The Right Leash and Collar for Your Dog
Adam G. Katz
In the past, when people spoke of training collars, they really
generally were referring to “choke chains.” A choke chain is a
metal chain with a sliding ring that is attached to your dog’s
nylon or leather leash.
There’s a reason it’s called a choke chain. Because there is no
limit on how tight the training collar can pull against your
dog’s neck, there exists a very real possibility it can choke
him, as well as cause other injuries, such as:
• Severely sprained necks
• Tracheal and esophageal damage
• Injured ocular vessels
• Cases of fainting
• Transient foreleg paralysis
• Laryngeal nerve paralysis
• Hind leg ataxia
And if you think I’m kidding about any of these injuries: I’m
not; they’re all well-documented cases taken from hundreds of
veterinary practices who have treated the dogs injured by choke
chains.
Bottom line? In the hands of an experienced trainer, a choke
chain can be used appropriately, but for the most part, your
average person has no idea what an appropriate use of a choke
chain entails.
My own personal preference is for a flat buckle collar, either
nylon or leather, which can be used for training and everyday
use. It should fit snugly, but leave room enough for you to slide
two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck. Any looser
than that, and it may slide off over your dog’s head. Any tighter
and it may cause chafing and discomfort.
The choice of nylon or leather is simply a matter of personal
preference – nylon comes in a variety of bright colors, and is a
good choice for dogs that spend a lot of time in the water (or
mud!) Leather is durable and will absorb oils from your dog’s
coat, making it more flexible over time.
The width of the collar should be appropriate to your dog’s size.
For example, a wide, heavy or thick collar just won’t work on a
Chihuahua, in fact, it would look ridiculous. By the same token,
if you have a Rottweiler, a diamond- or rhine-stone-studded
poodle collar is going to look pretty silly. And don’t forget an
identification tag – if your dog is lost or stolen, this is a
quick way for authorities to notify you when your pet is located.
Another terrific solution is a harness – a device that goes
around the neck and ribcage, thus eliminating the possibility of
choking. Harnesses are an excellent resolution to the problem of
having a large dog that hasn’t been well-trained and pulls or
lunges when out for a walk. It’s a great way to restrain the
pulling without getting in that choking “tug of war” that you
sometimes see. Harnesses are also good for small dogs, which can
have serious problems with collars pressing on their small and
fragile airways.
Now for the proper leash. As with collars, you have a choice of
flat nylon or leather (or braided leather is also available), and
as with collars, it’s largely a matter of personal preference.
I use a 6 foot nylon leash for training my dog. I find it’s the
perfect length for walking, heeling and virtually all of my
training sessions.
Many dog owners prefer a retractable leash. These are nylon
leashes that are encased in a plastic casing, and vary in length
up to about 25 feet or so. The best models of this type have a
one-button “braking” system that stops your dog from going beyond
a set distance, as well as a spring mechanism that allows you to
adjust just how far you want to extend the lead.
Retractable leashes are a good idea if you walk your dog in a
variety of settings: you can “reel” him in if you’re on city
sidewalks or in situations where there are a lot of people or
other dogs around, then you can expand the distance between you
when you get to the park or an open space.
“Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!“ which you can
read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
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