Types of Training Collars

By Glyn Sheridan

Instructions

Buckle Collar

Step 1:
The first collar most puppies will wear is a simple buckle collar that adjusts as the puppy grows. For many dogs, this will be the only type of collar necessary for teaching basic training skills. This type of collar can be constructed of leather, nylon or another material and should have a metal ring to which you can attach a leash. Adjust the collar so you can easily insert two fingers' width between your dog's neck and the collar itself.

Slip Collar

Step 1:
A slip collar offers the dog owner more control during training, but it also poses a greater risk of injury to the dog's neck. Slip collars can be made of steel, often called "choke chains," or they can be a part of the dog's leash, with just a loop at the bottom to slip over the dog's head. When relaxed, this collar is loose on the dog's neck, but when the owner or the dog pulls on the leash, the slip collar tightens. Dogs in the show ring wear slip collars--often very thin ones that do not detract from the dog's appearance.

Head Halter

Step 1:
A head halter or a gentle leader is handy for large dogs that lunge, and it offers excellent control even when the owner is small. A head halter consists of two collars, one that fits around the dog's neck and another that fits around the dog's muzzle. The two collars connect beneath the dog's throat with a steel ring to which a leash attaches. When tension increases upon the leash, the dog's head is pulled downward, preventing him from lunging. A head halter is appropriate for training the dog to heel, sit and walk.

Prong Collars

Step 1:
Some dogs require additional control during training, and a prong or "pinch" collar offers the trainer the ability to exert less tension on the leash while maintaining control of the dog. A prong collar is based on a slip collar technology, but it features numerous steel pins that extend inward on the dog's neck. Although they look a little like torture devices, the prongs contract all at once and will not harm the dog as long as the trainer does not jerk on the leash.

Specialty

Step 1:
In addition to the basic dog training collars, some pet owners find specialty collars help train their dogs to obey in certain situations. A no-bark collar releases a squirt of citronella or a high-pitched sound when the dog barks, prompting him to be silent. A wireless fence collar alerts the dog when he approaches a buried fence line by emitting an electric tingling sensation. Shock-type collars feature contact prongs on the underside of the dog's throat that emit a painful electric current, triggered by a remote control.

Resources

Photo/Video Credit

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