Why Petco Removed All Electric Shock Collars For Dogs From Stores

Petco has taken another step toward animal kindness by stopping the sale of electronic shock collars for all pets.

The company said the decision “strengthens its commitment to positive reinforcement training methods.” In consultation with its Wellness Council, Petco will no longer sell human- and bark-activated electronic pet collars. These shock collars have been removed from its stores and website as of Tuesday.

“Electricity may be critical to powering your microwave, but it has no role for the average pet parent training their dog,” Petco CEO Ron Coughlin said in a statement. “Shock collars have been shown to increase fear, anxiety and stress in dogs, and we believe there's a better way – positive reinforcement training.”

Instead of the shock collars, Petco recommends “products and services rooted in positive reinforcement training methods backed by experts.” Petco is offering a free introductory online training class for pet owners to try some of its positive reinforcement training services.

“Science shows animals will learn a new behavior faster and more successfully if they are allowed to voluntarily participate in the learning process and are rewarded for preferred behaviors,” Dr. Whitney Miller, head of Veterinary Medicine for Petco, said in a statement. “Punishment is not only less successful in changing unwanted behaviors, shock collars have been known to actually reinforce negative behaviors and create anxiety within pets.”

In a recent study, Petco referred to 70% of dog parents that felt shock collars have a negative impact on their pet’s emotional and mental health. The same survey said that 69% of dog owners consider shock collars cruel training methods with as many as 59% of respondents saying they would rather shock themselves then their dog.

Beyond the elimination of electric shock collars from its store shelves, Petco is calling for the entire pet industry to follow suit and is asking consumers to sign its online petition to create regulations against the sale of these products.