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 half of a finger space in between your dog’ss neck and the prong tip. A collar that is any looser than that will not 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 will inadvertently injure the dog’s neck or back. To avoid injury, you should always make sure you are 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.
Paul P. Duxbury
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-decide-on-a-dog-training-collar-86823.html
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
How old does my dog need to be to wear a training collar?
i know a lot of people do not approve of dog shock collars. I have been taking my puppy to a training class and has not gotten too much better. maybe just time would work. How old SHOULD a dog/puppy be when deciding to use a training shock collar? Thanks!
A collar fits like a necklace, and is generally made of cloth, nylon, or leather. Nylon or cloth provide the best value and color range; leather softens with age and is the most durable. Collars usually have buckle-release or quick-release closures.
http://dogtime.com/collars-harnesses.html
References :
Much older than a puppy.
In my opinion, shock collars shouldn’t be used to *teach* anything – they should be used to *proof* what has already been taught by positive training, rewards (not just treats) and corrections.
References :
Shock collars really should be a method of last resort for adult dogs and young puppies should never be exposed to shock collars. When they are young, training needs to be a positive experience and patience is part of the requirement.
If you are in a puppy training class, your dog is way too young. I would not consider it until the dog has been through a significant amount of obedience training with a professional trainer to deal with specific serious behavioral issues (not normal puppy misbehavior) and only with the assistance of a professional trainer who is very experienced with their use.
References :
There is NO need for such crutches as a shock collar. I’m guessing that you probably only train at class, and then not at home.
References :
Shock collars are not recommended for training. If you say that you are taking the pup to a training class, you need to do your homework with the dog after every lesson. It is up to you to help the puppy learn the lessons by repeating and reinforcing with treats and praise.
A shock collar simply teaches a dog pain.
Ask yourself this question. When I was a child, would I rather have a cookie and a hug or a slap on my bottom? That is how a puppy feels as well.
Patience is most important when teaching a pup.
References :
Training takes time: has the trainer tried a bunch of different OTHER methods for training your dog? What behavior are you not liking in your dog? If you want to use a training collar of ANY kind then your trainer should be able to tell you when it is appropriate to do so and how to use them.
Usually i say dogs under a year old are too young for training collars. E-collars especially can make behaviors WORSE instead of better if they are not used properly OR if they are used on a dog with the wrong temperament.
Add – Can’t resist…
"When I was a child, would I rather have a cookie and a hug or a slap on my bottom? That is how a puppy feels as well. " You wouldn’t hug a child OR give it a cookie if the child, say, pushed another child over or ran out into the road when you specifically said not to. There are moments when positive re-enforcement are better and there are moments when negative re-enforcement is better…. and you cannot compare a child to a dog – dogs do not think like humans…..
References :
Owned by Mutt