Just Curious....

[pittiegurl]

Which collar do you think is the best? Take the poll now!

[pittiegurl]

Sorry all...The "Leather Collar" choice is actually SUPPOSED to say, "Handler Collar"
So if you choose "Leather Collar" you are voting for "Handler Collar"

[flyndog]

Sorry, Pittie. I'm an "other" again!
I use different equipment for different indivduals and different circumstances. I don't think there's one "best" collar. Actually, my favorite equipment is a harness.
Kit

[Zoee]

I got th impression as Pittie is asking it is for training big dogs? bu I use a harness on Zoee, think I am going to put her on a head collar, to teach her more control when she sees strangers she gets so excited her whole body wiggles than she gets jumpy.

[pittiegurl]

That's kewl!!! I like harnesses also,but I've seen dogs slip right out of them at adoptions & get caught in the sliding doors at Petsmart {don't wanna say this} & & & & & & & die!

[Zoee]

dear I highly doubt that

[pittiegurl]

I've seen it....I think the harness was a step-in harness though...
But someone walked in with their dog & some other dogs that were in there started barking & it freaked & backed out of the harness & turned & ran...It got caught between the doors just as they were closing & couldn't get out,& the vet said it had a heart attack trying to free itself.The dog was also 7-9 yrs. old.

[Pugdawg1]

I voted "Other". I prefer harnesses on my pugs.

[Carrie]

I have to agree with Flynndog. It depends on what you're teaching or what you're doing with them, what kind of dog, how each individual responds to various collars, any physical problems that one might have precluding the use of certain collars. There are just so many variables.

With my Chihuahuas I use a harness only. But most of our walks are off leash in the woods where a leash isn't needed. Collars are too dangerous on a tiny dog IMO.

With my Dobe I started out training with no collar, just luring and reward. Then we used collars when we went off the propery, alternating between a few types every day so he wouldn't become so use to one that he couldn't work well with another. I still like to work on his obedience with no collar/leash sometimes and with one at other times. I don't want him to only behave because he has a collar on.

My Lab doesn't need a collar on. She's so old and comes along just fine. She couldn't move fast enough to get into trouble. She's been such a great dog for so long anyway...so obedient and I never had a lick of trouble with her.

[Rip's Girl]

I agree with Kit. One dogs that need a correction, the most humane way to give a correction is with a prong collar (very little impact on the neck, doesn't damage the trachea or vertebrae) but some dogs are so soft that all they need is gentle pressure on a flat collar. These dogs are so responsive that they can usually be trained without a collar and lead altogether.

Since I haven't had the pleasure of owning a 'SOFT' dog, the best collar IMO is the prong. If Dakota, once he starts needing corrections (he does already, but since he's just a pup I'm not going to put a prong collar on him) is too soft for the prong, then as much as I like the results it's had on my other dog, I still won't use it.

Head halters, IMO, are not the safest things out there for dogs that pull. If a dog were to run to the end of the leash full-force, their neck could be injured by the 'correction'. There is nothing gentle about them, except the way they look. They work well for directing the dog's eye contact towards you, but the dog should already be trained not to bolt towards something while on-leash.

[Zoee]

Rip you are rigt and wrong, IMO a prong shuld be used for a dog that bolts and needs corrections, owever a soft dog that just needs to be redirected works wonders on a head collar, notice I didn' say gentle leader, the style I use is very different, it fits over the head like the gentle but the lead attaches at the back, giving head control, butbot the snap around motion.
It is called new tricks designed by a vetrinarian/behaviour specialist here.

[Rip's Girl]

OHH...

I actually don't think I've seen a halter like that before.. Most people call the halti's and GL's head collars or head halters, so that's what I thought you meant.

[Zoee]

they are aweome, I pay far more to go to my vet than any other, but she is so worth it she is an expert on everything from nutrition to behaviour and of course vetrinary practition, but she worked with a company to specailly design them they are great it links to the collar only like a leash with a small snap and the muzzle strap is fleece lined for comfort and to avoid chaffing. I can't wait till she starts distributing, I believe they were 31 dollars plus tax, a little expensive compared to the halti or gentle leader, but he MOST humane thing available, even more so than a buckle collar IMO.

[flyndog]

Hi Zoee. Could you show us a close-up picture of your dog wearing the halter?
Kit

[Rip's Girl]

I need to look into one of those for Ripley. He's graduated from using the prong (only thing I feel safe correcting him on, with his little tiny neck) but he still needs GUIDANCE...