Dog Training Collar

Dog Training Collars - Are They A Good Idea?

Do you need a dog training collar to help you with training your dog?  If so which type do you pick? Do you go for a choke collar, a shock collar, an anti-bark collar or one of the many other types of dog training collars that exist?

Firstly you need to remember that the primary aim of a dog collar when attached to a leash, is to keep your dog under control when you are out and about with him.  So you may need to use a standard dog collar which is kept on the dog at all times, and then put on the dog training collar when you are going to be training him.

The use of a dog training collar will provide you with better management of the dog when you are working with him.  Which type of collar you decide on  will to some extent depend on what you are trying to achieve with the use of the collar.

These are a few of the dog training collars that are available, and suggestions as to when to use them;

A choke collar (sometimes just referred to as a choker).  This is generally a metal or fabric and metal mix collar that works by tightening if too much pull is put on the leash by the dog.  As soon as the dog stops pulling the collar will loosen again.   You would generally use this in helping to teach your dog to walk to heel.  It is not recommended that you use this very often, but it can be a beneficial training aid in the short term.  You should never ever leave your dog unattended with a choke collar on as he could easily choke himself.

A shock collar.  These are used when you are trying to actively discourage a particular kind of behavior. If you are using this to teach your dog to walk to heel, you would buy one that made a noise when too much tension was put on the leash.  This will generally get the dog to back off.

No Bark Dog Training Collar.  These are specially designed to produce a very loud noise whenever the dog barks which should have the effect of discouraging him from barking.

The one big problem with dog training collars is that they are punishing for bad behavior, rather than using the more positive approach of rewarding your dog, when he is doing whatever you are trying to teach it, right.

The dog training collars are often used as a short term training aid, but most people will not use them long term.