In training dogs, the most important tool you have to acquire is the dog training collar. This type of collar is the very fundamental tool used to train your dog some basic tricks as well as sport dog training, obedience training, and even expanded training without having to hire the services of a professional dog trainer.

Services like these can be quite expensive. Hence, trying to train your dogs using dog collars can save you lots of money.

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Every dog owner loves their dog but training them can be a real nightmare for many people. There are many reasons for this including the dog testing the will of the owner and also the owner simply not being strict enough. If you have tried the traditional rewarding good behaviour method only to find you are making little or no progress, then looking at alternatives such as the electric shock collar might be worth it. These collars have been around for a few decades already but for smaller dogs these collars were simply too strong because there wasn’t an adjustment for shock levels. Professionals in the dog training industry used these collars to train hunting dogs however now there are electric shock collars that are much better designed for the domestic dog. When buying an electric dog training collar you will notice that there are two main types, there’s a bark collar and then there’s a beeper collar.

As you may have guessed, the bark collar is specifically designed to train your dog to stop barking. It does this by emitting an electric shock whenever your dog barks. Hopefully before long, your dog will learn to stop this bad behaviour. The great thing about this sort of collar is that training your dog can happen day or night and if you’re out at work then the collar will continue working when your dog is at home. Many dog owners find out that their dog has been barking during the day when no one is home and this can make your neighbors really angry. If you want to keep your neighbors happy then buying this sort of collar is very much advisable. The collar trains your dog when you can’t.

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Basic collars

Leather buckle collar with traditional buckle.

Buckle collars, also called flat collars, are usually made of nylon webbing or leather (less common materials can include polyester, hemp, or metal) with a buckle similar to a belt buckle, or a quick-release buckle, either of which holds the collar loosely around the dog’s neck. Identification is commonly attached to such a collar; it also comes with a loop to which a leash can be fastened.

Nylon quick-release buckle collar with identification and medical tags.

Flea collars are impregnated with chemicals that repel fleas. They are usually a supplementary collar, worn in addition to the conventional buckle collar.

Elizabethan collars, shaped like a truncated cone, can be fitted on a dog to prevent it from scratching a wound on its head or neck or licking a wound or infection on its body.

Break-away collars look similar to buckle collars, but have a safety mechanism installed that allows the dog to break free of the collar if excessive force is applied. These collars are useful in situations where a non-quick release collar could get snagged and strangle the dog.

Safety Stretch Collars an elastic panel in the sturdy nylon collar allows escape from potential strangulation dangers such as branches, fences, gates and other dogs. Unlike breakaways a stretch collar acts like a traditional static collar when clipped with a leash.

Stud collars are leather collars fitted with dulled points and/or metal studs that traditionally prevented another animal from biting the dog’s neck. In modern societies, stud collars are more commonly considered a fashion accessory.

Training collars

Several types of collars are used for the purposes of training dogs, though sometimes a collar is not used at all (such as in the case of dog agility training, where a collar could get caught on equipment and strangle the dog). Each training collar has its own set of advantages and disadvantages (briefly outlined below) which trainers might consider before using a select one. Training collars are typically used for training only and not left on the dog’s neck all the time, as some collars can be harmful or dangerous if left on a dog unsupervised.

Flat collars

Some dogs are trained on leash using a buckle or quick-release collar.

Slip collars

Slip collar, showing how the chain pulls through the loop at one end.

Slip collars (also called choke chains, slip chains, or choke collars) are a length of chain or nylon rope with rings at either end such that the collar can be formed into a loop around the top of the dog’s neck, just behind the ears. The ring which connects to the leash goes over the back of the dog’s neck, not under. When the leash is attached to the dead ring the collar does not constrict on the dog’s neck. When the leash is attached to the live ring the chain slips (adjusts) tighter when pulled and slips looser when tension is released. A quick jerk with an immediate release, euphemistically called a leash pop, snap, or correction, is used to coerce the dog into a ‘heel’ position.

Prong collar

Prong collar; the looped chain limits how tightly the collar can pull in the same way that a Martingale functions.

Prong collars (sometimes incorrectly termed pinch collars) are a series of chain links with blunted open ends turned towards the dog’s neck. The design of the prong collar is such that it has a limited circumference unlike slip collars which do not have a limit on how far they can constrict on a dog’s neck. The collar is designed to prevent the dog from pulling by replicating the action of an alpha dogs teeth against the neck.

Prong collars must never be turned inside out (with the prongs facing away from the dog’s skin), as this may cause injury against the body and head. Plastic tips are occasionally placed on the ends of the prongs to protect against tufts forming in the fur or, in the case of low quality manufactured collars with rough chisel cut ends, puncturing the skin. Like the slip collar, the prong collar is placed high on the dog’s neck, just behind the ears, at the weakest point.

Some dogs can free themselves from prong collars with large wire looped sides by shaking their head so that the links pop out, so some trainers have come to use a second collar (usually an oversize slip collar) in addition to the prong collar so when this happens the dog does not run loose.

Martingale collar

Martingale Collar with Chain Loop; martingale collars also come with a fabric loop instead of chain as well as optional buckles on both styles.

