How to put on a Choke Collar: Tips for Choker Chain

Being pet owners, we all know the importance of a collar or a chain. As this website is all about collars, we have plenty of articles regarding them and their uses. That is the reason why I don’t want to bore you explaining why you need a collar for your beloved furry friend! So, let’s start directly with the choke collar and stuff. 😉

Before deciding about the collar, you have to analyze whether your dog’s skin is comfortable with it or not! Choke chain, which is also known as a prong collar, is not a piece of walking equipment, but a training device. It is advisable to consult a professional dog trainer or know about the product thoroughly before putting it on any breed. This article may help you with that. Let’s find out the basics.

What Is a Choker Collar?

A choker collar/chain is a training device to teach your dog that unwanted pulling is not appropriated. It is entirely for training and should be used only during that period. It is designed to resist the dogs when they behave naughtily. It gives minor biting on the neck and nips a bit. Even though such collars are not that risky, you should always put them on a dog when you are around. It needs to be used correctly and under supervision to be more productive. Do not use this type of collars at the time of walking or playing. 

How to put on a Choke Collar?

Note: It is crucial to keep one thing in mind is that the choker collars are NOT for punishment. Don’t let the name fool you. Such collars are only for some gentle correction that teaches manners. It also does not mean that these chains are for twisting or turning your dog off the ground. 

Choosing an Appropriate Collar

Get a collar that never punctures your dog’s skin. While choosing a collar, the most important thing is its size. The chain should not be too tight or too loose. When it comes to fitting, these collars are divided by weight. So, know about your dog weighs before choosing any choker chains. If you buy a collar that is designed explicitly for 50-100 pounds and you put it on a 120-pound dog, it will cause pain and discomfort than an adequately sized collar. (Obvio!)

Also, buy a collar from a certified trainer or a popular pet website. If you end up purchasing some harmful quality collars, then it will start puncturing the animal’s skin. After all, choker collars should only pinch and not puncture! If the product is not comfortable, the dog becomes aggressive during training because of the inconvenience he is facing. 

Apart from it, the experts also suggest that you should never buy a choke collar with rubber-tipped prongs. The rubber irritates the dog’s hair and causes pain. Metal moves smoothly over the dog’s skin, and that is the reason why metal choker chains are trending.

Where to Place the Chain?

Unlike other collars, a choke collar must be placed around a dog’s neck in a specific manner. If you don’t put it correctly, it will not be safe for the dogs. It may not help you to serve your training purposes and irritates the dog. They may get unconscious for some time if the collar is placed incorrectly. 

It should be placed right behind the ears and under the jaw. If you put it somewhere else, especially at the lower side, it may not be that effective as it should be. The hook where you have to attach the leash should be facing upward. Generally, it is behind the dog’s ears. Avoid clipping the collar on the side of the neck. If you feel that the collar is too loose, remove one of the prongs. And, add some if you find that the collar too tight. Don’t take any risks here.

How to Use a Choker Collar?

A choker chain or a prong collar is not for longterm use. It is just for the training period. Even if you use it daily, you must remove it after one hour or two. Don’t involve puppies with the choker collars. It may scare the puppies, and they will not even learn the basics. Choker collars are designed for larger breeds and untrained dogs to teach leash manners. I believe that they are not safe to use on pets that are not six months old.

Unlike primary or leather dog collars, you can’t use these chains for your dog’s casual walks or outings. If you keep using it during the trails, he may get aggressive and may associate pain with socialism. This feeling will make him timid and even aggressive in the presence of others. So, only use these collars if your dog’s pulling problems are not resolved through other means.

Conclusion

• It is preferable to use choker chains under the supervision of a certified dog trainer. 
• If you don’t want to use such products or your dog’s breed is too small to handle, there are many other options, such as harnesses. 
• To keep a prong collar on when you’re not training your dog is not necessary.
• Unlike a conventional collar or harnesses, choke chains do not contain tags or identifying information. They are just for the training purpose and do not serve any other purpose.
• Once your dog has learned proper walking, no pulling, and other vital manners, it is not needed to use the choker collar.
• If you are still indecisive about buying this type of collar or not, meet a certified dog trainer to know how and when to use a choke collar and what are the benefits.