Choke Collars -- What to look For

A choke collar is a closed collar that slips over your dogs head and cinches when your dog or you pull on the leash.  The purpose of this review is to discuss things to consider when purchasing a choke collar for your dog or puppy.

When thinking of purchasing a choke collar, consider the following points.

Does your dog need a choke collar? 

Dogs with strong necks and wilful leash behavior often respond well to the control a choke collar has to offer.  A choke collar will prevent the dog from backing out of the collar, because it closes as the dog pulls on it.

When the collar is set just behind the dog's ears, the handler has better leverage or control of the dog.  Keep your leash short and stand or walk with your shoulders back, knees slightly bent & your own weight grounded.

What Chokes Work Best?

Look for choke collars that have an O-ring to clip the leash to.  D-rings tend to slip out of position and then the leash sits ackwardly in the D-ring. 

Look also for WELDED hardware.  Welded hardware is the strongest.

The WIDTH of the webbing or strap depends on your preference. Some people choose very narrow, mid size or wide.  The narrow straps have more pounds per square inch against the skin of the dog, and may result in abrasion. 

Some chokes offer FLEECE lining to reduce abrasion.

Adjustable chokes??? I am not convinced these are totally safe.  It depends on the actual size of the hardware, because you don't want the adjustable slider to work it's way through the d-ring and then by virtue of being stuck make the choke unable to release the tension, and ultimately result in harm to the dog.  I generally err on the side of caution and CUSTOM SIZE  my choke collars to avoid this possibility. 

Sizing

To get the proper fit of a custom made choke collar, measure 1.over your dog's head & ears, 2. cinched tight just behind the ears, and 3.where the collar will sit. 

Summary

Choke collars when made to fit properly are an excellent training tool and offer a safe way to control your strong dog.

Sincerely Angela at  AgilityQ.com