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Choker Collars
Dear
Dr. Berg,
I
usually have trouble getting my dog’s choker collar on and was wondering if you
could tell me what the best way to do it is?
It seems like quite a struggle every time I try, and I’m not sure if I’m
doing it right.
Thanks.
R.
B., Bear
Dear
R. B.,
Choker
collars, when properly used, are a great way to securely control your dog when
in public. Those people who use leather
or nylon collars for leash attachment sometimes find out just how good their
dog is at the "turn backwards and twist the neck to get free" trick,
and this can happen when you least want it to.
A
properly fitted choker will fit comfortably around your dog’s neck without
binding and will have about 2 inches on the loose end where the leash snaps
on. If the choker is too small for a
dog's neck, it may choke the dog all the time.
If a choker is too big, it will be sloppy on the neck and hard to use
and will also tend to slip off your dog’s neck.
Most growing puppies will require 3 or 4 different sized chokers to
insure a proper fit during their growing months.
To
properly put your choker collar on your dog, reach through the round ring on
one end of the chain with two fingers and grab the chain and pull it back through the round ring. Keep making the loop you have formed larger
until the other round loop stops the chain from coming all the way
through. Hold this loop up so that it
resembles the letter "P", then face your dog and slide it over his
head. The loose end of the choker should
exit on top of the neck towards the dog's right side.
The
direction that you put the loop over your dog’s head matters because, by
convention, dogs should always walk on your left side when they
"heel" (I have no idea who decided this or why). If the loose end of the choker chain exits
above the neck towards the dog's right side, the choker will tighten and
release easily. An improperly applied
choker collar will tend to snag and not release well when you remove tension
from the leash. You may want to try
putting a choker on your dog both ways so that you can better appreciate the
difference.
A
choker chain is a very important part of your dog’s wardrobe and is always “in
style”. But a choker chain only works as
well as the 2-legged creature who is holding the other end of the leash. Keeping your dog under control is an
essential part of being a good dog owner, and it can mean the difference
between life and death for your dog.
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