Zapping or training? The line between cruelty and necessity in electric dog collars

Electric shock dog collars have been outlawed in several European countries, so does Ireland really need them?

The argument for keeping them in circulation is that sheep may be able to graze the land in peace, keeping the threat of a dog attack at bay, while others suggest that the collars are a clear breach of animal welfare.

A dog attack in county Kerry this Monday saw 13 sheep slaughtered in what the farmer called a ‘savage’ attack. 

Daniel O’Donoghue, a sheep farmer in Killarney, said he was “devastated and in shock” when he found over a dozen of his sheep with torn necks at the mercy of dogs. One of his sheep who was killed was pregnant with three lambs.

The Department of Agriculture is now accepting submissions from the public on a proposed ban of electric shock collars, which has been extended by a number of weeks to get a more rounded view from the public.

“The reality is that as we begin the lambing season, you will be seeing lots of reports about the savaging of sheep,” said independent senator, Rónán Mullen, who comes from a farming background. 

“It isn’t just the savagery of sheep - it could be the friendly labrador who is left off a lead and thinks it is fun to chase an animal, leaving a sheep terrified and jumping to their death.

“That leads to trauma and financial loss for farmers and in some cases, leads to dogs getting shot in the end. So the question is, what is the best way to train dogs to stay away from livestock,” Mr Mullen said. 

When a person trains a dog with a very mild stimulant, like a pulse which is used in electric fences to keep animals in the perimeter of farmland, dogs will respond by learning boundaries. 

The scientific evidence shows that the proper use of a mild electric collar by a trainer will have a dog responding to how it is trained within a year, and will deter either animal from taking a risk in a situation. 

The counterargument is that this is still unethical: “The administering of a cruel method of teaching a dog a particular behaviour has to be recognised in this day and age that there are alternatives,” said Fine Gael senator, Regina Doherty. 

“An electric dog collar administers a shock to a dog which he or she can’t run away from as they could a fence. The two are entirely different, and that is why we need the public’s opinion on this matter.”

People must be aware that using these collars irresponsibly is a crime and, if a person is prosecuted, can be sentenced to prison or fined anywhere between €5,000 and €250,000. 

Report a crime here to An Garda Síochána or the ISPCA: https://www.ispca.ie/