Scottish Greens will ban electric shock collars for dogs
The Scottish Greens have pledged to protect Scotland’s dogs by banning the use of electric shock collars as part of their forthcoming 2026 manifesto.
Electric shock collars are cruel devices that cause dogs pain and fear. They're already banned in countries across Europe and the world, including Wales since 2010.
Countless animal rights groups, such as the SSPCA and the Kennel Club, have all called for a ban, saying they cause unnecessary suffering.
Even the Scottish Government’s own Animal Welfare Commission has said that a ban is needed. But the Scottish Government has sat on the Commission’s report since 2023 without doing anything about it.
In 2025 the Scottish Greens lodged amendments to the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act that would have banned their use, only to be blocked by the SNP, Tories and Lib Dems.
The party’s co-leader, Gillian Mackay, said:
“Electric shock collars are cruel devices that should have no place in Scotland. There is no justification for them or for the unnecessary pain they cause.
“As a nation of dog lovers we should be watching out for our four-legged friends and showing them compassion, empathy and kindness, not shocking and hurting them.
“Even the Government’s own experts have called for a ban, but it has still not happened. Guidance alone has not been good enough. If we are serious about dog welfare then we need to make it a crime to use them.
“Scotland has a reputation for leading on animal rights in the UK, but in the case of shock collars we are 15 years behind Wales. Countries across Europe have already banned these awful devices, it is time for Scotland to do the same.”
