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A Comprehensive Guide to Dog Training Collars

A Comprehensive Guide to Dog Training Collars

The behavior of your dog determines how well you'll bond, how it relates to the other family members and the places it can accompany you. But dogs don't have speech like humans, and training them to behave the way we want is challenging. The good news is that modern training collars make training a lot easier.

We have collars that help with leash training, others training against destructive barking, and others against complex behaviors like jumping over fences. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the different types of collars you can use to train your four-legged friend and how to know the best option.

Choosing the Right Training Collars for Your Dog

Collar Type Materials Training Focus Recommended For Comfort Level Cons
Choke Collar Metal Preventing pulling Strong pullers Low—can cause discomfort Can cause trachea damage
Prong Collar Metal Correcting strong pulling Large, strong breeds Low—prongs can cause discomfort May confuse dog if misused
Martingale Collar Nylon Preventing slipping, mild pulling Greyhounds, leash training High—safe for regular wear Less effective for strong pullers
E-Collar (Shock Collar) Nylon, Electronic Barking control, off-leash training Barking, jumping, off-leash dogs Medium—heavier design Misuse may stress the dog
Halti Collar Nylon Preventing pulling Dogs sensitive to neck pressure Medium—some dogs dislike it Can cause injury if jerked

 

Keeping your dog on a leash and under your control is not a matter of choice; it's the law. Although most leash laws differ from place to place and are mostly set by local governments like municipalities, districts, towns, cities, and counties, the requirement is always for the dog to be under the owner's control when in public.

For instance, the government of Canada states that a dog must be on a leash, which shouldn't be more than 3 meters long when visiting protected places. A city like Toronto fines you up to $365 for letting your furry friend run off-leash in places not designated as off-leash areas. These on-leash places include sidewalks, trails, schools, and public parks.

The same restrictions apply in the US. Apart from Pennsylvania and Michigan states that have specific leash laws, other states simply outlaw loose dogs. That means the dog must be under the owner's control. Remember, some of these dogs have massive pulling power and can easily drag you on the sidewalks.

For example, sledding dogs like the Huskies can comfortably pull over 150 pounds for hours. That's a lot of force if it starts tagging you on a leash. Other dogs, like the German Shepherds, were bred as guard dogs.

They have intimidating barks that can easily get you into trouble with your neighbors if they start the destructive barking behavior. That's why you need training collars. Before we get into which collar suits your dog, let's first see the pros and cons of the various types of training collars.

Pros and Cons of Various Training Collars

Dogs are different, so the collars. The type of behavior you might want to correct in a Saint Bernard might be different from that of a German Shepherd. For effective training, you need a collar tailored to correcting your dog's behavior. Here are the different collar types, the behaviors they correct, and their pros and cons.

Choke Collar

As the name suggests, choke collars work by exerting pressure around the dog's neck. This cuts the airflow, choking the dog. The unpleasant choking effect discourages the dog from pulling. Usually, these collars are made of metal links that slide tight when the dog pulls. The biggest advantage of these collars is that they instantly prevent the dog from pulling.

They are great options when dealing with notorious pullers that easily break leashes or drag you. On the downside, excessive pressure on the neck can damage the trachea or the esophagus. Things are worse for brachycephalic dog breeds that already have breathing problems.

Also, these collars can easily choke your dog to death if you don't supervise. For instance, if the dog wanders from the trails and the collar is caught by branches, or it jumps over the fence, and the collar is caught, it'll choke the dog. You also need to use these collars the right way. Here are the tips.

  • Keep the collar loose, and only apply a brief, firm pressure on the leash when you need to correct.
  • Since the neck is more sensitive right behind the ears, we recommend placing this collar higher on the neck.
  • Make sure the collar link looks like the letter P when the dog is facing you. That way, the collar will release the tension when you don't put pressure on the leash. Otherwise, the tension won't release, constantly choking your dog.

Prong Collar

Prong collars work just like choke collars, but they have teeth-like prongs on the inside part. When the dog pulls, the prongs put pressure on the dog's neck, simulating a dog bite. So, it's like another dog is biting your furry friend whenever he misbehaves.

Most of the prong collars use the martingale design, which means their tightening is limited. That way, the collar can't completely cut the airflow like a choke collar, even if the dog pulls strongly. This eliminates the risk of choking the dog to death if the collar gets caught by something. But still, prong collars have their cons.

