My last question of the day...choke collars on dog for teaching him to walk properly - good or bad?

Question

My problem is being 6 months pregnant, I can't take a dog for a walk that constantly pulls, yanks and runs ahead. My hubby is an account and this is his busy time of the year, so he can't walk the dog. So, it falls on me. The only way I can walk Ozzy is with the choke collar, I've used it two times already. It goes on him only for his walk and then it is taken off as soon as we get home. This is the best he's ever walked, no pulling, nothing and he gets lots of treats when we get home. I don't intend to use the collar forever, just long enough to train him to walk nice and when hubby can take over walking him, in a month, we might not even need the choker collar. Thanks for your answers.

Answer 1

I'm a trainer and I can tell you that some dogs will not be trained without the added incentive that a correction with a 'slip-collar' gives. If it is working for you, by all means use it. Make certain that you are putting it on correctly. If it stays taut after you have given your dog a correction then it is not on his neck properly. If it slips back into the loose position then you are just fine.
If anyone complains about your use of this widely used training aid, just smile sweetly and tell them that they don't know what they are talking about. After all, they're not walking your dog.

Answer 2

I am going to say bad because most people do not know how to correctly administer a correction and their timing is usually off when they do attempt to correct. When not used properly, the slip collar will actually cause a dog to pull, rather than inhibit it from doing so. The other problem with choke collars is they can cause damage to the Tracheal and oesophageal.
I would recommend a prong collar over a choke collar because I think they are more effective with little effort from the handler. When properly adjusted and used, it startles the dog and gives a sharp correction, but it is very difficult if not impossible to actually puncture the skin. And while it looks painful, it's actually less harmful to the dog than a slip or choke collar.

Answer 3

very good! I 1st tried it on my puppy when she was about 10wks and it didn't go over well. I tried it again at 16wks and it worked sooo good! My pup used to try and run on the leash and almost strangle herself. The choke collar makes a big difference. Now she happily walks beside me. You have to make sure the collar sit way up high on the neck. This is all it really takes. I hardly ever have to give it a tug. Even when I do, it doesn't have to be hard at all. I was told it's really the noise that trains them, not the tightening of the collar. The only part that sucks is having to stop walking to re-adjust the collar every now and then. It tends to slip down on her neck. Like some one else said, it can cause trachea problems if not used correctly. Just make sure it is always up high, and know you don't have to rip the chain hard. They are cheap enough to give it a try. If it doesn't work at first, try it again when your dog gets a little better at walking with a regular collar and gets a little older.

Answer 4

I use a pronged collar on my dog, but that is because if I don't she will pull me to the end of the world, and I would have absolutely no control over her. Pronged collars are also better for your dog because they avoid crushing the asophagus, and they only need to be used when the dog becomes unresponsive to you.
some dogs should not have choke chains used on them because they are too small or it is unneccessary.
You should look into dog training and other ways to train a dog without the use of a choke chain.
In my case it is highly doubted that my dog would respond to a muzzle lead.

Answer 5

There's absolutely nothing at all wrong with using choke collars - provided you use it correctly. You have to first of all be sure it's not on upside down or it won't release. Then, when you do need to use it, you give a short, sharp jerk and release, you don't drag the dog with it.

Go ahead and use it - the collar combined with talking to the dog and giving him lots of praise for staying close, will soon make him a joy to walk.

Answer 6

The collar is a training aid only..it does NOT train your dog to walk properly...consistant, proper training does that.
A choke collar is fine as long as it is used properly, fitted properly and put on properly. If it isn't then it can be a dangerous item. I hate the name choke because that is NOT what it is suppose to do..if it does than it is being used or put on improperly.
I suggest you enroll in some good obedience classes and learn how to properly train your dog.

Answer 7

I recently adopted a 1 year old pit bull, and she did NOT know how to walk on a leash when we got her. She was the kind of dog that wanted to run ahead, and would pull you right on your butt. The regular nylon collars did not help at all. We got her a chain choke collar, and it works wonderful. You just have to know how to use it.

You have to know how to put it on correctly, so when you pull it, once you let go it releases and becomes loose again. How I tought my dog, was whenever she got a step ahead of me, I would quickly jerk the leash (not too hard, just enough so she can feel it) and tell her heal. She immediately went back to my side. When we first started, I had to jerk the leash quite a bit, and tell her heal, because she just wanted to run ahead. But after a few days, she now just walks by my side, I just have to say 'heal' and she returns to my side. But the more we work on it, the more she just stays by my side. And now my dog LOVES her choke chain because she knows when I get it out it means we are going for a walk. She sits very nicely so I can put it on her. Good Luck, and I hope I explained myself.

Answer 8

I hate those choke collars, you can buy a lead called a gentle leader ad it slips over the dogs head and around there shout. they can still open there mouth fully it does not restrict them. what it does is when the dog tries to pull it makes there head go sideways and they dont like it so they dont pull. they work with every dog that pulls and you have alot more controll over the dog using one of these leads. you should be able to get one from your local pet store. search them on the net and read hoe good they are. i woul recomend one of these instead of the choke chain.

Answer 9

Choke collars don't discipline a dog to walk properly.

I'm somewhat ashamed to say it -- I had a St. Bernard who only responded to a pinch (prong) collar.
He trained himself not to pull in two walking cycles. I didn't have to do a thing but hold on. After that I went back to the harness and he was a fine walker.
I've read Cesar Millan's book where he states that dogs should never walk in front of you. However, I've always believed if they can walk in front, accept commands, and not TOW you along that's just fine with me.
.

Answer 10

GOOD IF USED PROPERLY...BAD IF USED WRONG......YOU SO ONLY PULL THE CHOCK CHAIN A LITTLE WHEN U WANT THE DOG TO HEEL TO A LOT BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE THE DOG TO BE SCARED OF THE CHAIN AND WILL NOT ENJOY WALKING..ALSO DOG SHOULD BE PRAISED RIGHT AFTER PULL THE CHAIN IT WILL LET THE DOG KNOW U DID NOT MEAN ANY HARM AND THAT HELLING IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO

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