What’s the Best
Training Collar for My Dog?
As a professional dog trainer I am often asked, “What’s the
best training collar for my dog?” People ask me that question about dogs I
haven’t even met. It sounds like a reasonable question on the surface, but
asking a trainer that question - before the trainer has met the dog - is like
asking a professional decorator what the best color to paint your living room
is before they’ve visited your home. The underlying implication is that one
type of collar is best for all dogs. This is not an accurate assumption. There
is no “best collar” for all dogs, any more than there is a “best color” to
paint everyone’s living room.
The training collar that you choose for your dog must be
matched to:
·
Your training goals
·
Your dog’s temperament and drive
·
Your dog’s breed, physical condition and medical
problems (e.g. damaged tracheas and any other physical factors that might
require a harness instead of a collar)
·
Your training philosophy
Let’s start by defining what a “training collar” is. Unlike
your dog’s flat collar, it is not a fashion statement. A dog can wear a flat (buckle
or clip type) collar with an ID tag along with a training collar – the two are
unrelated. So in the list below, we’re not going to mention flat collars
(collars with a clip or a buckle that people hang an ID tag from), we’re only
listing collars that are designed to help your dog learn to do something.
So the first question to ask is, “what are your training
goals for the dog?” Typical dog training goals include stop pulling on leash,
long distance recall, better control around the house, off leash heeling and so
on. Starting there, move down the list
above and make sure you can answer each question. Once you’re done that, you
are ready to start deciding what type of training collar might be a good choice
for your dog.
In this list below, I’m going to list the pros and cons of
the common types of training collars, based on my 25 plus years as a
professional dog trainer, having trained countless thousands of dogs. I am
not endorsing the use of any of them for your dog. What you choose for your dog
is up to you. However I do have an
opinion on each and I’ll share them below, along with some of the pros and cons.
Here goes:
Choke collar – I’m listing this first because it’s
the one that most trainers used at the start of, and throughout most of, the 20th
century. This was your basic training collar until it fell out of vogue in the
90s. The proper use of a choke collar is not to choke, but to alert the dog
that you desire a certain behavior. Pros include its simple construction, and the
fact that it’s easy to put on and take off, as long as you remember the “P” for
puppy principle – if you’re going to be walking your dog at your left side, the
chain should form the letter “p” when you’re holding it up in front of you
before you put it on your dog. That way, a quick tug on the leash will allow it
to close and then reopen quickly. If you put it on incorrectly (upside down) it
will not release. Cons include the fact that if used improperly
(which is the way 99% of people use it who have not had professional assistance)
it can seriously injure your dog. (Personal
opinion – I very rarely use choke collars on any dogs that I train. There are
much safer and much more effective training collars than the old fashioned
choke collar.)
Martingale collar – A Martingale collar is a fabric
(usually nylon or cotton) collar that has a little loop at the top that allows
it to snug up when needed, so that a dog cannot slip his head out of it
accidentally when on leash. It is designed to be dropped over the dog’s head,
and then tightened before use. Pros – it exerts pressure evenly, unlike a flat
collar which can press directly against the trachea. When used properly it is safer
than a flat collar, and if your dog’s an escape artist this collar is foolproof,
nothing to malfunction like those plastic clips on flat collars, and IF (only
IF) you remember to slide that metal part back and tighten it before you clip
the leash on, it will be impossible for a dog to whip his head out of it. Cons
– when new it is a little tough to slide the metal part back and forth to
tighten and loosen it, so it can be a pain to put on and take off until it
loosens up a bit. For safety, remember to take it off before crating your dog,
especially if you attach your dog’s ID tags to it. (Personal opinion – this is
my favorite “every day collar” for most dogs. Good to wear around the house,
gives you instant control and the dog can’t accidentally slip out of it. But if
your dog is a hard puller on leash, this type of training collar will not help
much.)
Prong collar – Used properly, it is a safe,
gentle way to teach hard pulling dogs how to walk nicely on leash and to help
gain control over unruly dogs. Pros: works fast when used right. Much safer
than choke collars. In fact a study on prong collars was done in Germany:
·
100 dogs
were in the study. 50 used choke and 50 used prong.
·
The dogs
were studied for their entire lives. As dogs died, autopsies were performed.
·
Of the 50
which had choke collars, 48 had injuries to the neck, trachea, or back. 2 of
those were determined to be genetic. The other 46 were caused by trauma.
·
Of the 50
which had used prong collars, only 2 had injuries in the neck area, 1 was
determined to be genetic. 1 was caused by trauma.
(Information
about above study taken from an Anne Marie Silverton Seminar, http://www.cobankopegi.com/prong.html#AStudy)
Cons: Can
cause some dogs to redirect, so not a good choice for some aggressive dogs. Not
easy to put on and take off, and should not be used without professional
assistance. Prongs must be positioned
properly – high on the side of the neck and not over the trachea. NEVER
slip the collar over the dog’s head as you
can poke an eye. Dogs playing with
each other must NEVER wear prong collars (the other dogs can get caught
in the prongs). ALWAYS remove the prong collar when the dog is not under your
direct supervision. DO NOT put a dog wearing a prong collar on a tie-out or
tether line. The prongs or the quick release catch can come loose when in use,
so the dog should ALWAYS wear a nylon slip collar in addition to the prong
collar. (Personal opinion: Should not be used without professional assistance,
but when used properly can be an excellent training tool.)
Head Halter – Pros: Controls the head. Cons: More of a containment device than a
training device, as the handler cannot deliver an effective correction for
unwanted behavior. Therefore they are okay for control but not for training.
Plus, dogs absolutely hate wearing them, in fact many dogs will completely shut
down until they get used to them. Also, if not used exactly according to the
manufacturer’s instructions, they can slip off at the worst possible moment.
(Personal opinion – I rarely use head halters.)
Harness – I know this is not a type of collar, but have included it here for clarity. If you want to
teach a dog to pull something, or want to do some tracking, a harness is an
excellent choice. But for dogs who already pull hard on the leash, it is
exactly the wrong choice. Again, like the head halters that “purely positive”
trainers are so fond of, harnesses are really more of a containment device rather than a training
device. (Personal opinion – not a fan. I only use them if I have no other
choice, like for a dog who is likely to redirect at the handler on a different type of training collar.)
Remote Training Collars (aka e-collars or “shock collars”) –
must be used only by professional trainers who are experienced in their use.
Owners who buy a remote training collar and try to use them without hiring a
professional risk creating serious behavioral problems in their dogs. (Personal opinion - They are not part of our
basic obedience training program at Canine Dimensions, but they can be a valid
training tool when used properly, for certain training goals, with the guidance
of a professional trainer, with the right dog and under the right
circumstances.)
The right collar for your dog might not be the right collar for your
neighbor’s dog, it all depends on the temperament, health, breed and drive of
the dog, as well as you own training goals. So if you’re in doubt about the
right collar for your dog, don’t be afraid to get the help of a good professional dog trainer in your area.
