Choke chain...good or bad

[Guest davieboy]

After recieving some very appreciated advice on this site I have just recently started training my cocker/lab X with a choke chain as through no fault of her own she thinks she is a running dog as i used to let her run with them on an evening. (my bad but i am new to this and at first just wanted to give her a good walk, now as i am getting into it i can see the error of my ways)

 

someone said to me that it was cruel to use one of these, i would just like other peoples opinion on this matter.

 

all opinions appreciated

[Simoman 110]

A "CHECK" chain is a usefull tool if used "correctly". As with any tool it depends on the temperament of the dog. The dog should receive a quick check and then release, unfortunately most people take the word choke litterally and let the dog throtle itself for the entire walk before dismissing them as useless.............................

[Geoff.C 0]

I have not used a check chain for about 15 years. Not sure there's even one in the house. You can get a similar "check" effect with a one piece rope lead. If you do use the chain,please put it on your left arm first,and pull it. If it stays tight,it's on wrong for a dog on your left. The running ring,goes over the dogs neck and comes up to hang off the chain on it's right side. This way,a quick check doesn't become a strangle hold.

If your dog has spaniels big ears,take care not to catch them. One quick check and praise when it's in the right position.

[bullsmilk 2]

i was thinking the same thing as in if there good or bad i like the idea that the more it pulled the more uncomfertable it was but i didnt want him to be able to choke himself lol. so i got a chain a little bit to big and looped the end over and fixed it in place with a small pad lock and i clipp his lead to this bit of chain this way it still has a couple of inches to tighten but nothing that will harm my staff

[Simoman 110]

Bullsmilk that defeats the object doesn't it? The idea is to get a collar that only has a couple of inches slack around the neck, this then prevents too much force in the check.

[hunter cammo 0]

you get harneses that are prety efective.i have a check chain and with my bull breed it dont make any difrence at all.thay still pull so bought a harness that tightens up tight when thay pull and it put a stop to the pulling..until thay see sumthing furry that is.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I'm with Simon on this one. Re read what he said in his first post. Then ensure, by further research or demonstration by someone who knows what they're doing, that ye have the right idea.

 

That said; A Check Chain isn't always necassery. I find a 2" collar from Strong Stuff works admirably. According to an expert friend of mine, it's all to do with the way the collar responds to ones own force. Like, a thinner collar feels one way to the Dog, whilst a thicker (that is, Wider) one acts differantly. It's about the angle at which it digs the Dogs neck.

 

And that's what we're looking for here. A 'Dig'. Not a 'Choke' or a 'Pinch'. Liken the 'Dig' more to a slap, if ye like? One short, sharp snap of the lead in the correct direction and a wider collar will exact a neat 'slap' to the front of the Dogs neck, thus helping inform it that this is not the way to go. Much the same effect used to be aquired with a thin stick. One would sharply tap the Dog across the chest to demonstrate to it that it mustn't try to forge ahead like that.

 

Most important thing of all, of course, is ones own attitude and level of ability to understand and incorperate Any method of training. If ye haven't a clue, ye'll do it wrong. Do it wrong and it won't work. That'll lead to frustration and then ye'll end up repeatedly doing it and with more force. Not the way to go, obviously.

 

Have ye no Dog Training classes in the area? They're not just for dudes. Though 99% these days are 100% 'Soft' only approach and would lecture ye if ye so much as mentioned a Check Collar. More Clickers and Biscuits these days. But nothing intrinsically wrong with all that.

 

Anyway, there's some points to consider.

[BlueCoyote 0]

i had a dog that no man could walk. he was inherited after my grandad died.. big rotti mix full of piss and vinegar. once the walk began it was more of a resistant training workout. no collar or chain would stop him.. and i did all i could to work with him on daily walks. he would literally GAG himself just to go his own pace..... the only way to have a remotely pleasant walk was to let him run around and blow off steam before leashing him. but even then once the gate was open he was back to dragging and gagging. once we were through with half the walk he would settle down and walk as pretty as you please! he's dead and gone now, but i would love to see someone "check" that dog. morel likely you would have your arms pulled out of their sockets. and yes everyone gave up on him as useless and unmanageable murderous beast.. its a shame he was never taught from a puppy how to lead properly.... if you start them out right as youngsters and keep them well exercised then, its my opinion, they're easier to walk...

