The Truth about Dogs Repository

A curated, evidence-led repository on humane, force-free dog training — peer-reviewed studies, official positions, and expert voices, with sources you can check.

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Peer-reviewed2014Open access

E-collars added welfare cost, not clear benefit

Applied field comparison of e-collar and non-e-collar training found no consistent advantage for e-collars and greater welfare concerns.

There is no consistent benefit to be gained from e-collar training.

Source details

Source

The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward Based Training

Cooper, Cracknell, Hardiman, Wright & Mills

PLOS ONE

Evidence level

Primary evidence

Credibility

Last reviewed

May 30, 2026

Why we included it

Core evidence against claims that remote e-collars are necessary for recall or obedience.

E-collarsRecallWelfare