Dog Training Collars

From the time you bring a pup home, it is usual to introduce it to a collar. From fashion accessory to essential training aid dogs all need a good quality collar. As a young stockman 50 years ago, I learnt to make leather working dog ‘drovers collars’, and I still use and make them today although most people probably now prefer synthetic collars.

It is important that your dog gets used to the feeling of wearing a comfortable collar. If you use a different training collar, make sure you replace it with your dogs regular collar after the training session is completed.

Standard Collar: A standard collar typically does up with a buckle or clip and is the best collar for regular every day use. They fit pups and dogs of all sizes and as long as they are properly adjusted they won’t choke. I am personally biased to leather but synthetic collars are cheap, and water proof. Standard collars do not offer much feedback when a dog is walking on a lead, so for very ‘enthusiastic dogs’ that pull badly an alternative training collar might be needed.

Choke or Check Collar: Choker collars often the training collar of choice in previous times, but they are out of fashion currently as they are considered too harsh by many people.  Usually made of chain, these collars are made tighten anytime your dog pulls on the lead, but releasing as soon as they stop pulling. When used appropriately they are very effective, but dogs may well revert to pulling when their regular collar is put back on, so instilling general obedience, with regular positive reinforcement should be encouraged.

Martingale Collar: A Martingale collar is a softer form of a choker collar, and so they are more widely used. These collars have a broader band like a regular collar, with a second loop on the collar that will tighten as a dog pulls. This loop allows the collar to tighten but  not as much as choke collar or slip lead. It should still be tight enough to get your dogs attention.

Prong collars and shock collars are also used by some professional trainers but, I don’t endorse them. Generally positive reinforcement training methods will give better longer lasting results.

Halti collars and dog harnesses are increasingly popular and we can discuss them in another post.