E-Collars, Prong and Choke Collars: The Evidence and the Law
In the one controlled trial we found, e-collars didn't beat reward-based training. What vets advise, and where shock collars are banned.
Written by thecanineledger
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The usual argument for an e-collar, or shock collar, is recall: a dog that won’t come back off the lead. So researchers tested exactly that. They gave 63 dogs with problems such as poor recall up to 150 minutes of training over five days, with trainers using e-collars, the same trainers without them, or trainers who focused on rewards. Their conclusion: “there is no evidence to indicate that E-collar training is necessary, even for its most widely cited indication” (China et al., Front Vet Sci 2020).
While one trial can’t settle the question, it is the most direct test we found, and its result matches what the main veterinary behaviour society advises. This page explains the evidence, its limits, and the law where we’ve read it.
1. What these collars do
- E-collars (electronic or shock collars) deliver an electric stimulus, usually by remote control.
- Prong collars (pinch collars) have metal links that press into the neck when the lead tightens.
- Choke chains tighten around the neck when pulled.
All three work by making something unpleasant happen when the dog does the wrong thing, or stop when it does the right one. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) says trainers should avoid tools that involve pain, naming “choke chains, prong collars, or electronic shock collars” (AVSAB, Position Statement on Humane Dog Training, 2021).
2. What the trial found
The trial compared three groups of 21 dogs:
- E-collar group: trainers nominated by e-collar manufacturers, using the collars.
- Control 1: the same trainers, without e-collars.
- Control 2: independent trainers who focused on rewards.
The reward-focused group “achieved significantly better responses to both “Sit” and “Come” commands after a single instruction”, and responded faster than the e-collar group. The authors wrote that the findings “refute the suggestion that training with an E-collar is either more efficient or results in less disobedience, even in the hands of experienced trainers.”
Its weak point. The e-collar group and Control 1 were randomly allocated, but the reward group wasn’t: “Dogs in Control Group 2 were trained in Spring 2011”, months after the others, and were matched to them. A difference in season or recruitment could have affected the result.
Our note: The authors replied in 2021 to a published critique of this trial, which we haven’t read.
3. Prong collars and choke chains
We found no controlled trial of prong collars or choke chains in pet dogs. AVSAB groups them with e-collars as tools that involve pain, and says the consequences of aversive methods “include increased anxiety and fear-related aggression, avoidance, and learned helplessness.” That conclusion rests partly on survey studies, which AVSAB notes “cannot differentiate between causation and correlation”.
Our note: We haven’t looked for evidence on neck or eye injury from these collars. Our descriptions of how each collar works are general knowledge.
4. The law
The law changes from place to place, and is often reported wrongly. We list only what we’ve read in the original.
- Wales: since 2010 it has been illegal to “attach an electronic collar to a cat or a dog”, or to be responsible for a dog wearing one. The rules define an electronic collar as “a collar designed to administer an electric shock” (Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010).
- England: regulations banning shock collars were drafted to come into force on 1 February 2024. When we checked on 4 November 2026, the official legislation website still listed them as a draft that “has not yet been made as a UK Statutory Instrument” (draft Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023).
- Montreal: the city tells owners: “Never use a collar that could hurt your pet, such as a strangling collar, spike collar, electric collar or martingale collar.” (Ville de Montréal, Obligations and responsibilities of pet owners).
Our note: The legislation website shows a draft for England, but other sources report a ban in force. Check the current law.
Our note: We haven’t read the law for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada outside Montreal, any US state, or Australia.
5. If you’re thinking about one
- Ask why. If it’s for recall or pulling, reward-based training did better in the one trial we found.
- Ask your vet, especially if the problem is fear or aggression. AVSAB advises against aversive tools for treating behaviour problems.
- Check the law where you live before you buy or use one.
→ Reward-Based or Aversive Training: What the Studies Found
6. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “E-collars are the only way to fix recall” | Not supported. Reward-focused trainers did better in a controlled trial. |
| “A modern e-collar is just a tickle” | Not tested here. We found no study measuring what dogs feel at low settings. |
| “Shock collars are banned across the UK” | Not what we found. Wales bans them; England’s rules show as a draft; we haven’t read the rest. |
| “Quebec bans shock collars” | Not confirmed. We read Montreal’s guidance, not a province-wide law. |
Sources
- China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ. Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement (Front Vet Sci 2020; full text read)
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021; professional society position statement, not peer-reviewed; read in full)
- The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 (legislation.gov.uk, original version; read)
- Draft Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk; shown as a draft when read 4 November 2026)
- Ville de Montréal: Obligations and responsibilities of pet owners (city guidance page; read 4 November 2026)
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.