As a dog owner I feel that it is my responsibility to keep them safe and out of harms way. In the long term it is our aim to campaign for legislation to ban the sale and use of shock collars as other enlightened countries such as Wales have done. Neighbors Burning Trash? According to the questionnaire results, anti-bark collars appeared to be the least efficient and the most injurious device. Overall, pet owners use shock collars simply because they want to get rid of their cat’s unwanted behavior, although in general it creates more problems and causes more harm than it helps. The use of electric shock collars on dogs is to be effectively banned in Scotland, the Scottish government has confirmed. Containment fences are still legal in the UK, as more than half of the people who responded to a government poll said that they did not want those fences banned. Would the cat simply go back to doing unpleasant behavior (like scratching your sofa or jumping on windows) because it noticed that the collar is gone? Furthermore, it can be used as a harmless and safe tool to teach our cats to avoid jumping, climbing or entering off-limit places. Are Shock Collars Legal In the US? They have already been banned in Wales! The study considers 3 types of electronic collars: anti-bark collars that give a shock when the dog barks, electronic boundary fences that give a shock when the dog crosses the boundary, and remote-controlled collars that give a shock at the will of the pet owner. Read More. The theory behind this is that whenever your cat crosses the fence, it will receive a shock that forbids it from leaving the designated area. Wales and Scotland have already taken steps to prevent the use of electric collars. It is commonly used to prevent pets from entering or leaving a designated area. The use of these collars is cruel, unsafe, and not effective when it comes to training your cats. Austria, Denmark, Finland and Germany have banned these torture devices and other countries have restricted their use. Because of this, many pet owners resort to employing extreme behavioral modification methods like the use of cat shock collars to help train their cats. Only Westminster has the power to ban sales of shock collars – which can shock a dog for up to 11 seconds – so we're asking for your support to ask your MP to #banshockcollars.On Twitter? People adore these furry little creatures, but sometimes they can get into a world of trouble due to their curious natures. The use of such collars is legal in England and Scotland, despite respective governments promising bans in 2018. And that’s aversive equipment. There are some reasons why some of the countries ban the use of shock collar for dogs. You can listen to that show by clicking here. Plus, serval parts of Australia have banned shock collars. Parts of the United Kingdom, particularly Wales and Scotland, have officially banned shock collars, and anti-cruelty leagues are proposing to outlaw them in England. It may even result in your pet to become aloof and immobile if you are not careful with its training. Thus, it is critical for cat owners that use shock collars on their cats to stop immediately and switch to safer and more humane methods of behavior modification. Most e-collars also have non-shock cues such as beeps or vibrations that act as a stimulus for training. Shock training is risky because it can cause your cat to fear situations, people and objects that it thinks is associated with the pain it gets from its collar. It is always better to use positive reinforcement when correcting bad behaviors with pets. Human skin and dog skin are vastly different, which can cause the shock to feel much more intense to a dog. 10. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardblogger_com-box-3-0')};Everybody loves cats! According to the study’s authors, these factors should all be taken into account to determine precise regulations across Europe and other countries where bans are not in place. Invisible fences are tools that allow your pets to roam around your backyard or any place in your house without worrying that the pet may go beyond your yard or enter a place where it is not allowed. Moreover, because of its flexible design, it can be used to prevent cats from jumping or staying in your window sills and even prevent it from leaving the house through your windows. It’s up to you to decide whether or not to continue using these collars, but it’s better to make a knowledgeable decision than to cause your cat undue stress because you aren’t well informed. It loves to jump, climb and move around a lot. The dog training shock collar is even banned in several countries and its usage protested by many animal activist groups. Shock collars are banned in many countries because of concerns for animal welfare. This cat training tool delivers a harmless and safe static pulse whenever your pet steps or enters the training mat. Many would argue that if for some reason a cat shock collar did work, what will happen if you removed it from the cat? Besides those areas, other places that banned shock collars are Quebec, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Denmark, and a few areas in Australia. But according to a new study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, “there is no credible scientific evidence to justify electronic collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs.”. Many people would argue that when using shock collars on their minimum settings, they do not hurt the cat. If these don’t work and the problems at home persist, a trainer or animal behaviorist may be of assistance. Not only are shock collars considered needlessly cruel by some, but in parts of Europe, owning one to use on your feline is against the law. It's time to stand up for the animals, and ban the use of electronic shock collars throughout the United States. These countries include countries in northern Europe such as Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. In short, shock collars have been described as inhumane because there’s a higher chance of abuse or accidental misuse. All rights reserved. Equipment designed to inflict pain. The ScatMat Indoor Pet Training Mat is an effective tool to train your cats from entering or staying in places that you don’t want them in, such as bedrooms, sofa, kitchen countertop, window sills, etc. The Sofisti-Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape is an anti-scratch deterrent tool that is used to train cats from scratching surfaces and objects that are protected by the tape. This just goes to show how many countries and people are against shock collars and would rather use different alternatives! Studies show that using shock may result in increased fear, aggression, or learned helplessness. Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, Scotland, Sweden, Wales, and some parts of Australia all currently have a ban on electronic collars for dogs. It is a motion-activated canister that will deliver a quick burst of spray that harmlessly drives away pets from a specific area that we don’t want them in. These people are usually uninformed owners that think that they can use cat shock collars (sometimes called cat silencing collars) as a fast and easy tool to train difficult pets. Electric Collars Without The Shock Feature. Shock collars are banned in Wales, but with the help of a new proposal, the cruel devices may be banned in all of England, thanks to a campaign by local animal welfare organizations.