Obedient Pups Professional Dog Training
THE SHOCK-FREE PLEDGE
The key purpose of the Shock Free Coalition is to build a strong and broad movement committed to eliminating shock devices from the supply and demand chain. This goal will be reached when shock tools and equipment are universally unavailable and not permitted for the training, management and care of pets.
The Pledge: A Call to Action
The Shock Free Coalition believes that pets have an intrinsic right to be treated humanely, to have each of their individual needs met, and to live in a safe, enriched environment free from force, pain and fear.
Members of the Shock Free Coalition consider it to be their responsibility and utmost obligation to be vigilant, to educate, to remain engaged and work toward eliminating shock as a permissible tool so it is never considered a viable option in the training, management and care of pets.
If you want to download the Pledge Document then please click on the PDF graphic below
Definition of Pets
For the purposes of this Pledge, a pet is any domesticated animal kept for companionship, work or pleasure. This applies to pets already in homes, as well pets in shelters and rescue organizations waiting to find new homes.
Definition of Shock
For the purposes of this Pledge, electronic stimulation devices include (but are not limited to) products often referred to as: e-collars, training collars, shock collars, e-touch, stimulation, tingle, TENS unit collar, remote trainers, and e-prods.
Coalition Purpose and Function
The Shock Free Coalition has been developed purposely to bring together parties that have mutual business interests and a personal investment in the welfare of pets. The Coalition embraces stakeholders of similar values and interests, enabling all parties to combine their resources and become more successful in achieving the stated goals.
Key Goals
The Coalition will work diligently together to achieve the following:
-
To engage and educate pet owners and shelter/rescue workers to help them make informed decisions about the management, care and training of the pets in their charge.
-
To build a worldwide coalition that provides pet owners access to competent, professional pet industry service providers.
-
To create widespread pet industry transparency and compliance regarding how professionals implement their services and communicate their philosophy to pet owners.
Selected academic papers and statements from professional organizations that demonstrate why shock is not the preferred option to care for, train or manage pets:
-
Blackwell, E., & Casey, R. (2006). The Use of Shock Collars and Their Impact on the Welfare of Dogs. Bristol, UK: University of Bristol Department of Clinical Veterinary Science
-
Companion Animal Welfare Council. (2012). The Use of Electronic Pulse Training Aids (EPTAs) in Companion Animals. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/14640/1/CAWC%20ecollar%20report.pdf
-
Overall, K. (2007). Considerations for shock and ‘training’ collars: Concerns from and for the working dog community. Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2), 103-107
-
Schilder, M.B.H, & van der Borg, J.A.M. (2004). Training dogs with the help of the shock collar: short and long term behavioural effects. Applied Animal Behaviour Science (85),