by Skathock Motyka

Created on: June 17, 2008

As with any other training aid pinch collars, remote trainers and choke chains have the potential to be misused. In their capacity as tools they are inherently neutral but in the hands of a cruel, ignorant or irresponsible person these tools can quickly become devices of torture. The issue with the techniques which rely heavily on these pieces of equipment are primarily involving the ease in which they can be used cruelly, over-use and access.

Pinch, choke and electric collars can be bought in stores ranging from the dollar store to premier pet boutiques and frequently are sought as the quick-fix, cure-all for everything. Misinformed pet owners see a minor behavior issue, such as pulling on the leash, and automatically think that their dog needs a choke chain instead of putting time, energy and positive reinforcement to use. Lack of knowledge winds up with their dog graduating to once a month walks with the dog walking between two people while wearing an improperly fit pinch collar usually undertaken in the middle of the night.

On the other hand there are people who view these training aids as evil-incarnate who swear up and down that it's horribly cruel for a dog to be corrected in any way, shape or form. No matter how experienced and soft-handed the trainer is, these people are up in arms about banning equipment that can be very useful for fine-tuning or teaching behaviors that are necessary for the dog's safety. Mention the words choke chain or shock collar and they turn into livid fanatics spouting about how you are abusing your animal by implementing a method after trying other techniques first.

Choke Chain/Slip Chain*:
The choke chain is a simple piece of equipment consisting of a piece of chain with an O-ring at either end. The chain is threaded through one O-ring and slipped over the dog's head and the free end is clipped to the leash. When properly fitted the slip-collar will slide easily from loose to tight and back. The collar (as with all training collars) should be placed at the top of the neck behind the ears, when fitted correctly the collar should resemble a side-ways P with the sliding ring below the throat . This allows maximum control with minimal effort. Unfortunately, this placement makes it very easy for a heavy-handed person to hurt their dog. Situations which are prime candidates for the choke chain include: fine-tuning the heel or loose commands,reinforcing sit when in public areas and several other things. Behaviors which do NOT require

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