Electronic Training Aid (ETA) user survey results
Below you will find a summary of the results of our 5-year, E-collar user survey which ran from 03/18 - 08/23. The survey was hosted on this site via a detailed questionnaire and was shared repeatedly across multiple social media platforms and accounts. The survey also received extensive, additional information via an 'additional feedback' option for respondents.
Total 2503 responses.
Summary of key responses (Whilst the initial two questions in the survey refer to cats/dogs, no responses received including free text refer solely to cats).
The majority (69%) of respondents are experienced owners, having over 10 years ownership behind them.
• Over a quarter (26.7%) of dogs came from rescue centres, suggesting that for these dogs and owners, the problem behaviour was inherited as existing and unresolved whilst in the rescue environment.
• 42% of respondents used an ETA to address chase (predatory behaviour), with a further 32.7% using an ETA to address failing to come when called. 73% of respondents therefore, used/are using an ETA for off-lead reliability – providing for behavioural needs, safely.
• 86% of respondents had already undertaken alternative training to attempt to resolve the problem behaviour, with 35.6% of those having already tried a ‘reward-only’ trainer.
• Only 7 respondents heard about ETA's via their vet.
• 78% of respondents used their ETA under supervision/guidance with 86.3% of respondents combining reward training with ETA use.
• 42.9% of respondents believe that without the ETA inclusion, their pet would have been confined for life.
• 39.2% of respondents believe that the inclusion of an ETA prevented the death of their pet or another animal.
• 93% of respondents state that the inclusion of the ETA resolved their problem behaviour.
• 98.6% of respondents state that there were no negative effects following ETA inclusion for their dog.
The responses show that the majority of owners using ETA’s are very experienced, with 69% having had pets for over 10 years. Clearly, the figures suggest that training aids are being used responsibly, with 78% of users choosing to use an ETA under supervision and nearly 86.3% combining reward training with ETA inclusion. This suggests that experience of ownership does not guarantee that every animal will be the same as the last or that past experience does not guarantee future success. It also shows that even very experienced owners will seek assistance/minimise risk. This willingness to seek guidance and professional help amongst ETA users to minimise risk, perhaps explains why evidence of misuse or harm is scarce to non-existent in the UK, as confirmed in wirting to the Scottish Government by the Kennel Club, RSPCA and British Veterinary Association.
With nearly 27% of dogs coming from a rescue centre, we can see that well over a quarter of ETA users have chosen to offer a home for an animal in an unfortunate position, even when that animal displays problematic, potentially life-threatening behaviour. We can also see that the problem was likely inherited as unresolved from the rescue centre enviroment. Further research into the training and behaviour modification recommended and received whilst dogs are in the rescue environment would be worth exploring.
Knowing that associations such as the British Veterinary Association (BVA), Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) and the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) follow a reward-based/anti-aversive methodology, we can reliably conclude that such a methodology had failed to address problem behaviour for 35.6% of dogs. We can also see that a further 24.7% of owners failed to have the problem behaviour resolved by attending a training class, meaning that over 60% of owners had sought prior professional help without success.
When we consider the fact that the principal reasons for ETA inclusion are predatory behaviour towards other animals and failing to come when called, it is understandable that training classes have failed to address the issues, since they are generally conducted in sterile, often indoor environments without the temptation and distraction of prey animals. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDTUK) state: “A training class is not the place to try to solve a behavioural problem with a dog.” [https://apdt.co.uk/choosing-a-trainer/] Of all respondents, 74.7% incorporated an ETA purely for the provision and protection of their dogs or other animals’ welfare and freedoms (a legal UK requirement). Nuisance barking for example, which might be considered an ‘annoyance’ above anything else, together with the containment of pets within a property accounts for less than 2% of reported ETA use.
Another significant point to note is that only 1% of respondents used the ETA for dogs/cats escaping gardens. The National Police Chief Council’s Five Force Report (2017) stated that, when it came to sheep worrying, 89% of dogs were unaccompanied. From this, the conclusion was reached that the vast majority of sheep worrying cases occur where the dog has escaped its home or garden. Given the high number of respondents that used ETA to address chase behaviours and low number that have used them to address escaping from home, it would appear more likely that the dogs had escaped their owners’ control, for instance breaking the lead, running off, failing recall etc rather than specifically escaping the owners’ home or garden. It is also worth noting here that the results of aversion training DO NOT rely on the owner being present for the training to hold. Aversion trained dogs avoid approaching the target animal regardless of context.
39.2% of overall respondents believe that the ETA saved the life of their dog or another animal with a further 42.9% saying that the ETA prevented their dog from a life of permanent confinement or restriction. 93% of respondents report that training with an ETA ‘resolved the problem’ with 98.6% reporting ‘no negative effects.’ When we consider that 73% of reported use is to benefit the life experience of the dog and/or other animals, we assert that these figures deserve serious consideration.
Find Below The Detailed Results
ARDO-User-Survey-Responses-04_08_2023
