When it comes to training your dog, one of the most important choices you can make is the type of collar you will use for training. All dogs need to wear a regular collar whether they are on a leash or not, but if you are planning on obedience training your pup, or even just teaching your pup to walk nicely beside you while on a leash, you will need to invest in an alternative style training collar as well as a regular collar.
There are many different types of collars that are touted as being the best for training, but oftentimes it depends a lot on the person training the dog and the dog itself what will work best. You may find that you have to try a couple of different styles of training collars before you and your pet are happy with the choice.
Flat Dog Collars
Flat dog collars are the type that you will leave on your dog most of the time. These regular collars are usually fastened with a quick release buckle, or a regular buckle. They should not be used for training your dog, however, as they do not give you sufficient control over your dog. Often your dog will pull on the leash if it is attached to this type of collar and there are no built in controls to use to teach him not to pull.
A style of dog collar that has been used for training dogs for many years is slip dog collars. Most people are probably familiar with the chain slip collars, which are also somewhat mistakenly called choke collars, but slip dog collars can be made from any type of material including nylon, hemp or leather.
They are very effective to use when training a dog providing they are first of all put on, and then used, properly. Prong dog collars are the choice for many trainers and dog owners when it comes to training larger, or more aggressive breeds of dog. While some consider them to be inhumane they are actually a very gentle and easy way to train a dog providing you put the collar on properly and use it as it is meant to be used.
Prong Dog Collars
Collars that have sharp jagged prongs that collapse on the dog’s neck, or prong collars, can be very effective if used properly. If you are planning on using prong dog collars with your dog, be sure to do your research on how to effectively use them before you put them on your dog for the first time. They can be harsh in the wrong hands.
Originally martingale dog collars were designed to be used with dogs whose necks are larger than their heads, such as the Greyhound. They are becoming increasingly more popular amongst all dog owners however, as they offer a way to gently control and train your dog. These types of collars are excellent for dogs that have a habit of backing out and escaping from their collar. They are designed in such a way that they can be left on the
dog all the time, and still used for training and leash walking.
You may have seen some dogs being trained with head halter dog collars. These are collars that at first glance resemble a muzzle. They are very effective when it comes to training a dog as a gentle tug on the leash will move the dog’s head backwards or to the side and they are safe to use on any sized dog.
When it comes to deciding what type of dog collar is best for training your dog a lot will depend on personal preference and how well your dog responds to the collar you choose. If it you find that one collar does not seem to be working then just try another type.