Martingale collars are recommended for Sighthounds because their heads are smaller than their necks and they can often slip out of standard collars. They can, however, be used for any breed of dog. Their no-slip feature has made them a safety standard at many kennels and animal shelters[citation needed]. A martingale collar has 2 loops; the smaller loop is the “control loop” that tightens the larger loop when pulled to prevent dogs from slipping out of the collar. Similar to a prong collar, the martingale has limited constriction on the dog’s neck and applies even pressure.

Head halters

The halter-style collar controls the dog’s head but does not restrict its ability to pant, drink, or grasp objects.

Head halters, sold under the brand names Halti or Gentle Leader or Snoot Loop, are similar in design to a halter for a horse. This device fastens around the back of the neck and over the top of the muzzle, giving more control over a dog’s direction and the intensity of pulling on a leash than collars that fit strictly around the neck. Pressure on this type of collar pulls the dog’s head towards the handler.

Controversy

Proponents of the head halter say that it enables the handler to control the dog’s head, and makes the dog unable to pull using its full strength. It is especially useful with reactive dogs, when control of the dog’s head can be a safety issue.

Opponents of the head halter say that some dogs find it unnatural and uncomfortable[citation needed]. If the collar is too tight, it may dig too deeply into the skin or the strap around the muzzle may push into the dog’s eyes[citation needed]. Injury can result from improper use of the head halter; if a dog is jerked suddenly by the leash attached to the head halter, the dog’s neck is pulled sharply to the side, which might result in neck injury.

E-Collars

Shock collars (or training collars, remote training collars, e-collars, electronic collars and hunting collars) are electronic training aids developed to deliver an electrical signal, vibration, tone, through contact points attached to a dog collar.

Used correctly under a professional trainer, E-collars can suppress a wide range of behavioral problems to help a dog become more well-behaved and obedient without reducing drive. Used incorrectly, even under a well-meaning professional trainer who doesn’t fully understand them, these collars have the potential to make dogs extremely fearful and reactive. It is important to use E-collars preferably with the help a professional who regularly trains with them and understands how canine behavior can be both positively and negatively affected by these tools.

Wolf collars

Wolf collars or protection collars are metal collars fitted with large spikes radiating away from the dog, usually worn by dogs protecting livestock in case they are attacked by wolves or other predators. Such collars protect the neck of a dog from direct attack. It is rare to see these collars being used in modern societies.

JASA Force Collar

A force collar is a leather collar with metal prongs staggered along the inside; similar to a prong collar.

See also

Collar

Shock collar

The Dog Collar Museum at Leeds Castle, Kent, England

References

^ Hodgson, Sarah (2006). Teach Yourself Visually Dog Training. Wiley Default. ISBN 0471749893. 

^ BBC item using “dog collar” to refer to clerical collars

External links

Misuse of Choke Chains – article by Des Hawgood

The Problem With Head Halters – article by Suzanne Clothier

Training With the Prong Collar – article by Suzanne Clothier

A gallery of wolf collars

A gallery of many types of collars (including the rarer wolf and force collars)

Leather Dog Collars Cleaning and Maintenance

A History of Dog Collars from Ancient to Modernen:Dog collar

Categories: Dog equipment | Dog training and behavior | Animal identificationHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from October 2007

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

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Electronic dog training collars can be effective tools for modifying a dog’s behavior, if you use them properly. However, many people do not take the proper precautions when using these types of collars, and therefore either do not get desirable results or misuse them entirely. In this article I’ll show you the best way to use electronic dog training collars.

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Leash Training is one of the most regular training method and the leash itself would perhaps is the most basic equipment used in training your dog.

Now here are some things you should think into before going into leash training which will help you to be more effective in training your dog:

1. You can begin leash training even when your dog is still a puppy. To Start leash training as early as the puppy stage will multiply the effectiveness enormously.

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A dog’s behavior can be modified by many methods, but the three tools most often used are a dog training collar. They are most often used for barking, confinement or general behavior and each dog training collar is designed with each different behavior in mind. For example, for barking, a small box built into the collar will give the animal a slight shock when it barks. It does not take long for the dog to realize that when they do not bark, they do not get shocked.

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Copyright (c) 2009 James Mahoney

Reward training is considered by many dog training professionals as the most modern method of training a dog, but reward training is probably a lot older than other methods of dog training. It may be that reward training for dogs has been around as long as there have been dogs to train. It is believed that the early humans used some informal kind of reward training when taming the wolf pups that eventually evolved into modern dogs.

Reward training or positive dog training generally consists of keeping the attention on what the dog is doing right, is usually recognized as not only the most effective method, and as a method that a positive experience for the dog, but also the most modern method of training a dog, but reward training probably is likely older than the other dog training methods, and probably goes way back thousands of years. It is quite conceivable that reward training for dogs has been around as long humans have interacted with dogs.

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All dogs will need some training as without training, a dog will be a dog and do what dogs typically do. A dog training collar can help reinforce commands and signals and help the dog not only alter its natural behavior but also learn what the owner wants it to do.

Usually a dog training collar will emit a small shock when the person offering the training presses a button on the remote control. When the dog feels the shock, applied usually to the throat, and hears the negative command, chances are they will stop the behavior that resulted in slight pain. Once the dog understands that a firm no means a shock is coming, the dog training collar may not be needed.

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I have two dogs that when in the yard bark at everything. I have one Bark collar, but it does not seem to work most of the time.