DAVID Drew is backing to a campaign to ban electric shock dog training collars.

The Stroud MP has tabled a motion in Parliament, signed by 42 other MPs, urging the Government to ban the sale and use of electric shock training devices, stating they are both "cruel and unnecessary".

He said: "I can't understand why anyone would want to inflict pain on their dog when there are other more gentle and natural behaviour methods available that are much more effective."

Stroud-based dog listener Jennie Rudd, who offers a painless method of training, is delighted Mr Drew is supporting a ban.

She says gadgets such as electric shock collars are cruel and force dogs to behave out of fear rather than getting to the root of the problem.

"In recent weeks, a couple from Nailsworth, and another from Chalford readily handed over training gadgets to me following their dog listening consultations, confident they can now help their dogs overcome behavioural problems using a natural and holistic approach," she said.

Jennie, who runs dog listening practice Natural Leader, works with the animal's own instincts to make them calmer and happier.

In December she gave a home to a traumatised dog Dina who was rescued from a Romanian zoo. She is making good progress, says Jennie.  

RSPCA spokesman Andy Robbins said: "We're opposed to the use of electric shock collars, which train dogs by using punishment. It has been shown they are no more obedient than those trained using reward-based methods.

"The RSPCA recommends reward-based methods, which are preferable for welfare and more effective in many cases, are used to train dogs."