Round Choke Collar for Dogs

Choke collars, also known as choke chains, are used by most dog trainers. A choke collar fits over the dog̵7;s neck and tightens when pressure is applied to the leash. Round choke collars are popular with many trainers, since there are no exposed chains to pull the dog̵7;s hair. Choke collars should only be used under the direction of an experienced trainer.

  1. Function

    • The round choke collar is made of one long piece of material with a small metal loop at either end. The material is fed through one ring and slips over the dog̵7;s head, coming to rest just behind the ears. A quick, upwards tug on the leash tightens the collar around the dog̵7;s neck, startling the dog and directing his attention back to you. Choke collars are most often used on stubborn or strong-willed dogs that have trouble focusing during training.

    Types

    • Round choke collars are made of three types of material: leather, nylon and metal. Leather choke collars are made of soft cowhide and are used on short-haired breeds such as Doberman Pinschers. Nylon is slightly more abrasive than leather and designed for longer-haired breeds including German shepherds and Alaskan malamutes. Round metal choke collars, often called snake chains, are much more costly and are used primarily on show dogs.

    Considerations

    • Choke collars should only be used when necessary. Round choke collars are a training collar and should only be used under the guidance of an experienced dog trainer. When fitting a choke collar, slip the collar over the dog̵7;s head and pull up gently on the free end of the collar. The collar should become slack again then you release the ring. If it does not, the collar is on upside-down and should be turned over to keep from choking the dog.

    Cost

    • Nylon choke collars are the cheapest of the three types, with $10 being the average cost for an 18-inch collar. Leather collars are slightly more expensive, with a similar-sized leather round choke collar costing $25. Metal choke collars are the most expensive type of round choke collars, costing $30 or more as of 2010, depending on the type of metal.

    Warning

    • Round choke collars are designated for training purposes only and should never be left on an unsupervised dog. The collar can get caught on foreign objects and choke the dog. Don̵7;t apply constant pressure to the collar during training sessions. They are designed to correct the dog with a quick tug, and prolonged pressure on the neck can damage the trachea.