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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of people who have trained their dog with an e-collar since his Department first announced a ban on those collars.

The Government assessed the number of people who have reported using a remotely activated electronic training device in 2018. Based on peer reviewed evidence, we estimate that 3% of owners use such devices. As our proposed ban will only prohibit those collars which deliver an electric shock controlled by hand-held devices, and not those which deliver stimuli such as vibration or sound, the number of affected users will be significantly lower.

The proposed ban on the use of electric shock collars controlled by hand-held devices was developed after considering a broad range of factors, including the impact of banning them. When considered alongside the academic research, the public consultation responses, and direct engagement with the sector, the Government concluded that these collars present a risk to the welfare of dogs and cats and that their use should be prohibited. The same conclusion was reached by other nations that have already banned the use of collars which deliver a shock, including Wales, Austria and Germany.

We appreciate that the right approach for pet owners to take in managing and controlling their dog’s behaviour differs from both person to person and from pet to pet. Defra would advise all owners who are concerned about controlling their dog’s behaviour, for whatever reason, to take advice from their vet or a suitably qualified dog behaviourist or trainer. Such specialists would be best positioned to advise on the best approach for their specific case. The Animal Behaviour and Training Council maintains national registers of appropriately qualified trainers and behaviourists which can be found at the link below: https://abtc.org.uk/practitioners/.