SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Dog Care
Dog Care Tips
Dog
Owners: Choose a Training Collar
Many dog owners find that their efforts toward training their
pet are greatly aided by the use of a training collar.
There are many types of collars available and each employs
a different mechanism meant to guide your pet, restrain
him or discourage bad or disobedient behavior. Some training
collars can harm a dog if they are not used appropriately
or are the wrong size; so, you should research training
collars thoroughly before choosing one and consult with
a training expert if you are unfamiliar with how to use
a chosen collar. Some common dog training collars are:
the prong collar, the Halti, the Gentle Leader, the choke
collar and the electronic collar.
Prong Collar
The prong collar looks a lot more painful to the dog than
it actually is. This collar is made up of metal prongs that
have been linked together. When you apply a pulling pressure
to the collar (via the leash), it gives the dog a little pinch
that is meant to duplicate the effect of a mother dog’s teeth
when she grabs here pup by the scruff of the neck. The prong
collar is a safe and effective training tool as long as the
fit is correct and the collar is used appropriately. The prong
collar should not be used if your dog is one to consistently
yank at his leash.
The prong
collar should fit snugly against the dog’s neck. As most
prong collars can be adjusted by
simply adding or subtracting
prongs, the correct fit should be easy to achieve. A properly
fitted collar should leave approximately ½ of a finger
space in between your dog’s neck and the prong tip. A collar
that is any looser than that won’t do its job and will needlessly
chafe the dog’s skin.
Halti and Gentle Leader
Both the Halti and Gentle Leader head halter devices look
a lot like the harnesses that are used to control horses. While
the prong collar is designed to condition behavior and movement,
the head halter is designed to restrict or restrain your dog’s
movements. The thought behind the halter’s design is that if
you can control the head, the body will follow its movement.
When you pull on the attached leash the device closes the dog’s
mouth and restrains his head. These types of collars are great
for dogs that lunge, bite or display other aggressive behaviors.
There are drawbacks, however, to using a head halter device.
Most dogs will not take very easily to any device that positions
a strap over its nose. You may have to struggle with your dog
many, many times before he will submit to wearing it. Another
drawback is that pulling at your dog’s head makes it a lot
more likely that you’ll inadvertently injure the dog’s neck
or back. To avoid injury, you should always make sure you’re
restraining your dog in the correct manner.
Choke Collar
The choke collar is one of those dog training devices that
is often surrounded by controversy. Proponents of the choke
collar point to its humane effectiveness, while critics say
that the collar is more torture device than training tool.
The truth is that what the collar becomes is largely dependent
upon who is using it.
A properly fitted choke collar works by tightening around
the dog’s throat when the trainer pulls on the leash and then
releasing pressure when the trainer does. If the collar is
not put on correctly, however, the pressure will remain and
the dog could truly choke to death. These collars are not meant
for dogs that consistently pull at their leash or for inexperienced
trainers. As is the case with head halters, the choke collar
has the potential to cause injury to the dog’s neck.
Electronic Collar
Just mention the option of an electronic dog collar and many
dog owners (even some people with no pets at all) will look
at you as if you have suggested training your dog with a stun
gun. The reality is that electronic collars can be a very humane
way to train a dog. As with any other training device, however,
whether or not it is used for purposes of cruelty is totally
dependent upon the intentions and experience of the trainer.
The electronic collar works by allowing the trainer to give
the dog small, electric shocks (via remote control) in order
to modify its behavior. The intensity of the shock is left
to the trainer. In general, the setting should be strong enough
to make the dog’s ears twitch. If the dog howls or yelps when
the shock is delivered, then the setting is too high. Again,
the electronic collar should only be used by experienced trainers.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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