 

i got into a huge argument once with a "dog trainer" about prong collars. i told him there was no need for one if the owner/trainer actually knew how to do his job in the first place and trained the dog from a pup. of all the dogs i've raised from puppies never had a need for a choker or prong collar. other dogs i've seen are walked daily in choke and prong collars.. i see the need for them, but i also see there is a way to PREVENT the need for them.

[littlefish 587]

If you think a chain may help your dog give it a go BUT make sure you have someone show you how to fit it properly. It must lie loose on the dogs neck when he is behaving and walking in the correct position - beside your leg - so make sure you have a 'heel' command and make sure your dog knows what the word is and what it means - reward him when he is in the correct position - food usually works well, especially if labrabor is in his make up!

 

By the way, some patience and one-to-one practice with the dog by itself is called for without the distraction of the other dogs he usually runs with.

 

Good luck.

[Guest BLUEBUNNIE]

EASY REPLY

BAD

[Guest k9wpg]

EASY REPLY

BAD

 

Really? That easy? This is not an electric collar it is a simple training device like any other.It is open to abuse like other training methods but used correctly will not any duress to the dog.It can be cruel if u use it to choke the dog to death.The original post i believe was that dog thinks its a lurcher.Labs should be taught to walk to heal and focus on you not what other dogs are doing.As a pup a simple slip lead would have been suffice,but the dog aint doing as you want it to do ,its had too much free running and the only way youll get it back is to make the dog focus on you.You require a thick choke chain a reasonable lengh lead as soon as the dog pulls away from your side turn in opposite to direction dog is pulling you repeat heal command and walk in squares any movement away gentle tug on lead.

[Guest davieboy]

I have been using the "check chain!" for about a week now and she is walking really good on the lead , i plan on letting her off soon but am unsure how to stop her just running about following her nose like the lunatic she is!!!!

 

Should i just have her walking to heel less the lead with lots of verbal commands and praise.

 

Also when should i lose the check chain.

 

So thanks K9WPG for your advice and every one elses opinion has been noted.

 

Cheers

[Guest k9wpg]

I have been using the "check chain!" for about a week now and she is walking really good on the lead , i plan on letting her off soon but am unsure how to stop her just running about following her nose like the lunatic she is!!!!

 

Should i just have her walking to heel less the lead with lots of verbal commands and praise.

 

Also when should i lose the check chain.

 

So thanks K9WPG for your advice and every one elses opinion has been noted.

 

Cheers

Pleased mate its worked for you,as for your nextpoint you can do one of two things tie a slip round her neck. coil it round and the loose end trails on her back or just leave choke chain on her without it being attached to the lead.Becareful it aint to slack so she cant snag herself give her heal command and do what you done before without lead being on.After a few days of heeling like before take the lead off.Practice squares with dog .then advance to throwing ball behind sending her back retrieving to you give her heel command she should come to your side as youve walked away with retrieve.

[druimmuir 1]

I personally never use any more than a rope slip lead, I never have owned a chocke chain and never will, but k9wpg has made some sensible points about it' use.

 

Davieboy it's only been a week that you have been using this method, fair enough she's doing well but you are already worried about her running loose, perhaps worth keeping the training up for another week or two before letting her loose building up to walking short distances with the chain loose until she heels 110% or you rush and are back to square one again, training is al about repitition and the walls being in place before the roof goes on.

 

Nicola

[bullmastiff 615]

We tried using a check chain on our last springer and even a gentle check would upset him too much so went to a rope slip lead which is a lot softer on the dog. It worked really well with him. Another way of using it was spinning the lead in front of the dog's face/you as you walk, you don't need to do it fast (your not trying to crack him on the muzzle) but the motion of it passing in front of it's face keeps him behind you.

Once their walking to heel checking by voice not chain then rest the lead on their back and contiue the training. Once your comfortable they will check by voice alone then remove the lead completely.

We did use a check chain on the bully though, up until I got one of Strong Stuffs wide collars, and as Ditchy said they work just as well.