“Training a dog with an electric shock collar causes physical and psychological harm and is never acceptable, especially given the vast array of positive training methods available. Assembled are policies, studies, advisements and news stories that expose shock collars as cruel and inhumane devices designed to cause animal’s pain. According to a survey done by the RSPCA, 5% of dog owners say that they have used shock collars. Shock collars, for anyone who’s never heard of the device, are exactly how they sound: collars worn by pets that can deliver up to 6,000 volts of electricity into the animal’s neck when they misbehave. The Emmy’s Best Cat Scratch Deterrent Spray for Kittens and Cats is a spray formula that is used to prevent cats from scratching furniture and other objects in your home, as well as train your cats to stay away from areas that you don’t want them in. Shock collars are pretty self explanatory. Animal activists have been attempting to issue a Europe-wide ban on their sale and use, while no movement on a … All rights reserved. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardblogger_com-leader-3-0')}; Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, and Germany are other European countries that don’t sell the collars due to their bad press. Because of this constant movement, your cat’s collar can get stuck on an object, which can cause injury or even choke your cat to death. In general, there are two types of cat training collars; if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardblogger_com-leader-1-0')};This type of collar is usually a remote control device. What does that tell you? Although there is no law affecting the entire country, most large cities have banned them. The use of shock collars is banned in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Germany, and in some territories of Australia, including New South Wales and South Australia. © 2021 MJH Life Sciences and DVM 360. Encouraging, praising, and rewarding your pet is a far better approach than shocking your cat to alter its behavior. Owners of animals with shock collars are not required to undergo similiar experiences. In this guide to cat shock collars we’re going to answer the questions of: if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardblogger_com-medrectangle-3-0')};To answer these questions we need to really examine cat shock collars carefully and learn how they work. The responses outlined the reasons why pet owners may use these electronic collars, including wanting fast results, they tried it on themselves and it didn’t hurt much, they think the risks are lower in the long-term than other alternatives, and that they are cheaper than hiring a dog trainer or behaviorist. You’ve taken an awesome first step in educating yourself on the topic of cat shock collars, so now we encourage you to put your newfound knowledge to good use by using positive reinforcement and safe cat training methods. The fragrance of the spray used by this cat training tool is hated by cats but is relatively harmless to them. In the USA you can still buy shock collars just as easily. Moreover, it smells pleasant to humans because the formula contains lemongrass and rosemary oil. Cat shock collars, also known as cat training collars, are electronic devices that look similar to a regular pet collar, but have a small electronic device attached that delivers an electric shock to the cat wearing the collar. The United States is yet to follow. Videos advocating the use of electric-shock collars should come with a warning or be banned, the Blue Cross said. The remote enables pet owners to stop or prevent unwanted behavior by triggering an electronic pulse on the cat’s collar. Some countries have even banned police dog training tactics involving electric shocks. Let’s join this trend! Many pet owners use electric shock collars for cats specifically as positive and negative reinforcement tools to aid in behavior modification. All you need to do is constantly spray it on whatever area or object that you want to protect from your cat and it will defend it from your naughty pet. As previously mentioned, the low-level voltage won’t inflict pain on your beloved pet. As a rebuttal, the study’s authors provided scientific evidence to counter each of these reasons. Its smell discourages your pet from loitering in areas where it is sprayed and thus, preventing scratches on objects located in that area. New Zealand, Austria, Australia, Switzerland, the Canadian Province of Quebec, and many others have made prong collars (and in many cases choke and shock collars) illegal. This training spray is a good alternative to cat shock collars because it is harmless, handy, and easy to use. 1 defense mentioned in the study is the fact that dog welfare is put at higher risk when electronic collars are used. We must reevaluate how we treat our animals. This cat training aid releases an odorless, stain-free and ozone-friendly spray that is harmless to both pets and children. Unmanned shock collars are automatic shock collars that are designed to work effectively without any interference or controls coming from a user. Even though pet owners can control the level of intensity of the shock that the collar emits, the unpleasant feeling that the cat will experience can result in fear and panic, which can cause your pet to become stressed and agitated. Animal activists have been attempting to issue a Europe-wide ban on their sale and use, while no movement on a ban has been created in the United States. The most common situation would be sending a shock to the cat whenever the microphone on the shock collar picks up a meow that’s louder than a specified decibel range. Like prong collars, all they do is inflict fear and pain which does not solve anything. I have met the clients that have brought in their fear aggressive dogs on e-collars and prongs and asked me if they should “shock” them if they come after me — I have also seen hundreds of fearful, aggressive, and naughty dogs trained properly under my guidance go on to become amazing advocates for those using the tools correctly. Some owners use cat shock collars because they believe that they’ve done everything they can to train their cats, but nothing seems to work. It’s our job as pet parents to make smart decisions that act to help, and not harm our furry feline friends. Currently, in Spain, the legislation is undergoing changes in several regions. Its double-sided sticky surface helps in training your cat to avoid scratching the protected area due to the unpleasant sticky feeling that it will get whenever it scratches the tape. Parts of the United Kingdom, particularly Wales and Scotland, have officially banned shock collars, and anti-cruelty leagues are proposing to outlaw them in England. People who use shock collars may end up paying even more money on a dog trainer or behaviorist if using the collar affects the human-animal relationship or the welfare of the dog. Cats are more active than other pets. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardblogger_com-leader-2-0')};They may only have trace amounts of electricity running through them, but they can be dangerous in the wrong or inexperienced hands. Misleading marketing. If you feel that cat collars are your last resort, think again. This method however may confuse your cat, because whenever he leaves the area and tries to come back, your cat will receive an additional electric shock from the collar on its way back, causing it to be scared to return to the designated area. Three main types of devices are sold for public use: • Electric shock collars for training and control • Electric shock collars to discourage or punish barking