Even if a dog's neck skin is looser, has hairs, and the neck has much more muscles compared to humans, the prongs can still scratch or puncture it. These injuries are painful and don't go away immediately after the dog stops the bad behavior.

So, the dog gets confused, as the punishment lasts long after the dog stops the misbehavior. Also, the injuries are a recipe for skin problems and infections.

Martingale Collar

Martingale collars are almost like standard collars except that they have two loops instead of one. One loop is for adjusting the collar sizing, the same way you do with standard collars. The second loop slips and tightens when the dog pulls. 

The biggest advantage of martingale collars is that the tightening is controlled, so they can't choke your furry friend. It's just the right amount to discourage pulling. Another advantage is that these collars don't have prongs, so they don't hurt.

In fact, most martingale collars are as comfortable as standard collars. That means you can use these collars not only for training but also as normal collars for dogs that have narrow heads and slip out of standard collars, like Greyhounds.

E-Collar

E-collars are simply electronic collars. The design of the E-collar is similar to that of the standard collars, except that it has a small receiver box. This receiver box contains electronics that communicate with a handheld remote controller. This makes it possible to control the collar without a physical leash connection.

The receiver has a battery that powers the electronics and a way to deliver the intended correction to the dog. In most cases, these corrections are in the form of vibration, sound, or shock. Here is a breakdown of these correction types.

Ultrasonic Sound

Humans hear sounds ranging from 20Hz to around 20KHz. On the other hand, dogs have a wider hearing range and can hear sounds from 67Hz to around 45KHz. Ultrasonic sound is a high-frequency sound, usually above 20KHz.

That means this sound is inaudible to humans, but dogs can hear it. However, research shows that dogs hate sounds with a frequency of around 25KHz. This is the frequency ultrasonic collars use.

Whenever the dog behaves badly, such as barking excessively, you activate the collar, and it produces this annoying sound. This distracts the dog, and it stops barking. The good thing is that this sound is inaudible to you, so no worries.

Vibration

As the name suggests, vibration E-collars vibrate when activated. This causes a distracting tingling sensation due to the stimulation of mechanoreceptors in the skin. It's one of the most gentle ways that E-collars use to capture the dog's attention.

It's also a great option for dogs with hearing problems. However, its effect is limited if the dog has long hair or the collar doesn't fit snugly.

Static Shock

Most E-collars have a static shock as the ultimate correction method. That's why E-collars are also called shock collars. If the dog doesn't respond to vibrations and beeping sounds, the collar delivers a mild static shock.

The main advantage of shock collars is that almost all dogs will respond to static shocks. Another thing is that the mild shock can't injure your dog. This makes E-collars safer than choke collars and prong collars.

Halti Collar

Halti collars work almost like horse bridles. The collar comes with two loops. The first loop wraps around the back of the dog's head, while the second loop wraps around the dog's muzzle. When you put pressure on the leash, this collar pulls the dog's head towards one side.

Obviously, the dog can't pull when the head is at that angle. The main downside of Halti collars is that you can injure your furry friend if you put pressure on the leash instantly and unexpectedly when the dog is heavily pulling. Another thing is that some dogs will paw these collars, trying to remove them.

How to Choose the Right Collar for Your Dog's Needs

Apart from types, training collars come in different sizes, materials, and build qualities. Here are some things to check to make sure you're getting a collar that meets your dog's training needs.

Size

The first thing to check when shopping for a training collar is the size. Even if most of the collars are adjustable, the adjustability is usually within a certain range. For example, it's not possible to adjust a collar meant for a Poodle to fit a Newfoundland.

So, take measurements of your dog's neck. Then, get a collar that falls within the measurements' range. This gives room for sizing up and down if the dog gains or loses weight. Remember, the collar should fit the dog snugly, leaving room for about 2 to 3 fingers.

Material

The material is the primary determinant of how sturdy the collar is. If you're leash training, it means the dog is already pulling heavily. You'll need a sturdy material that can withstand pulling. We recommend high-quality nylon webbing, such as 1000D or 1050D webbing.

