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It’s official: New South Wales has taken a major leap forward in animal protection. Following years of advocacy from the Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA) and passionate dog lovers across the state, the NSW Government has announced a total ban on the use and possession of prong collars.
This isn't just a minor rule change—it’s part of the most significant overhaul of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in decades.
The Ban on Prong Collars
Prong collars (also known as pinch collars) are metal devices with inward-facing spikes designed to pinch a dog's neck to "correct" behaviour.[1] While they have been illegal to import into Australia for years, NSW is now joining states like Victoria and Queensland in making their use and possession a crime.
Why the change?
- Pain is not a teacher: Contemporary science shows that prong collars work by inflicting physical pain and fear.[2]
- Physical Risks: These collars can cause deep puncture wounds and long-term damage to a dog’s thyroid, oesophagus, and trachea.
- Emotional Damage: The PPGA has long maintained that "aversive" training tools increase anxiety and can lead to redirected aggression, making dogs less safe in the community.[3]
"This ban acknowledges what the evidence has shown for years: our dogs deserve to feel safe while they learn."
The "Quick Fix" Trap
For years, the PPGA has called for an overhaul of the unregulated dog training industry. Many owners are often misled by "quick fix" training seen on TV programs or social media.
Unlike other professions, dog training in Australia has no government-mandated standards. The PPGA encourages owners to look for trainers with at least a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services and a commitment to force-free, reward-based methods.
For years, the PPGA has called for an overhaul of the unregulated dog training industry. Many owners are often misled by "quick fix" training seen on TV programs or social media.
Unlike other professions, dog training in Australia has no government-mandated standards. The PPGA encourages owners to look for trainers with at least a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services and a commitment to force-free, reward-based methods.
"Effective training is built on skill, education, and trust, not pain and intimidation," says Sarah Campbell, President of the PPGA.
New Penalties: Hot Cars and Cruelty
The 2026 reforms also introduce much tougher consequences for owners who put their pets at risk. [4]
Hot Cars: It is now a specific offense to leave a dog unattended in a vehicle on a hot day.[5] In the last six years, the RSPCA has received over 500 reports of dogs locked in cars—incidents that can turn fatal in just minutes. [6]
The Stakes: Offenders can now face fines of up to $44,000 and a one-year prison sentence.[7]
Increased Powers: The law now makes it easier for inspectors to provide immediate pain relief to animals in distress and for authorised personnel to intervene in emergencies.[8]
The Science of Survival: Why Minutes Matter
Research shows a vehicle’s interior temperature rises rapidly and predictably, even when the day doesn’t feel extreme. A widely cited medical study found that around 80% of a car’s total temperature rise happens in the first 30 minutes. Crucially, the heating rate is not significantly different across a range of outside temperatures, meaning “mild” days can still become dangerous inside a vehicle.
“It’s not just the scorching days,” says Crighton, spokesperson for Pet Insurance Australia. “Even when it feels ‘not too bad’, the greenhouse effect inside a car can push conditions into the danger zone incredibly quickly.”
The Science of Survival: Why Minutes Matter
Research shows a vehicle’s interior temperature rises rapidly and predictably, even when the day doesn’t feel extreme. A widely cited medical study found that around 80% of a car’s total temperature rise happens in the first 30 minutes. Crucially, the heating rate is not significantly different across a range of outside temperatures, meaning “mild” days can still become dangerous inside a vehicle.
“It’s not just the scorching days,” says Crighton, spokesperson for Pet Insurance Australia. “Even when it feels ‘not too bad’, the greenhouse effect inside a car can push conditions into the danger zone incredibly quickly.”
Hidden Dangers on Mild Days
“What’s most concerning is that this isn’t new information,” Crighton explains. “A Stanford University study showed that on a mild 22-degree day, a parked car can reach 47 degrees within an hour. On hotter days, it becomes dangerous far faster.”
Further research by the Louisiana Office of Public Health found that temperatures inside parked vehicles exceeded 51 degrees in just 20 minutes, even under partly cloudy conditions. At these temperatures, dogs are unable to regulate their body heat. Cells begin to die, organs start to shut down, and heatstroke can become fatal in minutes.
“These studies are years old, yet dogs are still dying in hot cars,” Crighton says. “That tells us the message isn’t getting through. Twenty minutes can vanish quickly—a long checkout line or a quick chat is all it takes.”
