Getty ImagesA ban on shock collars will be part of the Scottish Greens’ manifesto for May’s election.
The party says it is heeding calls made by animal welfare groups to ban the devices, which use electricity to shock dogs during training.
An attempt was made to ban the collars last year, through amendments to the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act – but that failed.
Party co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “Electric shock collars are cruel devices that should have no place in Scotland.
“There is no justification for them or for the unnecessary pain they cause.
“As a nation of dog lovers we should be watching out for our four-legged friends and showing them compassion, empathy and kindness, not shocking and hurting them.
“Even the Government’s own experts have called for a ban, but it has still not happened. Guidance alone has not been good enough.
“If we are serious about dog welfare then we need to make it a crime to use them.
“Scotland has a reputation for leading on animal rights in the UK, but in the case of shock collars we are 15 years behind Wales.
“Countries across Europe have already banned these awful devices, it is time for Scotland to do the same.”
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