Scotland considering banning Shock Collars.

Like everything else, they are a tool that can be used....or abused.  I dislike the idea of banning them, but the potential for abuse is there and people need to be protected from themselves...and dogs protected from owners who lack restraint and training with such things. 

That seems a bit extreme. It will be interesting to see where this goes. 

This is what really pisses me off about bills like this...."There is some concern that"....so, is there any scientific evidence?  Experiments?  Case studies?...Anything?!?!?!  Nope, just a few people who "think that" shock collars are unnecessary.  Most people I know who use/have used a shock collar would demonstrate it on themselves if you asked (same for prongs, I've put a prong on to see).  I grew up in the ghetto where everyone was fighting dogs and abusing their dogs, but no one there was using shock collars b/c they are expensive!  Also, I don't know of any competitive venue that allows shock collars to be worn, so even if someone chooses to use one for training, it's intended as a temporary tool, just like a prong, Easy Walk, halti, Gentle Leader.... 

I'll just wait til Claire comes back and can give me a better inside on what's going on....sometimes, it takes a person close to a situation to give a better view........Claire....where are you?

UK is also where there was some chatter about banning crating.

rwbeagles

UK is also where there was some chatter about banning crating.

Just wait, I predict that we will be seeing that bantered about here in the US in the not so distant future.  peta blogs are already starting to seed that idea.

It's a daft idea....and seems to have had no effect yet since my local pet store is still doing a roaring trade in crates.  Ben hardly uses his anymore, unless I'm doing something loud and annoying like hoovering, but it was very useful for well over a year and there were times I wouldn't have been able to do without it.  

Benedict

It's a daft idea

You know that here in Florida our pregnant pigs have constitutional rights.  That is right it is written in the constitution that pigs can't be kept in fallowing crates (whelping pens) when having their piglets.  That happen because HSUS and a lot of animal rights groups came in and pushed for a voter backed initiative.  They showed these very deceptive pictures of pigs in crates.  They didn't tell the folks that not using farrowing crates usually results in a 25% mortality rate for piglets and using the crate you only end up with a 3-4% rate.  They also didn't tell you about all the fights the female pigs get into with other pigs.  People are so disconnected with AG life here that they bought the mis-representations.  There were only 2 large scale pig farms in the state (both family owned)  so they didn't have to money to fight this stupid law.  Of course they are both out of business now.  So if they can push a law that states it is inhumane for a pig to be in a crate do you think that dogs are far behind?

I've heard of this ban of crates in the UK because it was mentioned on a thread a while ago.... but I tried to look it up and found nothing.  If anyone wants to open a new thread for it, with a link, I'd be very interested. 

Sorry, back to topic....

The vast majority of ads I see for e-collars or trainers that use them seem highly suspect to me.  It seems wrong taht just anyone can use them... but there's no way of restricting it to only trainers, becasue ANYONE can be a trainer.... so if they want to regulate the usage, it seems like they have to regulate the field of animal behaviour/trainers or ban them totally.  Which do you think is the easier job??!!!!

Are prong and choke collars already banned there? honestly asking...you all have some interesting rules there...lol.

Chuffy

so if they want to regulate the usage

One problem is that we are not just talking about training collars.  They also include Fence perimeter collars, bark collars, scat mats, etc.  Anything that involves the use of electricity.  Of course if you extrapolate this out wouldn't it include prod sticks used on livestock, electric wire fences and taking even further wouldn't it include stun guns since it also involves electricity?

Got to watch that law on unintended consequences.

timsdat

One problem is that we are not just talking about training collars.  They also include Fence perimeter collars, bark collars, scat mats, etc.  Anything that involves the use of electricity. 

Guess I'll be the odd (wo)man out here and say I'll be celebrating the ban.

Kim_MacMillan

timsdat

One problem is that we are not just talking about training collars.  They also include Fence perimeter collars, bark collars, scat mats, etc.  Anything that involves the use of electricity. 

Guess I'll be the odd (wo)man out here and say I'll be celebrating the ban.

I'll join you out on the limb, Kim.  And, anyway, it's better than banning a breed, which would be more worrisome, I think.  

OOh I cant wait to see where this one goes. I side with all of you on the fact that they are being a bit extreme but in reality folks.....seriously how many people do you know how actually use the prong, choke, and shock collar properly? I've personally found it very rare to see a person use them properly and ONLY for training purposes. I cringed the other day to see a guy on a bike with his dog along side him in a choke chain, I was just waiting for that collar to get caught on something or worse. Ideally everyone would use these tools in an humane way but from my experience (I'm not saying my experience is fact) too many people use them incorectly and do a lot of harm.