E-Collars for Dogs: What the Evidence and Vet Bodies Say
The evidence on e-collars (remote electronic training collars), the veterinary behavior society's position, where they are illegal, how the devices work, and what to try first. Not a how-to for using one.
AI illustration The honest starting point on e-collars is not which one to buy. It is that the veterinary behavior profession advises against them, the two controlled trials that compared them with reward-based training found no advantage for the collar, and some countries prohibit them by law. If you are still considering one after reading that, this guide describes what the main models are, according to their makers, and why the decision belongs in a conversation with a qualified professional rather than in a shopping cart.
Read this first. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior says in its position statement on humane dog training that only reward-based methods should be used, and that aversive methods - it names electronic collars among them - should not be used under any circumstances. We are not trainers or behaviorists, and this page does not teach e-collar use.
E-collars - also called electronic collars, remote trainers or shock collars - deliver an electrical stimulus to the dog’s neck from a handheld remote, usually alongside a tone or vibration option. They are among the most disputed tools in dog training: many hunting and working-dog trainers use them, and reward-based trainers and veterinary behaviorists reject them.
What the Research Found
Two controlled studies from the University of Lincoln are the best evidence available, and both involved dogs referred for the problem e-collars are most often sold for: poor recall.
Welfare. In the first study, 63 dogs were trained in three groups - by collar-industry-approved trainers using e-collars, by the same trainers without them, and by reward-based trainers. Owners in all three groups reported similar improvement. The dogs trained with e-collars spent more time tense and yawned more. The authors concluded there was “no consistent benefit to be gained from e-collar training but greater welfare concerns”.
Effectiveness. The follow-up analysis measured how the dogs responded to “come” and “sit”. The reward-based group responded better after a single command and faster than the e-collar group. The authors concluded that the results do not support the claim that e-collar training is more efficient or leads to fewer ignored commands, even with experienced trainers, and that there is no evidence it is necessary.
These are two studies of a few days of training, not the last word. But they are the trials that exist, and they point the same way as the veterinary behaviorists’ position.
Where They Are Illegal
Check the law before anything else. Wales banned the use of electronic shock collars on dogs and cats in 2010, under regulations you can read here. The Kennel Club, which campaigns for a ban across the UK, notes that use and sale are not currently prohibited in England, where regulations have been drafted but not approved. In Scotland, by the Kennel Club’s account, they are legal, with government guidance since 2018 advising against their use. Germany’s Animal Protection Act forbids using a device that restricts an animal’s behaviour by direct electric current and causes it more than minor pain, suffering or harm, unless another federal or state rule allows it. Rules differ from country to country and sometimes within one, so look up your own jurisdiction.
What to Try First
For most of the problems that send owners looking at e-collars, reward-based methods are what the evidence supports.
Recall
- A long line. A 30-50 foot line gives the dog freedom while you keep control.
- Better rewards. Cheese or chicken for coming back, not kibble.
- Let “come” lead to something good. Call the dog, reward, and release it again, so that coming back does not end the fun.
Pulling
- A front-clip harness - see our no-pull harness guide - and loose-leash training.
Door dashing and fence running
- Management first: gates, a lead at the door, supervised yard time.
Barking
- Find the cause. Barking from anxiety or fear is not improved by punishment - see How to Stop Dog Barking and Dog Anxiety: Natural Remedies.
A qualified reward-based trainer, in person or through a structured course, will usually get further than any piece of equipment.
If You Are Still Considering One
Then the decision should be made with a professional who has seen your dog, and the reasons are specific:
- Fearful, anxious or aggressive dogs are the worst candidates. Adding an unpleasant stimulus to a dog that is already frightened risks making the behavior worse.
- Timing and level are skills. The Lincoln studies used trainers nominated by the collar industry, and even they got no better result than reward-based training.
- It does not teach anything by itself. A dog that does not already understand a cue cannot be taught it by a stimulus.
- Read the maker’s manual in full, including its minimum age and its warning about how long the collar may stay on - the contact points can cause pressure sores if left in one place for hours.
Containment systems that use a collar stimulus raise the same questions; see our wireless dog fence guide.
How the Devices Work
A remote e-collar has two parts: a handheld transmitter and a receiver on the dog’s collar with two contact points that touch the skin. The handler presses a button to deliver a tone, a vibration or an electrical stimulation, usually at an adjustable level; makers argue that many fine levels let a handler use a low setting. Models are sold for pet training, for hunting dogs at long range and for dog sports. Bark collars and containment collars work on the same principle but trigger automatically - see our wireless dog fence guide for the containment kind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are e-collars cruel?
Veterinary behaviorists class them as aversive, and the AVSAB’s position is that aversive methods should not be used. Makers and many working-dog trainers argue that modern collars at low settings are a mild signal. The controlled trial found signs of tension in dogs trained with them and no gain in results.
Are e-collars legal everywhere?
No. Wales banned them in 2010, and Germany’s Animal Protection Act forbids devices that cause an animal more than minor pain by direct electric current. Check the law where you live before buying.
What’s the difference between an e-collar and a shock collar?
They are the same kind of device: a collar that delivers an electrical stimulus. “E-collar” and “remote trainer” are the terms the industry prefers.
Can I use an e-collar to stop barking?
Barking has causes - alarm, boredom, anxiety, fear - and a correction does not address any of them. For barking that comes from anxiety or fear, punishment risks adding to the problem. Start with the cause.
What age can a dog wear one?
Each maker states a minimum age in its manual; read it. Reward-based training can start at any age.
Do reward-based trainers ever use e-collars?
No. Trainers who describe themselves as “balanced” use them alongside rewards. If you hire a trainer, ask which methods they use before the first session.
How long does recall training take?
With any method, weeks of regular practice. In the Lincoln studies, reward-based trainers got better responses than the e-collar group within the same five days.
Should a dog wear the collar all the time?
No. Makers warn that the contact points can cause pressure sores if the collar stays in one place for hours.
Summing Up
If the question is “which e-collar is best”, the more useful answer is that the evidence does not show you need one. The veterinary behavior society advises against them, the trials found no advantage over reward-based training, and they are illegal in some places.
If you are still set on one, do not make it a solo project: involve a qualified professional who has assessed your dog, and read the maker’s manual in full.
Related Reading
- Wireless Dog Fences
- No-Pull Dog Harnesses: How They Work, Fitting and Training
- How to Stop Dog Barking: Find the Cause, Then Train
- Dog Anxiety Last updated: October 2026. Research and position statement were read on 9 October 2026.
