When is it time for a choke collar?

[Mikro]

So far our 17 week old Golden is using a flat buckle collar for walking. She is doing okay with that so far. When is a good time to start using a choke collar for better control?

[Lizmo]

IMO, if she is doing well on the Regular collar, don't change.

[dr2little]

So far our 17 week old Golden is using a flat buckle collar for walking. She is doing okay with that so far. When is a good time to start using a choke collar for better control?

Actually, never. There are far better options for control with less risk of injury than a choke chain. Here's a quick link to explain why they are so dangerous and not as widely used anymore. I actually don't even allow them, or pinch/prong collars in any level of class including the GROWL (aggression) class.
http://members.aol.com/ukaim/frame.htm?c_chokes.htm

Have you worked on her loose leash walking training? Is she enrolled in any obedience classes. Goldens are incredibly bright dogs who learn very quickly with consistent training. That would be the best place for you to start.

If you still need more control, the link below is a much better option. This no pull harness is safe, painfree and provides ample control for a Golden. Training is of course your best bet.
http://www.petexpertise.com/item--Halti-Front-Attachment-No-Pull-Harness--halti_harn.html

[Melissa_W]

I agree with Lizmo and Dr2.

[RD]

Ditto Dr2. Never.

If she's doing fine, leave her on the buckle collar. It's easier to use that anyway, than to have to switch collars every time you go for walks.

[Maxy24]

Never.why do you need one? Since your puppy is well, a puppy he should be being taught to heel and walk well on a leash, not choked into correcting the problem. My dog had a choke chain and it was the most useless piece of equipment ever. Not only did it not stop pulling it made his neck sore after a walk and I felt bad for him, why choke your dog if you don't have to? Teach him to heel. If he pulls stop walking that way he learns pulling stops his walk, and if he stops pulling the walk continues. Look at some of the threads about teaching to heel so you know how to do that. Your dog is a puppy and needs to learn, you need to teach him and make learning fun not painful. Back when we got our dog everybody used choke chains, that's what you were supposed to do. That did not stop most dogs from pulling anyways. Now we know much better ways to stop and prevent pulling, hopefully somebody can explain in detail what those are. Good Luck, it's much easier to teach a puppy to walk nice on a leash than it is to correct the problem once he is an adult, I'm glad you have joined and are seeking information from other owners :)

[casablanca1]

To OP: the choke collar is a training tool and in general should not be used simply to walk a dog. If your dog does require greater control than a buckle collar, a choke collar can be used but you should really regard it as a training, and aim for being able to improve the dog's behavior to the point where you can go back to the regular collar.

Just in case you're not aware: the choke collar should never be left on a dog except while training, as it will do exactly what it's name implies and choke a dog to death if it catches on something.

[Doberluv]

I agree with Dr2little and everyone who agrees with Dr2little. Choke collars are not IMO a training tool. They're an intimidation tool. The two words are not synonomous. You can train you dog to the results you want by reinforcing correct responses and reinforcing often. You don't have to cause pain or discomfort. Most good trainers and owner/trainers today have taken those things out of their repertoire.

There are good books out there that can help you too. Culture Clash, Jean Donaldson....The Power of Posisitive Training, Pat Miller...Don't Shoot the Dog, Karen Pryor and others. I hightly recommend you read up in addition to a good training class with a gentle method trainer. Watch out for the yank and crank types.

[Lizmo]

Actually, never. There are far better options for control with less risk of injury than a choke chain. Here's a quick link to explain why they are so dangerous and not as widely used anymore. I actually don't even allow them, or pinch/prong collars in any level of class including the GROWL (aggression) class.
http://members.aol.com/ukaim/frame.htm?c_chokes.htm

Have you worked on her loose leash walking training? Is she enrolled in any obedience classes. Goldens are incredibly bright dogs who learn very quickly with consistent training. That would be the best place for you to start.

If you still need more control, the link below is a much better option. This no pull harness is safe, painfree and provides ample control for a Golden. Training is of course your best bet.
http://www.petexpertise.com/item--Halti-Front-Attachment-No-Pull-Harness--halti_harn.html

Very well said, Dr2 :)

[Momof2Pups]

I agree with Doc and the others. She sounds like she's already doing well anyhow.

[bubbatd]

^^^^^^ agree !!!! Only if your obedience trainer recommends it ! BTW.... I sent you a PM !!

[Sweet72947]

I walk my lab on a choke collar, but only because she can slip out of her regular collar (she might do that if she sees another dog, cause she gets excited) and I can only cinch her regular collar so tight. She has a big neck and a little head :p. I don't choke her with the chain, and she doesn't pull on leash, so her neck doesn't get sore or anything. I would never use a choke collar on Benji though, with his sensitive little throat.

[Herschel]

I walk my lab on a choke collar, but only because she can slip out of her regular collar (she might do that if she sees another dog, cause she gets excited) and I can only cinch her regular collar so tight. She has a big neck and a little head :p. I don't choke her with the chain, and she doesn't pull on leash, so her neck doesn't get sore or anything. I would never use a choke collar on Benji though, with his sensitive little throat.

Wow, that's a little harsh. Have you considered using a martingale?

http://www.sitstay.com/store/equip/collars3.shtml

[casablanca1]

Choke collars are not IMO a training tool.

As that's a highly debatable point and since that debate is somewhat beyond the scope of the OP's question, I chose to focus on what seemed more important - the the choke collar should not be used in lieu of a buckle collar unless there's a specific, behavioral reason for it.

