Choke Chains
Some dog owners and trainer are still implementing the use of choke chains as a training tool. Most of whom aren’t aware of the damage that these ‘collars’ can cause. The APDT have produced a brilliant leaflet explaining why not to use them. Please click link below.
Even more hideous is the use of the ‘prong’ or ‘pinch’ collar. If you come across a trainer suggesting one of these - run a mile!
These collars have prongs that poke into the dogs neck - imagine how painful it is when the collar is tightened!
There is no need to use pain to train! Positive Reinforcement uses kind, gentle methods which bonds trainer/owner and dog and means that both parties have fun. One leading figure in the world of Positive Reinforcement is Karen Pryor who has instigated the clicker training revolution.
Please see her site Clicker Training
OMG so disgusting, who invents these things.
There is nothing wrong with using a pinch collar if you use it properly. These collars are not supposed to hurt the dog. They just provide a correction similar to the one used by a mother dog to discipline her puppies. Yes, they look kind of scary, but I assure you, they are not torture devices.
I approved this comment purely as I don’t think it’s fair to censor free speech. However, I ENTIRELY disagree. Pinch’s and prongs are not humane and do cause pain. The same with e-collars. If R+ can be used to train a dog with great effect and without the need for manhandling then why use any punitive devices?
If you need punitive devices and can’t train your dog using kind methods, then that speaks much more about the ability of the trainer, not the dog.
Final note - we are not dogs. Dogs know we are not dogs so we don’t need to emulate a mothers bite to train our dogs. Alpha theory and ‘behaving like a dog to train your dog’ is outdated and simply, quite daft.
To Bridget: thanks for bringing up one of the most often-heard myths in dog training.
Having had the opportunity to observe quite a few litters of pups with their moms/surrogate moms, I can assure you that dams never pinch a pup’s neck in order to ‘correct’ them. They may pick them up by the loose skin on the back of the neck in order to move them from one place to another, but they are picked up very gently, and never after they are able to get around on their own.
Pinching all around a dog’s neck can be very disturbing to a dog - especially the more primitive breeds, as what it actually does mimic is a kill. Is that what you’d like to convey to your best friend and companion?
When pups are with their mom, the most-often used form of ‘correction’ by the dam is pretty benign: time-outs. For example, if a pup is biting too hard during play, the mom (and littermates) will yelp quite dramatically and turn their back on the pup for a few seconds before continuing play. Social contact is SO rewarding to dogs that even this short absence makes a huge impression.
Leave your response!
Archives
Blogroll
Most Commented