remote controlled electronic training collars that deliver an electric shock to cats and dogs, given their scope to cause harm.

We plan to introduce these regulations soon.