The Local Impact: Hundreds of Calls Every Year
While a single national “hot car deaths” figure is difficult to verify because reporting is fragmented across jurisdictions, the local data is sobering. Welfare organisations report a staggering number of emergency calls:
- RSPCA Queensland receives nearly 700 calls a year about dogs left unattended in hot vehicles.
- RSPCA NSW reports have consistently numbered in the hundreds over multiple years.
“Whether it’s one dog or one hundred, it’s preventable, and that’s why strong enforcement and public education matter,” Crighton said.
The $11,000 Vet Bill
Beyond the legal penalties, the medical cost of treating a dog for heat exhaustion is extreme.
“We see a lot of heatstroke claims throughout the year, and some of these could be attributed to dogs in hot cars,” Crighton notes. “In 2025, our highest heatstroke claim amount was $11,382.95*. This showcases how difficult heatstroke can be to treat and how deadly overheating can be for your canine companion.”
Beyond the legal penalties, the medical cost of treating a dog for heat exhaustion is extreme.
“We see a lot of heatstroke claims throughout the year, and some of these could be attributed to dogs in hot cars,” Crighton notes. “In 2025, our highest heatstroke claim amount was $11,382.95*. This showcases how difficult heatstroke can be to treat and how deadly overheating can be for your canine companion.”
A Plea for Prevention
Reports from animal welfare organisations warn that cracked windows or parking in the shade are not reliable protections. NSW has indicated that the new offence is intended to be clearer and easier to enforce than relying on broader cruelty provisions alone.
Pet Insurance Australia hopes that all states will eventually adopt these harsher NSW penalties to save lives.
“There is no excuse to leave a dog or a cat in a car,” Crighton says. “If you cannot take the pet with you, please leave them at home. Hot car deaths are 100% avoidable.”
"These incidents are entirely preventable, and stronger laws help reinforce that responsibility always lies with the human," adds PPGA's Sarah Campbell.
Training for a Better Future
The end of the prong collar is a victory for the human-animal bond. By moving away from tools of "compulsion," NSW owners are being encouraged to embrace Positive Reinforcement.
When we reward a dog for doing the "right" thing rather than punishing them for the "wrong" thing, we create a pet that wants to listen because they trust us—not because they are afraid.
Fast Facts: Staying Compliant
Prong Collars Prohibited. Illegal to use or possess.
Hot Cars Prohibited. New specific offense with jail time.
Breeder IDs Mandatory. All ads must show a Breeder ID (BIN).
Max Fines Up to $44,000 for individual cruelty offenses.
How to find a Force-Free Trainer:
Ensure your trainer is a member of a professional body like the PPGA, which requires members to abide by a strict Code of Conduct that excludes the use of shock, pain, or fear.
How to find a Force-Free Trainer:
Ensure your trainer is a member of a professional body like the PPGA, which requires members to abide by a strict Code of Conduct that excludes the use of shock, pain, or fear.
To find a professional dog trainer, visit ppgaustralia.net.au/owners/find
About the Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA):
The PPGA is Australia’s only professional association dedicated to force-free training and behaviour. Its members commit to a strict Code of Conduct that prohibits the use of shock, pain, choke, fear, or physical force in the care and training of pets.
Sources & References
RSPCA Knowledgebase: What is a pronged collar? — Official definition and description of how these metal devices function.Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA): Position Statement on the Use of Choke and Prong Collars — Scientific evidence detailing why pain-based "correction" is counterproductive to learning.Australian Veterinary Association (AVA): Position on Behaviour Modifying Collars — Professional analysis of the emotional damage and risk of redirected aggression caused by aversive tools.NSW Government (Ministerial Release): Delivering on community demand for better animal welfare laws — The January 18, 2026, announcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act overhaul.NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI): Animal Welfare Reform 2026 — Official breakdown of the new distinct offences for prong collar possession and hot car neglect.RSPCA NSW: Reports of Dogs in Hot Cars (Data Summary) — Specific 2026 data identifying more than 500 reports of pets locked in vehicles over the last six years.NSW DPI: Increasing Penalties and Improving Court Orders — Current 2026 penalty schedule showing maximum fines of $44,000 and jail terms for individuals.Mirage News: NSW Meets Demand for Improved Animal Welfare Laws — Detailed report on the new powers granted to inspectors to provide immediate pain relief and intervene in emergencies.
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