Jackie: How do I fit and use a martingale dog training collar?
I have a martingale dog training collar for my dog, I got the right size and all, but I am not sure where it is to sit on my dog's neck. The martingale dog training collar I got has the partial chain on it, so does it matter where that D-Ring is for the leash to go on? Also, am I pulling to the side or straight towards me if the dog is on my left?
Photo Credit: Ferlinka Borzoi (Deb West)/Flickr CC
Answers and Views:
Answer by Stephanie
The martingale collar is an alternative to a choke collar that prevents dogs (like greyhounds) from backing out of a regular collar and escaping. To use it correctly, you should place the larger opening over your dog's head. Then adjust to fit by pushing the collar through the slide. When tightened with a leash, the two metal rings should touch directly behind your dog's ears. It’s better to attach tags to these rings than to the D-ring.
When your dog is not pulling against the leash, the collar should be comfortably loose. Don’t forget that martingale collars are for walking and training only. Don’t leave it on an unattended or unleashed dog.
Answer by leashedforlife
FIT:
as close to the ears as U can get it. high and snug!!
the collar slips over the dog's head, then is adjusted to fit -use the sliding-figure-8 to fit the collar. U are adjusting the collar so that there's MORE doubled-over collar, and LESS single-thickness collar. when properly fitted, the fabric-loop is FLAT, and the collar is HIGH and SNUG.
no more than a Pinky-Tip (to first-joint) should slip between dog and collar, once it's fitted; U want it to STAY up there, not slither down the dog's neck toward their chest/shoulders.
once the collar is snug, slide the fabric-loop to the back, so it's centered at the top of the dog's neck. now clip the leash on the metal D-ring.
when the dog (or U) put tension on the leash, the fabric-loop closes, tightening the collar.
however, since the loop can only close to half its size, there's no danger of 'strangling' or choking the dog.
that's why a martingale is AKA a 'limited-slip' collar.
a choke or slip-collar closes to INFINITY:
they can easily shut-off the airway, especially if U are so foolish as to imitate Cesar Millan, and HANG a dog (suspend them by their collar, with feet off the ground).
martingale dog training collars are safer than choke-chains or slip-collars; they are far less likely to injure the dog's trachea or cervical vertebrae. However, U still cannot safely HANG or SUSPEND a dog, even with a martingale dog training collar!
please make collar-corrections short and firm: a quick tug, then let the leash droop slightly. U want to get the dog into apropos position, then REWARD them with that easy-loose leash.
a constant tension on the leash is counter-productive: it teaches the dog that walking is 'tug-of-war'.
walking should be BRISk, focused, and point to point, Vs sauntering, meandering, and goal-less.
aim for a nearby object, go there; as U approach it, pick another, and repeat.
dogs use the direction of our gaze to figure out where we are headed, so by looking toward our goal, we help the dog to understand where we (dog and human) are going.
Happy training!
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