Choke chains on any dogs.
 

I wanted to get opinions on choke chains, prong collars, and other forms of metal correcting collars on dogs of all sizes. Obviously toy breeds don't even usually walk on a regular collar due to the collapsed trachea but what are your opinions on big dogs having them on?

I keep watching dogs come in to our dog trainer (I work at a community center with many classes each night) and these people all have choke chains and prong collars on their bigger dog and since they come back with them on I guess this trainer doesn't see them as a problem. I worry about a dog trainer who doesn't teach that those are uneccessary and cruel forms of correction and punishment especially on harmless and calm dogs such as sweet miniature poodles and other medium breeds.

What do ya'll think?

I am against this ineffective methods of training. Any trainer approving of these methods would not be anywhere near my dogs. He obviously is outmoded and uninformed about the correct and new way of training dogs with positive behavioral interventions.

It depends on the dog and if the person is using the tool correctly. I used a choke collar on my golden occasionally if the was not behaving on his walks.

I would never use a choke chain or prong collar on any of my dogs. ANY size dog can end up with a collapsed trachea if they pull too hard against the collar (I knew a pit bull with CT) and some dogs react very poorly to pressure around their throats.

My big dog wears a regular collar. I train him using positive methods - never harsh corrections - and I walk him with a harness just like my little dogs.

Choke collars are outdated IMO.

I don't like them. I don't see a reason to use 'em. They won't ever touch one of my dogs.

However, I will say that two of the dogs that I dogsit wear prong collars, per the owners request, and they have no problem putting them on and get excited doing so and when they are wearing them, they do walk nicely. I just think that other alternatives should be tried first, such as the Easy Walk or the Halti Collar, etc.

I think, just like any other tool (a crate, a squirt bottle, a citronella collar, etc), it can be misused, overused, etc.

My friends lab mix wears a prong/choke collar. When he just has his regular collar on he pulls like mad on his leash, but when you put the choke collar on and he behaves so much better, and usually doesn't even pull. I have no problem using it on him. That being said there are obviously people who use and abuse it.

I don't care for either but believe the prong collar to be more humane and probably cause less long-term damage than the choke collar.

We did use a prong collar on Ringo when we were going to a trainer. I wasn't crazy about it but he did show me how it worked and that it would not cause trach damage like a choke collar.

That said - I believe my using positive reinforcement and distraction techniques on our walks - worked much better than any correction collar. I would not use it again on Ringo and certainly not on a tiny dog like a yorkie.

Didn't say it above, but I def wouldn't use it on my yorkies :D Maybe I could have Nala drag one behind, it'd get rid of some of her energy!

they need to be used by the right trainers on the proper dogs

Oh I wanted to add too that I also don't have a huge problem with regular collars on small dogs. Obviously if your dog is pretty tiny, I think a harness is the way to go! But I think it's important to teach a dog not to pull anyways (harness or not) and if they're not pulling... then no harm will be done to the neck on a regular collar, IMO. But I think even an 8lb non-pulling dog can be perfectly fine on a collar. I do use a harness on 16lb Jackson most of the time because he tends to slip out of collars easily but for quick potty breaks, I use a collar.

Okay as an exhibitor and competitor in obedience, first for many breeds of dogs shown in the conformation ring, choke collars are what is in use. For Yorkies the kindness collar/lead is used. Both these collars need to be put on correctly and used correctly. That being very high up under the neck, just underneath the ear, both for safety and effectiveness of correction.

Prong collars started to be used, in obedience training perhaps 10-15 yrs ago, and their use, is to say the least is controversial in some circles.

I do use at times the prong collar, and it was a necessity in training my big boy when he was a pup. You do how-ever need a trainer who is experienced in the proper use and timing, to train you when and how to use this tool .

Neither choke nor prong collars should be left on the dog beyond the train/walk timeframe.

There is a time, a place, for every tool. It is up to the discrimating person, to understand how to use those tools.

I think they are cruel and people need to stop being lazy with dog training and take the time to train there dogs positively.

I am not in agreement with their use on any dog. Ditto for shock collars.

I may be in the minority here but I'm not opposed to them. I've trained with them before and find them to be effective. For a small dog like a yorkie I don't think I would go this route, but see no problems with a medium to large breed.

I've trained cocker spaniels, pit bulls, labs, a cavalier K.C., beagle and a few others. All did well. I will admit that I had to use a different method with my yorkie but see no problem with choke/prong collars. It's not cruel IMHO.

I agree, sort of. I wouldn't call it "CRUEL"... but it can be MADE cruel. But so can a crate. So can a squirt bottle. So can a tie-out leash of the dogs that sit on them all day long. etc. etc. I'd rather see a dog, who is being exercised and trained and socialized, wearing a prong collar over a dog wearing a regular collar or a harness who is tied up all day long outside, or who sits in the house every day doing nothing.

Like I said, I'd never use them for any dog of mine, and I really hope to have a Mastiff someday and I still wouldn't plan on using one unless absolutely necessary for the safety of myself and others. So yeah, that's my thought process. *I* wouldn't use them. I wouldn't recommend them for the average person. I would never use a shock collar (I do think these are more cruel) but I'm not going to judge someone who does responsibly.

