Since this is such a positive forum, I am posting this. It's not to upset anyone or start a huge fight. I just think that any tool can be abused and if used properly, most tools are humane.I'm really tired of hearing people say that pinch collars are evil and "choke" chains kill dogs. I hear this all the time.
Pinch collars, for instance, are actually more humane for the dog in certain circumstances. If a weak person is trying to correct a dog on anything else, they might not be able to do it and are then nagging the dog with a training collar. That is abuse to the dog and can really hurt them. A pinch collar is effective. I have tried it on myself and I am certain that it is not "evil". My dog wore it when I started training soft mouth retrieval. We probably could have gotten through it with a training collar, but the pinch made it easier on us both. She got more effective corrections, thus making them less. If used improperly though, they can really hurt a dog. If they are too tight, they can literally choke a dog. If they are loose, the corrections nag and hurt the dog. If they are not balanced out with praise, then the dog can't understand the point.
Choke Chains, or training collars, do not choke dogs when properly used. Faith wears one whenever I am home to supervise. If they are tied out on a training collar, then yes that will choke the dog. The proper way to use a training collar is to give a quick, effective snap and release. That applies pressure on the neck. The dog is naturally accustomed to a neck correction from mom as a pup, so they understand a leash snap. The people who put the collar on improperly are the ones choking the dog. They allow the dog to run to the end of the leash, thinking that choking them will stop pulling. you have to snap the collar. Also, based on what side your at on the dog, the collar needs to go a certain way. If you hold it up, it should form a letter P, not a number 9 when you put it on.
Harnesses DO NOT stop pulling. They just make the problem worse.
Head halters are used for training only. They modify a problem and don't always solve it. If you take it off, your dog starts pulling again. I realize that this is not always the case and that a good halter trainer can transition to not using one, but this is just another example of abusing a tool. Just the other day, I saw a chocolate lab walking around with a scabbed muzzle from a gentle leader. They need to be used properly.
Clickers are great training tools in the right hand. They are supposed to mark timing, not make your dog perfect. The dog is supposed to be weaned off needing them, and I can't say how many times I've seen dogs not listening when a clicker is not around. The dog needs to listen to you, not the clicker. The clicker is just a way to help the dog understand what you are asking.
Treats are used by some as rewards. If you are planning on using treats, exercise. The dog can get fat way too easily with all those goodies. Also, you need to wean the dog off of them. They are not always going to be available when you need them. The dog needs to listen to you in the end.
e-collars do not necessarily shock a dog. Certain faulty types (cheap brands) might, but a reputable one such as Dogtra, does not. once again, I have tried it on myself. They are not pleasant, but they work well. So many people think that they are a remote. You can't turn your dog off! They are a training tool. This is a live dog, not a robot and dogs can really be abused by the collar. But, in the right hands and on the right dog, they can work magic. It can make the difference between putting a dog down and keeping it.
So, please, before you use any tools on your dog: do research. Ask trainers (multiple) and get answers before you try them. Misusing these tools can be abuse to the dog.
Pinch collars, for instance, are actually more humane for the dog in certain circumstances. If a weak person is trying to correct a dog on anything else, they might not be able to do it and are then nagging the dog with a training collar. That is abuse to the dog and can really hurt them. A pinch collar is effective. I have tried it on myself and I am certain that it is not "evil". My dog wore it when I started training soft mouth retrieval. We probably could have gotten through it with a training collar, but the pinch made it easier on us both. She got more effective corrections, thus making them less. If used improperly though, they can really hurt a dog. If they are too tight, they can literally choke a dog. If they are loose, the corrections nag and hurt the dog. If they are not balanced out with praise, then the dog can't understand the point.
Choke Chains, or training collars, do not choke dogs when properly used. Faith wears one whenever I am home to supervise. If they are tied out on a training collar, then yes that will choke the dog. The proper way to use a training collar is to give a quick, effective snap and release. That applies pressure on the neck. The dog is naturally accustomed to a neck correction from mom as a pup, so they understand a leash snap. The people who put the collar on improperly are the ones choking the dog. They allow the dog to run to the end of the leash, thinking that choking them will stop pulling. you have to snap the collar. Also, based on what side your at on the dog, the collar needs to go a certain way. If you hold it up, it should form a letter P, not a number 9 when you put it on.
Harnesses DO NOT stop pulling. They just make the problem worse.
Head halters are used for training only. They modify a problem and don't always solve it. If you take it off, your dog starts pulling again. I realize that this is not always the case and that a good halter trainer can transition to not using one, but this is just another example of abusing a tool. Just the other day, I saw a chocolate lab walking around with a scabbed muzzle from a gentle leader. They need to be used properly.
Clickers are great training tools in the right hand. They are supposed to mark timing, not make your dog perfect. The dog is supposed to be weaned off needing them, and I can't say how many times I've seen dogs not listening when a clicker is not around. The dog needs to listen to you, not the clicker. The clicker is just a way to help the dog understand what you are asking.
Treats are used by some as rewards. If you are planning on using treats, exercise. The dog can get fat way too easily with all those goodies. Also, you need to wean the dog off of them. They are not always going to be available when you need them. The dog needs to listen to you in the end.
e-collars do not necessarily shock a dog. Certain faulty types (cheap brands) might, but a reputable one such as Dogtra, does not. once again, I have tried it on myself. They are not pleasant, but they work well. So many people think that they are a remote. You can't turn your dog off! They are a training tool. This is a live dog, not a robot and dogs can really be abused by the collar. But, in the right hands and on the right dog, they can work magic. It can make the difference between putting a dog down and keeping it.
So, please, before you use any tools on your dog: do research. Ask trainers (multiple) and get answers before you try them. Misusing these tools can be abuse to the dog.