Comfort

Keep in mind that the neck is one of the most sensitive parts. A rough collar can cause irritations, chafing, bald spots, and pain. In fact, that's the main reason we recommend martingale collars over choke and prong collars. But even martingale collars aren't all the same.

It's advisable to go for those ones with padding. The best option is neoprene lining because it's water resistant. Sponge padding can absorb water, become smelly, and be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Proper Usage of Training Collars

 

Training collars fall under the aversive training method as they cause an unpleasant feeling that makes the dog avoid the behavior or situation. So, to avoid hurting and stressing your dog through these unpleasant feelings, use the following training tips.

Watch Out for Signs of Stress

Dogs are like humans. When something constantly causes discomfort, they develop stress. Some signs of stress include aggression, fear, panting, increased bowel movements, backing away from you, loss of appetite, and tucking the tail between the legs. When you notice these signs, we recommend consulting your vet for an alternative training method.

Time the Correction

According to National Geographic research, dogs have a short memory span of around 2 minutes. So, for the correction to be effective, you'll need to correct the dog immediately after bad behavior. Otherwise, it won't connect the bad behavior with the correction. This creates confusion as the dog doesn't understand the reason for the punishment.

Use the Collar Only During the Training Session

Most training collar manufacturers will indicate this in the product descriptions. Most of the training collars can harm your dog if left unsupervised. A good example is the choke collar we talked about.

Other than hurting your dog, most training collars are simply uncomfortable. For instance, E-collars are generally heavy because of the receiver. There's no point weighing your dog down the whole day with an E-collar if not training.

Combine the Training With Positive Reinforcement Training

The aim of the training is to make the relationship between you and your furry friend better, not to break the bond. So, instead of just punishing the dog for doing what's wrong, reward it when it does what's right.

That way, the dog won't develop a bad attitude towards you. It's also a great way to relieve stress that might develop during corrections.

Popular Training Collar Brands

Even after deciding the type of training collar your dog needs and knowing the features to look out for, there are still so many options in the market. This makes it hard to pinpoint the best quality. Luckily, we have done the sorting part for you. Here are some of the best and most popular brands.

Alpine Dog Martingale Collar

As we mentioned, martingale collars are the best type when it comes to leash training as they are safe, just like standard collars. But after trying many martingale collars in the market, we discovered Alpine Dog's Martingale Collars stand taller than the rest.

These collars are made of 1050D nylon. This is the quality of webbing used to make safety harnesses for mountain climbers. They are sturdy, and even the heaviest pullers can't break them. The collars are 2-inches wide. This improves pressure distribution, and the collar won't dig into your dog's neck skin even if it pulls.

More importantly, the collar comes with neoprene lining, the material used to make swimsuits. This makes the collar comfortable and can't cause bad odors, chafing, and irritations.

Abbidot Shock Collar

Apart from leash training, you might want to train against other bad behaviors like escaping over the fence or jumping on people. The Abbidot Shock Collar is one of the best options in the market. This collar comes with a range of up to 3300 feet.

This allows you to control your furry friend from one spot in the yard without moving or shouting. The receiver comes with an IPX7 waterproof rating. That means the collar will work fine even if your dog loves playing in water paddles, like the Newfoundlands.

However, the remote is not waterproof, so don't go swimming with it. This collar features up to 36 adjustable levels. So, you'll be able to precisely set the best stimulation level for your dog. This prevents overstimulation.

Another thing is that this collar has an incredible battery life of up to 100 days. Once the battery dies, you only need to recharge in two hours.

Pituau Bark Collar

The Pituau Bark Collar is specifically designed to train against destructive barking behavior. This collar uses a combination of five sonic frequencies and vibrations to distract the dog and prevent barking.

However, the collar still comes with a shock option that helps you gain control during emergencies, such as excessive barking around wildlife. The collar works for all breeds, with sizes ranging from 8 to 140 pounds.

The collar comes with an IP67 waterproof rating, which offers better protection against water, dust, and particles compared to the IPX7 of the Abiddot Shock Collar. However, this collar has a battery life of 10 to 15 days, which isn't so great compared to the above collar.

Conclusion

Training collars make training much easier, and you might not need to hire a professional dog trainer. The important thing is to make sure you go for a collar type and quality that matches your dog's needs. We recommend martingale collars for leash training and E-collars for complex training such as bark training.