View PDF | Print View 

A dog training collar is a handy piece of equipment that can be used to obedience train your dog. No doubt you have heard it referred to as a slip collar, pinch collar, choke collar or possibly a choke chain but it is one and the same no matter the name. Essentially it fits around the dogs neck and is attached to a leash or lead. When the dog owner applies pressure to the leash, he or she can effectively control their pet.

Naturally a training collar will not be effective if it is not used correctly so that you can modify the dogs behavior but also ensure that it is not hurt or injured by the collar. This short article will address 5 issues about using a dog training collar effectively whilst keeping your dog safe.

1. Selecting the right size of collar " The collar must be just the right fit for your dog. It must be a snug fit but not too loose or too tight. Obviously a collar that is too tight has the potential to hurt your pet or choke it at the slightest pressure. A collar that fits to loosely will not give you the fast control that you may need in certain situations and will make the collar ineffective.

Take a measure of the dogs neck. Then add about 5 cm or 2-3 inches to that length. This should ensure that the collar fits snugly but has a bit of movement in it. It should also fit over the dogs head easily.

2. Fitting the training collar on the dog correctly " A dog training collar will come with plenty of instructions for fitting the collar and using it effectively. It is advisable to read these when placing the collar on your dog for the first time. They will detail how to fit the collar correctly and prevent an sort of harm coming to your pet in the process.

3. Using the training collar properly " Above all use the collar in an informed and compassionate way. It is not a way to punish your dog but merely a way to communicate with him when he is doing wrong. You should never exert a continuous force on the lead or leash when it is attached to the collar as this could cut of air to the dog and lead to problems.

4. Take into account the link size and weight of the training collar. They should reflect the type of dog that will be wearing the collar. So if you had a Bull Mastiff then you would want a heavy collar with larger links. If you had a toy Poodle then the wight and link size would be considerably less. Normally, the chain documentation or packaging will indicate the range or size of dog suitable to the type of collar.

5. Make sure of the positioning of the collar and lead on the dogs neck. For instance, the lead should be fixed to the collar at the top of the dogs neck. This will transfer any pressure you exert on the lead to the dog efficiently and make it understand quicker. It will also ease the pressure quickly once you ease off assuming that the dog has stopped behaving badly.

Finally, think about the durability of the materials that are used to make the training collar and leash. They will be used a lot and will be subject to wear and tear so you want something that will last the distance. You don't want the leash to snap or the collar to break in the middle of your dog obedience training program.