The Right Leash and Collar for Your DogWritten by Adam G. Katz
In 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 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 dogs injured by choke chains. Bottom line? In hands of an experienced trainer, a choke chain can be used appropriately, but for 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 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 water (or mud!) Leather is durable and will absorb oils from your dog’s coat, making it more flexible over time. The width of 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 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.
| | Using A Clicker Vs Traditional Approach... The Flawed "Clicker Training Methodology! Written by Adam G. Katz
There are two points you must recognize:1.) You CAN train a dog using a traditional approach AND use clicker. It depends on your style, but yes... I've had very good results using clicker as an event marker, and for getting dog to understand a new behavior... especially a more complex behavior. However, THIS IS ONLY USED DURING THE FIRST PHASE OF TRAINING ... "learning phase." Once you move into reinforcement and proofing phase, clicker loses it's benefits. 2.) The idea that "some methods work better for some dogs," is a falsehood. It stems from people who are not completely competent in working with dogs. Here's where misperception comes in: TRUTH: Some dogs are very soft. These dogs you will emphasize more praise and build them up. Use of corrections are minimal, and depending upon dog's temperament, may just be just a verbal correction to be motivational.
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