Choke chains?

Question

why do people use choke chaines isn't that just causing pain to the animal i've seen a dog die from one

Answer 1

They are used for training and shouldn't be left on an unattended animal.
I have small dogs, so I prefer halters. For large dominant breeds the safest thing to use is a prong collar.
I have never used choke chains, but some people love them. It is a matter of choice and responsible pet care. If a dog died from one it was the owner's fault for not taking it off.

Answer 2

Choke chains are not meant to cause harm to the dog, they are meant to simulate the bite of a more dominant dog. They apply pressure to the neck, not pain. If a dog has died from a choke chain, the person using it was the cause. A chain can't do that much damage on it's own. A lot of people buy choke chains and don't know how to use them properly. They should only be used by professional trainers or people who have been taught the proper way to use them.

Answer 3

The correct term is a check chain and the idea is that the noise of the chain combined with a slight jerk is enough to 'check' the dog. This should be in combination with lots of praise and encouragement when the dog performs the 'desired' behaviour.

Problems arise when people use them incorrectly - using them upside down so the chain can't slide back open is a common error. They should never be left on the dog and only ever used for training purposes.

They can be a great training tool when used correctly by an experienced handler.

Answer 4

A choke chain is perfectly fine if used appropriately. It's used in training, to help the dog understand to walk at your side, not jump, not bark, etc. You give a quick jerk high on the neck, it's momentarily uncomfortable, so the dog quits doing the behavior. The problem is, some dogs don't respond to choke chains and the owner just yanks harder and harder, hoping for response, and that's animal abuse. Don't know how a dog could die from one.

Answer 5

If used incorrectly, yes and they are to be used for training ONLY! You never leave the chain on at all times. Go to http://www.dogcatradio.com On the film chip go to Training and it's shows you how to use a "choke chain". If you think about it most training tools if used the wrong way may cause harm to ones dog. So always learn the proper way to use any training tool before you begin training! Have a good one;~)

Answer 6

It is unfortunate that these collars are refered to as "choke" collars since that is NOT their intended purpose..if it chokes the dog then it is fitted improperly, put on improperly and being used improperly.
A properly fitted, put on and used TRAINING colar does not hurt the dog nor does it choke the dog.
They also should never be used to tie a dog out or left on a dog all the time. They should only be used at times of training.

Answer 7

there is a proper and improper way to use all training devices.

Choke chains should not be left on at all times.. only during training sessions. The point is not to choke your dog, but to apply pressure as a correction. If you are pulling and yanking on the choker, its time to find another method of correction.. because you can seriously ijure your dog from using it incorrectly.

Answer 8

Choke chains and pinch collars should only be used by people who know how to use them correctly, and only by people who are training for a certain purpose..people who really know what they are doing. But really, with the Gentle Leader out on the market now, there's no reason for the average person to use one.

Answer 9

If you seen a dog die from it, then the owner wasn't using it correctly.

The choke chain like the prong collar are very effective tools for teaching a dog how to walk on a leash properly. They are not cruel or abusive. They work very well.

Let me ask you something... I have seen people get killed in car accidents, should we all stop using cars because some people cause these accidents in which people die?

Answer 10

People use them to train, just like they are supposed to. I do not like them as much and I prefer to use the prong collar instead. Less corrections and less discomfort on a dog. You cannot effectively train a dog without one or the other.
When I say a dog, I mean a dog that is determined. A strong willed dog, if you will.