Electronic Dog Collars and The Law in Australia

The use of Electronic Dog Collars in Australia is governed by various State and Territory Laws. Before purchasing or using them it is important to know whether it is Legal in your State or Territory to use Electronic Dog Collars.

The following list is an overview of whether it is legal to use Electronic Dog Collars in the Australian States and Territories, and has been sourced from the RSPCA.

Please be advised this is only general information and should not be taken as legal advice. If you are unsure or have any concerns or questions regarding the use of Electronic Dog Collars in your state please contact your Local or State Government for specific Legislation details.

STATE	YES/NO	Name of relevant act/special conditions and requirements
ACT	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.
NSW	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.
NT	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.
QLD	Yes	There are no current prohibitions.
SA	No	Section 15 of Animal Welfare Act 1985 prohibits the use of an electric device to confine or control an animal.
TAS	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.
VIC	Yes	Use of authorised electric collars is permitted subject to conditions and exemptions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019.
WA	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.

Please be advised that all Electronic Dog Collars have been designed to be used in a specific way according to the manufacturer’s directions. Please ensure that when using the devices you read all instructions and information thoroughly and always comply with the recommendations.

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