There is a difference between training and control but that
difference is often lost. Training a dog involves the use
of hand gestures and commands. It can be used with leashes
or treats but the end goal is to bring about a desired
behavior in your dog. However control is slightly
different. This often involves the use of electronic
fences, choke or 'no-bark' collars, electronic fences or
similar types devices or tools.
Don't get me wrong; control is not a bad thing. Dogs,
being pack animals, are driven by a natural social
hierarchy. They have an ingrained behavior that makes them
look for and try and determine who the leader or alpha dog
is. And in a dog-human relationship the leader should
always be the human. If the human does not take on the
role of alpha dog the results can range from a poorly
socialized animal, to destructive behavior, to a frustrated
or maladjusted canine.
Just like people, dogs have distinct personalities. Some
are more assertive and confident while others may be more
shy or slower to learn. The choke collar was developed as
a control tool that is designed to assist the dog handler
in gaining or regaining control. As an example a
correction with this type of collar would be given to
discourage a dog from jumping or pulling.
There are, however, some counter-productive or dangerous
consequences that can arise from the improper use of choke
collars. It is designed to tighten and pinch when pulled
and then immediately release as you release tension on the
leash, but this can only happen if fitted correctly. When
the collar in on your dog there should be a gap of about
one to three fingers. A good pet store or dog training
will be able to assist you with the proper fit.
If a choke collar is improperly used the pinched skin can
be irritated forming hot spots. These hot spots can begin
to worsen as the dog scratches them. If the collar is
improperly placed on the dog's neck the trachea can be
compressed causing damage. However when used correctly,
using a quick pull-and-release, corrections made with a
choke collar create discomfort but are not harmful.
Another type of control collar is the prong collar. While
they look scary they are not as dangerous as they appear.
They are limited to how far they can be closed. They are
usually used to prevent a dog from pulling but if this type
of collar is the only thing that can stop the pulling
behavior you should seek professional training as a more
permanent fix. The halter collar is a type of device that
fits around the dog's neck and over the muzzle. This is
used for dogs that only moderately pull on the walk.
For dogs that are incessant barkers there are collars known
as 'no-bark' collars. While it is natural for a dog to
bark, these are used for dogs that bark at everything all
the time. This can be from nervous anxiety, frustration or
fear. It is always preferable to find and deal with the
root causes.
In extreme cases of unhealthy of even dangerous behavior a
shock collar can be used. These deliver a painful but
short electric shock. These should only be used under the
guidance of a professional dog trainer.
Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes for unwanted
behaviors such as pulling and barking. While these and
other tools may offer a short term solution they are not
meant to replace proper and consistent dog training
techniques.
----------------------------------------------------
Stefan Hyross writes about topics such as training puppies
on All About Dogs 'N Puppies. Feel free to visit the site
for more information on subjects like housebreaking a dog
and other dog related articles.
http://www.allaboutdogsnpuppies.com
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