Choke Collar

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February 7th, 2010 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Choke Collar
What is the best thing to use to train a dog....choke collar or harness??

Use the slip/choke collar.

You have to learn to use it correctly.

They can brace against a body harness and you are off to the races. You can't teach down or come with one or even heel properly.
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I HATE those "gentle leader" things. First, they are gone good way to give your dog a case of cervical whiplash. Second, the minute you take it off the dog KNOWS that you have no means of making them obey. Third, a lot of the guarding/herd guarding/working breeds (here -boxer) actually panic with those things since they are genetically programmed to be able to move into defensive postures which means being able to open their mouths. Fourth, teaching 'come' or anything where the dog is not at your side is impossible. Forget 'fetch' or 'go' or a 'drop on recall.' They are a shortcut to get temporary - and I do mean temporary control while walking for people too dumb or too lazy to teach their dog proper manners. I spend a lot of time making house to calls to teach puppy to come , sit, stay, down and heel after the owners paid money for 'obedience classes' with someone for 'training' with those head collar things.

Go get a chain slip collar. The nylon are not that effective and with the chain, the dog learns to listen for the rattle of the collar if the leash moves slightly and respond now. Properly fitted, there should be 2 1/2 to 3 fingers of space between the collar and dog. Learn to use it. You SNAP the collar - NEVER pull or drag. It is a fast jerk/release. Put it on your wrist and have someone try pulling and then snapping on you. You do it to someone else. When it feels like a slight whack or bump when the leash is snapped you have the idea. I always put the slip collar on my student's arm to show them the difference in the movement. Gets the point across real fast.

Put the slip collar on the dog so when the junction of the rings is facing you on the side of the dog's neck, the part that slides comes across the back of the dog's neck towards you.

In AKC performance competitons only two collars are allowed:

a flat buckle

a slip/choke

98% of competitors use a slip/choke.

By the way - ignore all those who say "oh -train postively, Collar are awful."

Dogs (and people) learn through postive/negative reinforcement. Would you obey the speed limit 100% of the time if there was not risk of a ticket?

Postive = praise and pets for good behavior.

Negative = snap on collar, reprimands in a sern voice and being physically made to do it.

Dog gets to choose which it prefers.

Using treats is silly because one day you will start to forget the treats or not have them or something, and the next time you call her, she'll remember not getting the treat and figure "why bother?" And with "positive only", what do you do the day the dog decides it would rather chase the rabbit than come and be rewarded with a treat, eh?? Far as the dog is concerned, there is no downside to ignoring you at all.

Clickers are just flat stupid - they are for people who are too dumb to figure out how to quickly say "GOOD DOG" in a happy, excited voice.

You always have your hands and your voice. Use them

Gotta love the poster below - had 2 dogs and knows everything.

I spend a lot of time sorting out behavior problems where the owner is wailing "But I love my dog - why won't he listen?!"

As for CarolinK defending those head halter things - not much chance of hruting a large Dane but for most breeds yes - you can cause cervical whiplash. According to my vet, 60% of his patients whose owners use those, end up at the clinic with a stiff neck sooner or later. ne fast move by the dog and the heaad halter pulls his head back around or stops the movement abruptly.