A choker chain for a dog is a handy training tool that can help when training a dog to walk politely on a leash. Some people believe a choker collar is inhumane, but when used properly, it is a good tool to use with dogs that are strong and prone to pulling on the leash. A dog that learns to behave well on a leash is a joy to walk, and therefore will earn the privilege of going a lot more places. A poorly behaved dog gets left at home, running the risk of not getting enough exercise or socialization. A dog that is constantly pulling at its normal collar, when walked on a leash, is actually causing itself more discomfort than the quick jerk and release of a correction administered by the choke collar.
Things You'll Need
- Choke collar
Instructions
Hold one of the collar's end rings in one hand and thread the chain through that ring to form a circle that slips through the ring.
Place the collar over the dog's head. There should be 3 to 4 inches of extra chain left over. The extra part of the chain should trail toward you when you stand beside the dog (stand on whichever side you will be walking the dog on). The extra chain will need to come across the back of the dog's neck, rather than from under the chin.
Keep the collar loose unless you are actively correcting the dog. The correction is a quick jerk on the leash and an immediate release. This correction may require a fair amount of force, depending on the size and breed of dog. You will know if you have done it correctly if the correction causes your dog to pause whatever he was doing.
Slacken the pressure on the collar immediately after the dog pauses in his misbehavior. You may need to recorrect almost immediately, if the dog starts the undesired behavior again, but you want the dog to associate the unwanted behavior with an uncomfortable tightness around its neck and the cessation of the behavior with comfort.