Editor's Note:

In this first installment of Ask The Animal Writer, we offer one of two initial sample questions typical of the challenges faced by thoughtful and loving dog owners everywhere. Our questions and questioners are fictional but the answers are real and intended to give you a taste of the excellent responses you can expect from our Animal Writer, Susan Kauffmann. To learn more about Susan please see her bio at the end of this story.

So please take a moment to enjoy this sample and then consider sending your question to the Animal Writer through the link below.

Happy Tails,

Craig Schmitman
Editor/Publisher
DogExplorer.com

A REAL DRAG

My Labrador Retriever, Buckeye, gets so excited outside that he drags me around – especially if he sees a squirrel. Would I be better off getting a choke chain or a prong collar to teach him not to do this?

What, Janice, you don’t enjoy a good lawn-ski behind a rolicking Lab hell bent on catching his very own squirrelly snack? It’s true that it is hard on the Manolos, and could be dangerous should you fall, get dragged into the road, or do a Sonny Bono into the neighbor’s elm. As for whether to choose a choke chain or a prong collar (sometimes called a pinch collar), that is a personal choice, as both can be effective if used correctly. However, in inexperienced hands, it is actually easier to harm your dog with a choke chain than with a prong collar, despite the latter’s rather barbaric appearance.

First of all, a choke chain must be put on correctly, forming the letter “P” when you face your dog to slip the collar over its head, assuming that you are walking your dog on your left side. If the chain is put on backwards, it will not release when you let up on any pressure that has been applied – not good. Even when put on correctly, many owners allow their dogs to strain against the chain, which can severely damage the dog’s trachea by creating pressure that is too strong and too prolonged for safety. A choke chain also has to be fitted and placed correctly to be effective, and the handler must know how to give a properly timed correction with appropriate pressure for this tool to lead to success in training. Lastly, be aware that dogs should never, ever be tied by the active ring of a choke chain, as they can literally choke to death by getting “hung” by their chain. For this reason, a dog should also never be left unattended while wearing one.

A prong collar, on the other hand, may look a prop from a dungeon torture scene, but when correctly fitted, it will only tighten enough to push the blunt-tipped prongs against the dog’s skin, creating a unpleasant but harmless pinching sensation. Of course, a prong collar must also be fitted and placed correctly to be effective, and must not be slipped over the dog’s head, as this could lead to eye injury (the links unhook to allow you to put it on around the dog’s neck). Another reason why inexperienced handlers may have greater success with prong collars is that most dogs will not strain against them as they often will with a choke chain.

If you want to get a sense of what these two devices feel like (or want to audition for a dungeon torture scene), you can try each one by putting it around your thigh, sized so that it fits closely, but not tight, then giving it a quick jerk and release on the activating ring. Some people may find that the choke chain can actually leave a bruise, while the prong collar typically doesn’t leave a mark.

However, before you use either of these training tools on your dog, it is highly recommended that you enroll yourself and your dog in a training class, or hire a private trainer so that you can learn which collar is best for your particular situation, how to fit it, and how to use it correctly and effectively. A trainer can also teach you other ways to help your dog learn to behave more appropriately, because walking your dog – or doing anything else with him – should never be a drag.

About The Animal Writer

The Animal Writer is Susan Kauffmann, a freelance journalist with an indelible fascination with all things furred, finned and feathered. Her years of experience as a horse trainer, dog trainer, veterinary assistant, wildlife rehabilitator and care giver to an astonishing array of pets have given her a profound understanding of the joys and challenges of living and working with animals. In addition, her work as a feature writer for such publications as Modern Dog, Equus and Urban Animal gives her unparalleled access to top researchers and veterinarians around the world.

Ask our resident Animal Writer your questions about pet care, dog health and dog training.

Click here: Ask The Animal Writer.

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