The UK Kennel Club is calling for a ban on shock collars for dogs.

In the U.S., some believe shock collars a necessity for training certain behaviors, such as behaviors that are to be executed at a distance.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Just consider Bob Bailey, who with his late wife, Marian Breland Bailey, showed that even non-domesticated animals can be trained to execute an astonishing array of behaviors without the use of aversives. In a recent Star-Telegram interview Bailey explains the basis of his training approach: “All you have to do is learn what it likes, what it takes for the animal to say, ‘Aha. I will do more of this.'”

He continues:

“The dog is not a little person. The dog will do what will pay off. What your challenge is as a pet owner is to break the training up into small pieces and make it worthwhile for them to play your games.”

Shock collars are a step backward. I agree they don’t belong in Britain, and I don’t think they belong in the U.S., either.