DEFRA-FUNDED ELECTRIC SHOCK COLLAR RESEARCH

That this House recognises the findings of the published, DEFRA-funded, research into the use of electric shock collars on dogs which demonstrated that electric shock collars caused negative behavioural and physiological changes in a portion of dogs, were not more effective than positive reinforcement methods which is the main argument for their use and were open to misuse as owners either did not read the manuals or they were not provided; notes that positive training tools, including recall training, retractable leads and clicker training, help build a relation of mutual trust and liking between owner and dog rather than a relationship based on fear and pain; and urges the Government to implement a ban on electric shock collars as was done in Wales under its Animal Welfare Act 2006 to stop unnecessary pain and distress to dogs.