All dogs need training so that they learn to behave appropriately, especially in a family environment. To this end, training collars have been created to help you with this process, and they have proven to be very effective in this role. As with many things however, in the wrong hands, dog training collars can be used to hurt and abuse dogs, so you need to understand how they work and what they do.
The prong collar looks like a medieval torture device, but is actually one of the gentler training collars being investigated here. When the leash is pulled, the prongs start to pinch the back of the dog's neck. The thinking behind this is to replicate the memory of the dog's mother's teeth nipping the scruff of the puppy's neck. The collar is quite safe to use, the only real problem occurring if the fit is poor. If your dog is one that pulls strongly at the leash though, the prong collar might not be suitable.
The adjustment of these collars is quite easy though. Simply remove or add prongs to suit the neck of your dog. If you can just insert a finger between the neck of the dog and the prong collar, then you have just about got it right.
The Halti collar, also known as the Gentle Leader, is more akin to a harness than a collar. It fits over the dog's face and works by closing the dog's mouth when the leash attached to the collar is pulled. The theory is that if you can control the dog's head, you will be able to control the whole dog. This type of collar is especially good for pulling or aggressive dogs.
There is a downside to this type of collar though. Dog's, as a rule, do not like having restrainers on their face, and it might be quite a job to get your dog to accept a harness of this type. Care should also be taken bot to pull the head to hard, because the dog could suffer injuries to the neck or back.
Choke collars can be very effective in controlling a dog. Sadly, in the wrong hands, choke collars can be exceedingly cruel and can hurt dogs. Control lies within the trainer themselves. If you genuinely think that a choke collar will do what you want, but you are not sure how to use one properly, seek expert guidance.
Choke collars must be fitted correctly in order to be effective. When the leash is pulled, the collar will tighten around the dog's neck. When the leash is relaxed, so is the collar. At least that is what should happen. If the collar doesn't fit correctly, it might not loosen with the leash. This could obviously restrict the dog's airways and cause it to suffer.
One of the newest forms of dog collar are the electronic one's. They are considered to be a very humane way to train a dog, but equally can be abused in the wrong hands.
They work by passing a shock to the dog via a remote control, which is controlled by the trainer. The trainer has complete control over how big a shock to administer to the dog. It is generally accepted that the shock should be strong enough to make the dog's ears twitch, and no more. How much that is depends on the size of the dog and the collar itself. If your dog starts to yelp when you administer a shock, then the charge is probably too high. If you are unsure, seek advice.
From the point of view of the majority of people, even for those without dogs, dog training is critically important. Some of the different types of training include the following: obedience training and potty training. The goal, of course, is to keep your pet out of places where it is not supposed to go. But there is another way of training your pet which is beneficial not only to the owner but to the dog themselves; it is called dog agility training.
Why agility training?
Most dogs are naturally energetic and active. But this canine energy must be directed in ways that will make the pet healthier as it grows older. A true pet lover realizes that the animal is not just a companion. The dog is also a responsibility. The responsibility does not stop at ensuring that the dog is fed. The responsibility includes the dog's future. It is a relatively short future. But after loyally serving as a companion for many years, the pet deserves an owner who looks out for it's health. And a key to the it's health is agility training. Agility training also increases the pet's confidence.
What to prepare?
Training a dog to learn agility will take some effort on the part of the owner. The owner is the primary dog trainer. For the pet to learn agility, the dog trainer must also be active. The owner must dress appropriately. This means that high-heeled Italian shoes and leather skirts are out. The dog trainer must dress comfortably in sneakers. The dogs must also "dress"
comfortably. The dog must wear either leather or webbed buckle collar. There should also be a rope lead made of either nylon or leather. For agility training, the dog must not have a chain lead because this can hurt the dog when the chain gets caught while the dog is jumping.
Are there types of dog agility training?
Dog agility training includes various activities for the dog. The dog may run a course that consists of hurdles, tire hoops, and seesaws. There are dog walk planks and weaving poles. But dog agility training can be classified into two types. These are the "obstacle training" and the "control training."
Obstacle training enhances the dog's sense of balance. Obstacle training heightens the dog's senses as well as practices the it's judgment. Professional trainers suggest that the best way to introduce agility training to a dog is to use the A-frame. This is closely followed by the use of the tunnel, the dog walk plank, and the low jump.
Control training teaches the dog to control its impulses and to develop discipline. The dog must learn to obey commands such as "heel," "sit," and "wait." Control training also makes the dog more alert. The dog can distinguish "right" from "left" and "stop" from "go."
Dogs are naturally faithful to their masters. The dog wants to please its owner. With treats, words or encouragement, and loving rubs on the head, the dog will follow the commands of the trainer. This means that dog agility training is not difficult at all. In fact, it can be a lot of fun, both for the trainer and the dog.
Both Steve Wagstaffe & Dr. Mayra Alfonso are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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