Puppy Collars
& Dog
Training Collars
What Are the Best Puppy Collars and Dog
Training Collars?
There are many tools you can use to train
your German
Shepherd. Each of them has pros and cons. If you are trying to figure
out which collar to use, this may help you decide.
Advice
Instead of bringing the collar to your dog,
let or
invite your dog to come to it. Make it a positive experience
so your dog will be neither fearful, or think that you are playing a
game with her.
Puppy Collars and Dog Training Collars
Some of these may not be suitable as puppy
collars. It
is best to check with a dog training professional to help you decide
among the best puppy collars.
When choosing puppy collars or dog training
collars,
please remember that dogs are bred with a natural instinct to push
against pressure.
Ever notice that your dog will continue to
pull even
while choking? This "opposition reflex" can make some collars dangerous
if not used under the proper supervision.
Choke Collar
Choke
collars are meant to provide a temporary
correction. Tightening the chain around the neck gets your dog's
attention. Releasing it implies that your dog is doing what you
intended. When used correctly, it is not supposed to cut off her
breath.
The choke collar fits around the strongest
part of your
dog's neck. This in an of itself can present an issue.
The
problem with a choke collar is that your dog can
literally choke herself to death. Never leave a
choke collar on your dog while unattended.
Citronella Collar
This works similar to the electronic collar.
Instead of
a shock, an unpleasant spray of citronella is emitted. This is
typically used to deter barking. A microphone in the collar triggers
the substance. This is unpleasant for the dog as it irritates her
sensitive nose.
Be aware that this collar can be activated
by the
barking of other dogs. Many dogs will bark out of boredom. If your
German Shepherd has uncontrolled barking issues, the best advice is to
make sure she has an outlet for her seemingly endless energy.
Electronic Collar
Also known as the shock collar, an e-collar
needs to be
used correctly, or it can cause more harm than good.
An electronic collar, when handled properly,
provides an
immediate correction. Since dogs live in the moment, it is imperative
that the shock is administered directly - in the split second - the
time the undesired behavior occurs.
The duration of the pulse should only be
one-fortieth of
a second and will feel like a mild electric shock. This is similar to
the sensation felt when you scuff your feet on carpet and touch another
person.
Consult with a professional before
attempting to use
this collar. By working with an experienced e-collar trainer that knows
how to minimize the punishment, your dog will immediately associate the
behavior at hand with an undesired action. Otherwise, your dog may not
understand why she is being shocked. And it may damage the trust
between you and your dog.
Halter
Also called the halti, or head collar, a
halter is
designed to lead an animal by its head. This is the same way humans
have managed larger animals much stronger than us, such as horses. A
halter is also called a Gentle Leader collar.
 The
halter works best on long-nosed dogs, such as German
Shepherds. But, without proper use and fitting, it can be ineffective
and uncomfortable.
The downside to a halter is that your dog
may not like
the unusual sensation of a loop around her mouth. It is extremely
important to have a halter properly fit so that it does not chafe your
dog's nose. With proper fit and effective use, it can become a great
training tool.
Even if you're on crutches, you will have no
problem
walking your dog with this puppy training tool.
A properly fitted Gentle
Leader Collar , used
correctly, will keep your dog from pulling.
Harness
Harnesses were designed for pulling. Or
tracking. Not
for controlling.
Huskies were harnessed to pull sleds over
the snow.
German Shepherds sported a harness to carry loads. And Saint Bernards
wore harnesses to rescue people lost in the snow.
A harness allows your dog to leverage its
entire weight
to perform a task. Remember this the next time your dog pulls you down
the street while wearing a harness.
While tracking, the harness allows your dog
to have full
contact with the ground, unlike a traditional dog training collar.
No-Pull Harness
Dogs that do not pull may be fine with a
harness, but it
may trigger a pulling reflex in other dogs. There are harnesses that
are designed to be no-pull or anti-pull. These harnesses place a gentle
pressure on your dog's chest when she pulls. The sensation is designed
to be uncomfortable to discourage pulling.
While they do offer more control than a
typical harness,
it is not the best idea for a dog that you already have difficulty in
handling.
Illusion Collar
This collar was deigned by Ilusion Millan,
wife of Cesar
Millan (the "Dog Whisperer"), with the help of designer Jaci Rohr. It
acknowledges that there are three parts to a dog's neck.
The lower section is the strongest part, and
the one in
which the dog has the most control, the middle part, and the top part,
which is the most sensitive.
 It
takes much less effort to control a dog using the
highest part of the neck. Controlling the top part, also allows you to
remove the dog's nose from the ground so that your dog is less
distracted by sniffing.
The Illusion Collar
uses the lower
part of the neck for
support, and at the same time leverages the upper part for control...
And communication. You will see many show dog handlers place the leash
at this upper, most sensitive part.
Muzzle
Unlike a halter, the muzzle prevents a dog
from using
her mouth. It was specifically created to keep a dog from biting.
Either another animal or a person.
As such, the muzzle is only a temporary
solution. If you
feel that German Shepherd needs a muzzle, you should contact an animal
training professional immediately.
Prong
The Prong Collar is also known as a Pinch
Collar. It can
be an invaluable tool when used correctly. Otherwise, it may cause
unnecessary harm. This may not be a good tool to use as a puppy
training collar. Generally, it is best for dogs that are well over 30
pounds.
The Prong Collar was created to mimic the
bite of a
mother dog (or other dominant dog) in correcting a wayward pack member.
A bite on the neck or scruff is a signal to stop the unwanted behavior.
When the collar is tightened, it gives a
quick and
startling correction like a bite. Used correctly, it should feel like
pressure rather than pinching.
Take Care When Choosing
Puppy Collars and
Dog Training
Collars
There are a variety of puppy collars and dog
training
collars to choose from. No matter which tool you use, it is always best
to consult with a professional dog trainer to make sure you are using
your chosen method correctly.
The last thing you want is to have your
method backfire
and erode the trust you have with your best friend.
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