Is the use of electronic dog collars legal?

Australian Capital Territory

No

Section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 1992 (2001 Amendments) prohibits the administration of an electric shock to an animal, and the placing of an electric shock device on an animal.

New South Wales

No

Section 16 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 prohibits the possession, sale and use of electric dog collars, with limited exemptions for electric boundary systems.

Northern Territory

Yes

Section 30 of the Animal Protection Act 2018 prohibits the use of electrical devices on animals but Schedule 2 of the Animal Protection Regulations 2022 ‘Excluded electrical devices’ allows for the use of electric training collars on dogs, excluding collars operated by a remote-control device.

Queensland

Yes

There are no current prohibitions.

South Australia

No

Section 15 of Animal Welfare Act 1985 prohibits the use of an electric device to confine or control an animal.

Tasmania

Yes

Section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 1993 (updated on 30 November 2022) prohibits the application or exposure of an electronic device to an animal in the course of any sport or public performance or in the training for any sport or public performance.

Victoria

Yes

Use of authorised electric collars is permitted subject to conditions and exemptions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019.

Western Australia

Yes

The Animal Welfare Act 2002 is under review. Currently, Section 19 of the Act and Part 2 (Section 3 and 4) of the Animal Welfare (General) Regulations 2003 prohibit the use of electric shock devices but a defence in Section 7 of the Regulations allows the use of electric training collars on dogs.