Is the Choke Collar Effective?
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The choke collar is a well-known "traditional" dog training tool. It is mainly used to avoid having to pull the lead or to teach a dog to walk beside a person. What many owners do not know is that this collar causes damages which can eventually result in serious injury.
If you've ever wondered how the choke collar is used or if it is effective, or you simply want to know how to prevent your dog pulling on the lead, you've come to the right place. In this AnimalWised article we will answer all your questions. Keep reading to learn the answer to the question "is the choke collar effective?"
How to use a choke collar for dogs
There are different types and forms of choke collars: There are prong collars, choke chains (metal or leather) and half-choke collars (adjustable).
The main function, as its name suggests, is to choke the dog when it pulls on its lead or when you pull it.
Effectiveness vs Injury
The problem with using a choke collar is similar to what happens with an anti-bark collar. The dog does not understand why it is being choked, and the confusion makes the dog even tenser, more restless and in discomfort. It is not an appropriate method to teach your dog to walk obediently.
Besides, the dog may be a victim of physical injury from the use of the collar on its neck, an especially vulnerable area. Remember that using a choke collar on puppies is especially dangerous. Some of the injuries that can occur are:
- Tracheal collapse
- Sensitivity
- Open wounds
- Pain
- Kennel cough
- Thyroid injury
- It affects the nervous system
- It affects the lymphatic system
- It affects the circulatory system
- Intraocular pressure
- Glaucoma
- Syringomyelia
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Stress
- Aggressiveness
- Fear
How can you prevent your dog from pulling on the lead
Teaching a dog to walk alongside you and preventing it from pulling on the lead are two very different things. You can't run before you can walk; first and foremost you should know that preventing your dog from pulling on the lead is a simpler than you think.
You should first get an anti-pull harness, perfect for small, medium or large dogs. It is totally harmless and will allow you to teach your dog to walk at a pace without pulling, all without causing injury.
If you have never tried the anti-pull harness, you will be amazed at the results. It is very popular in shelters and kennels around the world. You'll have no doubt seen dogs in the street with this harness.
Why walk your dog properly?
Once the "habit" of pulling has stopped, the next step is to understand the importance of a proper walk.
Many people do not understand that walks are recreational time for the dog; it must be able to sniff, urinate and exercise as much as it wants. Afterwards, your dog will be calm, quiet and relieved from stress. You must not give it a hard time; it is totally counterproductive for its welfare.
How to walk your dog more easily
Once you've met its needs, you can follow some training guidelines to teach it to walk beside you if you want, to run alongside your bike or do any other type of exercise for dogs.
There are many methods that can be used to prevent your dog from pulling on the lead, but the most appropriate is through positive reinforcement, a tool that helps the dog to understand what it is doing well. This way they find it easier to learn.
If you want to read similar articles to Is the Choke Collar Effective?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.