My friend uses a prong choke collar and whenever my 16yr old daughter sees it on him she flips it over so it is not sticking him. :p

I am inclined to oppose choke chains, prong collars, and martingale collars, but.....The Airedale we adopted when her owner died came with a choke chain. We tried putting a regular collar on her and she hated it. She wanted that chain and she wore the same one all her long life. She was perfectly behaved and never pulled the chain taught, so it wasn't really a concern.
We still have the chain and tags on a little Airedale statue.

I have nothing against a prong collar......used properly, it will not hurt and is a good training tool. I am not for choke chains or E-Collars. A reguale leather collor is not real effective and can even be dangerous if the dog somehow gets part of it in their mouth and can't get it out. A Harness is great on a trained dog, but difficult to train a dog with. Carlo still wears his Prong on walks.....I know I am going against the majority here, but thats my story and I am sticking to it. Basil and Caper's little Prongs are used in class and walks, and cost over $35 each because they are so small. They do not pull with it on, and a jentle tug gets their attention. I think most of you know I try my best to do what is best for the dogs.

This is a tough question. I am not sure there is an absolute answer. Personaly I do not use choke, prong, spray or electric collars when training dogs. Other trainers do, are they wrong ? I don't know. I have trained Labs, Dobies, German Sheperds, and Rotties with regular collars. But I have not trained an adult large or giant breed with aggressive problems. Even with my 30 year experience I would, seek help with a dog like that. I know my limits.

I do think all of them are cruel. Used to be opposed to their use, period. But I've since changed my mind. Absolutely think it's unacceptable to grab it for no reason. There are times when a large breed dog can't be trained without something like this.

Personally, I don't like prong collars and don't think there is any way they can't be extremely uncomfortable. I really dislike the Gentle Leader just as much as this other stuff. In a situation that required it, I'd use either though. I don't like the chain part of choke chains, but in general IMO they aren't much different than a tightening slip lead.

I'm also not inclined to relax over a small dog wearing a collar unless they are choking. I've noticed some dogs can handle it (not coughing) and some can't. Neither of my small dogs does well with a collar, so we forgo it for walks. However, Rylee does fine for the most part with it for potty breaks, so that's what we use. He can't wear a harness all day (chews on it) and I won't put it on several times a day. So harness for walks only. Ellie has a very sensitive neck, so harness at all times. A very tiny dog - harness.

So anyway, yes, if I had a large breed dog, I would use a tighening slip lead if necessary. I'm really not sure what the big difference is between that and a regular collar. One does tighten, but a regular collar tightens in the front when they pull.

JMHO, if the people that don't like them had a 100 pound dog that took there arm off every time they took a walk, they might become more appealing. Praise doesn't always work and I won't give my dogs treats all day. For small dogs I really don't see why the pulling is a huge deal in most cases.

I see nothing wrong with a choke or prong collar if used properly on big dogs. I'm not sure how people see it as cruel when used properly. It doesn't hurt the dog, it only offers a quick correction. I guess the real problem is that many don't know how to really use them. They expect the collar to work wonders and do all the work for them. That isn't how it works.

Small dogs however I believe should only wear harnesses. I sorry but I cringe every time I so much as see a collar being used for walking on a small dog. It's just too risky.
Mine all have collars but only for id purposes, never for walking.

I don't even know why they call them choke collars. If put on properly and used properly they do not choke the dog. It only offers a quick correction. If it is choking the dog than you either don't have it on right or are using it improperly. Yes there is a wrong way of putting it on. If not on the right way the chain won't slide and then yes you would be choking the dog. If you just go out and buy one without knowing how to use it you are probably going to do more harm than good.

I trained my cocker in obedience using a choke chain. She did great with it. Again the collar is made to only provide a quick correction and then the collar slides back into place. It is in no way choking the dog. A regular collar will choke the dog and can really damage their throats by them pulling. I've seen big dogs wear a regular collar coughing badly because they are choking themselves so much. With a choke collar or prong collar it wouldn't happen.

Now I tried the choke collar with our border collie husky mix and even a prong collar. It didn't phase her the least. Positive training didn't work either. If you were to walk her your arm would be nearly taken off. She was so hyper and so strong. So I then found the halti head collar. It worked wonders. We can now have a nice calm walk with her.

Every dog is different so not every training method will work for every dog. You do what works best that isn't harmful to the dog and use it.

Any tool is as tough or gentle as the hand that uses it.

I don't care for them at all! that being said....My daugther and son in law have a boxer. He was EXTREMELY hyper as boxers can be. They did take him for training....They had a very hard time walking him....They are NOT "lazy" when it comes to their boy...they did use a prong collar on him which helped tremendously. It got to the point where he wouldn't pull at all...he now where's a regular collar.

i believe that the evil is in the person and NOT the tool. Anything can be abused and misused. I mean a simple collar used to walk many dogs is frowned upon when used on smaller breed dogs. I think as long as intentions are good choke chains are fine. I wouldn't use them on my dogs (i've had three german shepherds about 7 years ago, and have a lab/bordercollie now), but thats my personal preference. i wouldnt object to someone else's choice- given non-misuse on their part

I don't agree with them.
My boyfriend has British Bulldogs and he even walks those on a harness. I believe you have better control of a dog when wearing a harness, if they are pulling you can pull them back without the fear of choking them and I think his bullies respond to that much better then they would on a choker.