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Dog Collars

Dog Collars – They’re Not Just for Attaching Leashes



If you own a dog you probably own a dog collar as well. No one gives much thought to dog collars, but they are very useful devices and actually serve a lot of purposes other than providing a place to attach Rover’s leash and tags. Modern dog collars may be made of leather, plastic, vinyl, nylon, or a number of other materials and are useful not just in going for walks but in all phases of dog training as well. There are collars that will train your dog not to bark, collars with electronic devices that will prevent your dog from leaving the yard, and collars specially designed to correct you dog during obedience training. Altogether, dog collars have come a long way.


Dog Collars as Training Aids

There are several types of dog collars that have been designed to help you train your dog. These include electronic “bark” collars, “perimeter collars” that also use an electronic device, and the infamous “choke chain” collar. Each of these collars is used to help teach your dog how to – or how not to – behave.

Each has seen its share of controversy as well; many people believe that the corrective methods that these collars employ are “cruel” to the animal. In all three cases, however, the correction that the collar issues or allows is more uncomfortable than painful and is not severe enough to harm the animal. It’s usually just enough to get Fido’s attention.


Electronic Anti-Bark Collars

By far one of the more controversial methods of training a dog is the “bark collar.” Used as a solution for dogs that bark at inappropriate times (like when the neighbors are trying to sleep), the bark collar has a small electronic device affixed in such a way as to press against the dog’s throat. When dormant, the device does nothing at all. If the dog barks, however, the device is activated by two small metal polarization points coming into contact with the dog’s skin. A low-level electric shock is emitted, causing discomfort to the animal. It doesn’t take very long for the dog to realize that the barking causes the discomfort and the barking ceases.


The bark collar is not intended to be a substitute for good training, however. Manufacturers of these collars state very clearly that the bark collar is intended for use as a training tool and not as a final solution to unwanted barking. They also stress that it is not appropriate to leave the bark collar on the dog for long periods of time.


Electronic Perimeter Collars

Another electronically enhanced collar is the so-called “perimeter collar” or “invisible fence” collar. This works a little differently than the bark collar and is designed to train your dog to stay within certain boundaries, even if he’s not tied and there is no actual fence. Electrodes in the collar issue a similar shock to that of the bark collar, but they are activated only when the dog attempts to pass the boundaries which have also been set with electrodes. The receptor affixed to the collar picks up the electronic signal sent by the surrounding devices and issues the correction only when the dog gets too close. It’s a very effective way to teach a dog to stay in his own domain where, of course, he is master.


Choke Chains

Heralded as excellent collars for obedience training, “choke chain” collars have been used for many years by pet owners and animal trainers. A choke chain is literally a chain made of stainless steel that has a ring at either end. The chain is passed through one loop to get it around the dog’s neck and the leash is attached to the remaining free loop.

When working with the dog in training a short yank on the leash tightens the chain momentarily, causing discomfort. These short jerks are used as a means of correction when the dog disobeys or behaves inappropriately and are an excellent part of a punishment/reward system.


Dog Collars – Just Because

Of course, not all dog collars are designed with training in mind. There are still plenty of attractive, decorative collars that are intended for owners who want to provide a little fashion for their pooch. There are also a great many everyday collars whose only real purpose is providing a place to attach a leash and hang the dog’s license or identification tags. It is always important to collar and tag your dog as a means of helping to find him if he gets out of the yard, runs away, or gets lost.

When people find a dog with no collar they usually assume it’s a stray and either adopt it, take it to the pound or Humane Society, call their local animal control office, or ignore it altogether. A collared dog, however, is easily identified as a dog that has an owner somewhere, especially if the dog has a tag giving information about where to contact the owner if the dog is found roaming around.

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