There are many different types of training collars to choose from. This can make it confusing for a new owner to figure out which one is best for your dog or puppy. You need to keep in mind your dog’s health, safety, and size. You also need to evaluate your size, physical strength and physical problems such as tendonitis, arthritis, bad balance, etc., as a factor in being able to have some control over your pet during walks.
For example, my personal breed of choice is German Shepherds. I own a 100 pound male and I am a 130 pound female. Simple math alone determines that a flat collar or a harness is not going to be effective for me to control my dog. Another example would be a toy breed. A pinch collar for this type of dog would be overkill. Almost anyone should be able to control a 10 pound dog on a flat collar or harness.
If you have a puppy the best collar to start out with is a lightweight, flat nylon collar that is adjustable in size. As your puppy rapidly grows it is necessary to check and readjust the collar on a weekly basis.
As your dog grows, it will be necessary to adjust and move to a different collar for training purposes and walks. Training collars are necessary to avoid being dragged down the street by your exuberant pet while out on walks.
Flat collars are recommended for puppies. This will get your puppy use wearing a collar and having something around their necks. Flat collars come in both nylon and leather verities and different widths. Choose a width that is appropriate for your dog’s size. Flat collars are useful for around the house. The flat collar can hold your dog’s identification and rabies tags. Even if your pet has been microchipped, it is a good idea to have them wearing identification at all times. While in your home you may need to use your dog’s collar as a “handle” to restrain him or prevent him from running out the door. Should your dog get “snagged” or caught up on something in your house or yard, the flat collar will not give your dog a correction or cause injury.
Regular flat collars are not ideal as a training device because they provide no control for the owner and often, dogs will pull so hard that they will choke themselves. While walking your dog on a flat collar, if your dog is coughing and wheezing this is an indicator that they are choking themselves.
A commonly known training collar is one that looks like a chain. It is often referred to as a “choke” chain or a “choke” collar. Despite the name, the collar is not intended to choke a dog at all. The chain should be kept loose at all times and only tightened during a quick correction in order to regain your dog’s attention. The timing of the correction technique can be difficult for owners to develop which reduces the collar’s effectiveness.
The breed of the dog and the size of the owner will also determine the effectiveness of the “choke” collar. The larger the dog the bigger the correction needs to be as time goes by. If you are an owner with physical limitations, you need to consider if you will physically be able to repeatedly give an effective correction to capture your dog’s attention. If your physical stature or your dog’s size is not a concern then you need to take into account the pressure that is being applied to your dog’s neck. The “choke” collar applies the correction (or pressure) to the same area of your dog’s neck over and over again. Over time this may cause damage and health related problems to your dog.
If you choose to use a “choke” chain as your primary training collar be sure that you buy the correct size to make your training as effective as possible. You will need to take your dog with you to the pet store to accomplish this. The “choke” collar should barely fit over your dogs head and ears. If the collar easily slips over your dog’s head without effort, the collar is too big.
A better alternative to the “choke” collar is the prong collar. Many people 
are resistant or afraid to use these collars because they look like a mid evil torture device. However, medical studies have proven, when used properly, a prong collar is healthier for a dog’s neck then any other type of training collar or flat collar. The prong collar does not allow constant pressure on your dog’s neck. Unlike the “choke” collar, the prong collar distributes the correction (pressure) evenly around the dog’s entire neck instead of just in one repeated area.
When the prong collar is applied properly on your dog, any size owner can easily control and correct any size dog with little physical force. The mistake a lot of owners make is having the prong collar too loose and in the wrong location. All prong collars are adjustable. To reduce or increase the size of the prong collar you will need to remove or add links. The links fit into one another a lot like a chain.
The prong collar should be placed high on your dog’s neck. If the prong collar is sitting closer to your dog’s chest rather then their ears, you need to remove links and make the collar smaller. The collar should fit rather snuggly on your dog. A simple guide is that you should not be able to place your hand between the collar and your dog’s neck. If your dog is a short haired breed, the collar once applied, should not slid down your dog’s neck. If it does, the collar is too loose. If your dog is coughing, wheezing or having trouble swallowing, the collar is too tight. Add a link.
When the prong collar is fitted correctly and applied properly, the force of corrections necessary from the owner will be small, quick and minor. You will get your dog’s attention quickly without the use of a lot of physical force and strength. You, the owner, will gain confidence quickly that you can control your dog at all times under any circumstance. You will also gain the respect of your dog as the leader. Instead of repeating a command along with a correction multiple times, the prong collar will enable you to give a command and correction only once to obtain the desired behavior. This teaches your dog that you mean business and they will be much more likely to comply.
Harnesses are another training device option. Harnesses are not the best choice if you do not want your dog to pull. By nature, dogs are instinctively more likely to pull when wearing a harness. This is because the harness basically “harnesses” the strong musculature of the dog around the chest and legs giving them traction to pull you.
Harnesses are good for puppies and smaller breed dogs. Harnesses are often used by sport dogs or working dogs in their daily activities or duties. Harnesses are most often associated with sled dogs. If you see a dog used for tracking purposes, whether it is for police work, Schutzhund, or search and rescue, you will see the dog wearing a harness. This is for the purpose of allowing and encouraging the dog to freely roam ahead of the handler without restrictions on their neck and throat.
The head halter is an alternative to a training collar and many proclaim this to be a “gentle leader”. The head halter is similar to a halter you would place on a horse and works under the same principle. It goes around the dog’s face and as soon as your dog starts to pull, their head turns towards you. Most dogs will quickly learn not to pull when wearing the head halter.
If you are worried about your own physical limitations, or fearful of hurting your dog through the use of corrections, the head halter is a training device that should be considered. A drawback to the head halter is that it can be confusing for pet owners to put on and difficult for dogs to get used to. It may take a dog three times longer to get used to the head halter then a regular training collar. Patience and practice will be required on the owner’s part.
Introduce the head halter to your dog in a safe environment like your house. When you first put the head halter on, be sure it is adjusted tight enough that your dog cannot paw or rub it off. If your dog gets the head halter off just one time, they will remember this victory and always try to remove the head halter.
Introduce your dog to wearing the head halter in short three to four minutes sessions a few times throughout the day to get him use to wearing it. Have a leash attached to a flat collar so your dog cannot run away from you and attempt to remove the head halter. If your dog paws or rubs at the halter, distract him with food treats or toys. When your dog behaves or reacts calmly to the head halter praise him with long soothing strokes, low calm verbal praise, and food rewards. Never take the head halter off when your dog is pawing or struggling with it. Only remove it when your dog is relaxed and not struggling.
When your dog has become use to wearing the head halter, attach a leash to the halter and let him walk around freely with the leash attached. Do not implement training with the head halter until your dog is comfortable wearing it. The time frame for getting your dog accustomed to the head halter is typically a few days to a week. The time varies from dog to dog and how often you are able to do short practice sessions.
When choosing the right collar for your dog or puppy, take into consideration safety and variable training factors. Choosing the right training collar may be a learning process for both you and your dog. There is nothing wrong with trying different training collars until you find the one that is best suited for you and your dog.
For most dogs, a regular flat collar with their tags is good for everyday wear. A training collar is just that, to be used for training, for walks, for trips, etc. When you get the training collar out and get ready to place it on your dog, make a big deal about this event. Soon your dog will associate the training collar with positive fun events like walks in the neighborhood, trips to the park, socializing with other dogs, etc. It won’t take long before your dog is excited and eager to have their training collar put on them.
With a little forethought, trial and error, and obedience practice, your dog can be safe and well behaved out in public regardless of which training collar you decide to use.