[Zoom]

I will have to agree with Casa on that last quote.

As far as the OP's dog is concerned, stick with it's regular collar. There's no hard and fast rule that says "At this age all dogs must be on some sort of training collar." It's all relative to the dog, how it's learning and what issues it may or may not have.

Since it sounds like the PUPPY is doing just fine on it's normal collar, stick with that. If you keep up on your training you will never have to use another collar beyond his regular one.

[Melissa_W]

Wow, that's a little harsh. Have you considered using a martingale?

http://www.sitstay.com/store/equip/collars3.shtml

Yes, it would be much better to use a martingale collar, they were made exactly for that purpose.

[Sweet72947]

Wow, that's a little harsh. Have you considered using a martingale?

http://www.sitstay.com/store/equip/collars3.shtml

Why is it harsh that I walk her on a choke chain?:confused: She doesn't actually "choke" on it. I can't tighten her regular collar enough for it not to slip over her head. I don't use it for corrections or anything of that nature. I guess you might also think its harsh that my friend's family walks their golden retreiver on a prong collar, because otherwise he pulls like heck. With the prong, he walks very nicely, no corrections needed.

[Zoom]

Because she could at one point hit the end of the leash and since there is no safety cutoff point on choke chains, she could severly damage her neck. If it's just to keep her collar from sliding off, look into a martingale. They're also called "humane chokes" in some parts.

[Melissa_W]

Yep, they are also called "greyhound" or "no-slip" collars. They are for dogs who have necks larger than their heads. They don't damage the trachea or fur like a choke chain.

[Sweet72947]

I know what Martingales are. I've just never thought of a choke being damaging unless the dog lunges against the chain or somebody uses it roughly. Daisy never lunges. And nobody is rough with her unless they want to incur my wrath.

[Doberluv]

As that's a highly debatable point and since that debate is somewhat beyond the scope of the OP's question, I chose to focus on what seemed more important - the the choke collar should not be used in lieu of a buckle collar unless there's a specific, behavioral reason for it.

Well, you can choose to focus on whatever you want...whatever you think is important and I'll do the same. I fail to see how this is beyond the scope of the OP's question. On the contrary, it has everything to do with the OP's question: When is it time for a choke collar to have better control?

Furthermore, there is never a behavioral reason for a choke collar. There are other ways to control and train any dog and teach well, as is demonstrated every day by good trainers.

When you have to depend on something like a choke collar to have a dog walk nicely, he is doing so in order to avoid pain, mild, moderate, whether it's discomfort, whatever. It's avoidance. That, IN MY OPINION is not synonomous with training in order to have control. There's more to training than force, a lot more to behavior than that. There are many detrimental side effects to using a choke collar, not only physical, but behaviorally/mentally.

So, to sum it up.....when is a good time to start using a choke collar for control? NEVER.

[ACooper]

I agree if the pup is walking just fine on the buckle collar there should be no reason to switch ever.

As far as chokers.......from what I can see of the dog shows, that is pretty much what they have isn't it? Just a slip rope high on the neck that can tighten/loosen if need be???? Please correct me if I am wrong, I don't show, never have shown any breed :)

[Saje]

Daisy never lunges.

I think you should add 'yet' to this statement. You can't predict a dogs behaviour all the time and sooner or later chances are that something will really get her attention or scare her and she'll be off.

[little liz]

We did at one point get Minnie a choke/check chain. As it happens I didn't like it much, Minnie still pulled regardless and I did worry that it might dig in, pinch her or pull her hair. We didn't use it for very long. I should point out here though that my partner made sure he put a ring on it which prevented the choke chain from actually tightening very far. My oppinion is that a regular collar is probably best. I did however use a nose harness for a while and I do still have it. This did stop her pulling and now that she is out of the habit I ususally just use her normal one.

[Sweet72947]

I think you should add 'yet' to this statement. You can't predict a dogs behaviour all the time and sooner or later chances are that something will really get her attention or scare her and she'll be off.

Hey a little update, I got Daisy a Martingale type collar at petsmart over the weekend and she seems to like it better than the choke chain. It seems more comfortable for her. The choke chain is now at the bottom of the basket we keep the dog's stuff in. So Thx guys for my edumacation.:p

[Doberluv]

Terrific! So, when you take her out where there are lots of distractions, you can still have control. When you are practicing her loose leash walking in your yard or other low distraction area, I recommend switching to the flat buckle collar and reinforce her frequently with a tasty treat/praise for walking nicely. Even if she isn't a puller yet, this will help establish her training in case she ever begins to think about pulling. It's always good to head off problems before they start. Good luck. Hope to get updates.

[Melissa_W]

Hey a little update, I got Daisy a Martingale type collar at petsmart over the weekend and she seems to like it better than the choke chain. It seems more comfortable for her. The choke chain is now at the bottom of the basket we keep the dog's stuff in. So Thx guys for my edumacation.:p

That's great, I'm glad we can help. :D

[hedwig]

if your dog begins to pull or wont walk to heal or you just want a bit of security the harness i think is the best option, even a training harness, this is connected to the front of the collar and the elasticated strips go under the dogs legs and connect to the back of the collar so if your dog pulls it tightens, it uses the dogs natural aid to stop so to speak, very humane and effective, i wish i had a link to pull up to show you

[bubbatd]

Kudos to you !!! Hug that Golden pup for me !!