Electronic collars that can give dogs and cats shocks are to be banned in England, the Government has announced.

Animal charities have long lobbied for the devices to be outlawed, arguing they are needlessly cruel.

Remotely controlled training devices – e-collars or shock collars – can trigger an electronic pulse of up to 6,000 volts to a dog’s neck, and can shock an animal for up to 11 seconds at a time, according to the Dogs Trust.

Other e-collars emit a painful sound or spray a chemical that is noxious to a dog’s acute sense of smell.

The Kennel Club pushed for a ban, arguing that pets respond to shocks out of fear of further punishment.

Use of electronic shock collars is banned in Wales, and Scotland has begun moves towards prohibiting them.

I urge pet owners to instead use positive-reward training methods Michael Gove

In England the crackdown follows a public consultation that ran in March in April and attracted more than 7,000 responses.

Environment officials said that as well as being misused to inflict unnecessary harm and suffering, there was also evidence that e-collars can redirect aggression or generate anxiety-based behaviour in pets – worsening underlying behavioural and health problems.

However, the government has shied away from outlawing “invisible fencing” systems designed to keep pets, particularly cats, away from roads. The animal is given a static pulse if it breaches the boundary of a property, so learns to stay away.

Although a ban on shock collars is widely supported by animal lovers, those who defend their use say they are painful only when misused.

Some supporters say they allow the handler to correct or stop a dog as it commits a “crime” such as chasing livestock – when dogs risk legally being shot dead.

A Czech online shop that sells the collars says on its website: “What is wrong with dog getting spanked on his butt when he done something wrong? Nothing. What has changed with the start of electronic collar?” It says no collar has ever killed an animal. “Yes it hurts but it’s the same for punishment by your hand,” it says.

Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs A dog and wild boar fight during a contest Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs A dog handler leans on a dog cage during a fight Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs The contest is known locally as ‘adu bagong’ Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Villagers in Majalaya, West Java watch a fight Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Breeder Agus Badud’s daughter carries a dog to be washed at their house Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Villagers watch the spectacle on a bamboo stage Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Dog breeder Agus Badud washes his dog at his house in Majalaya Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Contests are fought for a cash prize of up to £1,500 Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Badud’s dog sits in his cage after being washed Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Hooves of a wild boar hang for dog training at Badud’s house Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Badud’s family sit near the cage of their dog as a fight takes place Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs A dog handler cleans blood from his dog which bit a boar in a fight Beawiharta/Reuters Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs: in pictures Indonesian villages pit wild boars against dogs Badud’s wife and daughter wash dogs at their house Beawiharta/Reuters

Environment secretary Michael Gove said: “The use of punitive shock collars causes harm and suffering to our pets.

“This ban will improve the welfare of animals and I urge pet owners to instead use positive-reward training methods.”

Many people who responded to the consultation expressed concern at the number of pet owners who use the hand-held devices incorrectly and without proper training.