Nylon Choke Collar

[koda girl]

I do have a prong collar which I use all the time. I find it easier to control her with the prong on. The trainer said it is not good to pop/jerk when she is wearing a prong collar, he prefers the choke collar for that.

FG167 I also lift Koda with the prong on like you were saying, but I do worry about how deep those prongs can go in. She is very strong.

AbbyK9 Most times ordering from the US I need a US address or else it costs more in shipping than for the item I am buying. I live close to Massena, NY so I will look for one next time I am over there. Thanks,

[BlackPuppy]

I have only used the one with the snap ring. Leerburg | Dominant Dog Collar™

How it works is there is less slack, so when a dog moves quickly, he gets the choke effect immediately. It has an instant effect and stops my dog in his tracks. I don't need it since I started doing clicker training.

Originally Posted by koda girl

I believe what my trainer wants is to jerk this collar to the side when my dog gets fixated on another dog, she is dog reactive.

I wish I would have seen this. You should get the Leerburg collar for this problem. No jerking is needed, the dog will correct himself, like I said above.

BUT!

You really should look into the LAT game instead. I started using that game with a clicker in my agility class and my dog has changed dramatically!!

http://clickerleash.wordpress.com/20...reactive-dogs/

You don't want to try to fix fear based aggression with corrections. That's not going to make it better. Just saying. But you can use the collar as a safety net.

[martemchik]

I don't really understand your trainer's methods. The way to correct with a prong collar is to snap/jerk and then release it. I've never heard of lifting the dog up with it. That's when they can really get hurt. I know you're dealing with a reactive dog and you're not supposed to snap them in order to fix that but something just seems off about your trainer's advice.

[BeautifulChaos]

Just wanted to add in my 2cents.

First off, I never ever recommend a pinch collar to someone who is working with a reactive/aggressive dog. I am a believer that the pinch collar can be an effective tool, but have found that it can have the opposite effect when you use it on a dog who is acting aggressively. This is because if you have a dog that is engaged in another dog and you give your "pop" correction, you'll likely end up in with a fight. The pop combined witht the prongs feel a lot like a dog bite in the moment and can cause a reactive dog to "jack up" in a sense, often making the problem worse. Also, do NOT apply upward pressure with a pinch collar, doing so is not the appropriate use and could be dangerous.

I use a choke chain (or a nylon choke) for the reactive/aggressive dog. As was said before, I keep it high up behind the ears and when the dog goes into an aggressive state, upward pressure is applied. The idea is NOT to choke out the dog, but rather teach him a consequence. Think of it as a light switch - barking/raging pull up, as soon as it stops, release down.

I am also a believer in the LAT game.

I think it's a case by case basis. If your trainer thinks you should go with a nylon choke, then I would go with it and see if you like the results.

I also recommend doing as someone else mentioned - using the pinch for leash corrections and keeping the choke on with a tab for when you need it.

[AbbyK9]

AbbyK9 Most times ordering from the US I need a US address or else it costs more in shipping than for the item I am buying. I live close to Massena, NY so I will look for one next time I am over there. Thanks,

Have it sent to me and come pick it up. I'm just north of Fort Drum.

[Chicagocanine]

I have found that my dog's reactivity was made worse by using collar corrections. I think she associated the other dog with the correction and while it may have suppressed the behavior at that moment, in the long run it made her more reactive instead of less. It escalated to where even pressure from a flat collar would cause her to react more quickly.

[Packen]

Originally Posted by Chicagocanine

I have found that my dog's reactivity was made worse by using collar corrections. I think she associated the other dog with the correction and while it may have suppressed the behavior at that moment, in the long run it made her more reactive instead of less. It escalated to where even pressure from a flat collar would cause her to react more quickly.

It's a training issue. You are supposed tp give a command first then correct if the dog does not obey in 1 second, this way the dog associates the correction to the command and not the distraction.

[JKlatsky]

A Nylon Slip I have always found useful for a reactive dog. Prong collars usually jump ramp up the dog rather than calming it since there is the pinch to the collar. The slip lead takes away the air when you lift up on it and can make for a much calmer correction. I used it like FG167 described.

Originally Posted by FG167

I don't pop a tight fitting collar like that. If I am going to be giving pop corrections, I use a pinch. I just lifted Madix's front feet about 1-2 inches off the ground with the choke, very smooth and calm until he lost enough air to lose his focus on whatever he was reacting to. Losing air in that way calmed him down and once he settled, I'd let him down and we'd continue. The very first time, he spazzed out, but I waited calmly and the minute he decided to settle, I put him down. If I wanted to pop him for something, I'd use the pinch. I used the choke only when he was about to react/was reacting. My dog was reactive/aggressive to dogs and people. I personally doubt that a pop on that choke would've calmed him down at all...all dogs are different though. I used it to break his focus.

[Chicagocanine]

Originally Posted by Packen

It's a training issue. You are supposed tp give a command first then correct if the dog does not obey in 1 second, this way the dog associates the correction to the command and not the distraction.

Reactivity is generally not a result of training problems though, but is often based in fear, excitement or aggression and using collar corrections for that can make things worse instead of better.