Training Collars are specially designed collars that assist you in the process of training your dog. These collars are a very helpful tool for correcting bad habits, solving behavior problems, and helping you have better control. You should use training collars only when you are with your dog and never when the dog is unattended.
Like training methods, not every training collar is right for every dog. The training collar you start off using on your dog may not be the right collar to help you control your dog with the least amount of effort. Once your dog has become more reliable and you are using less effort, you may graduate to a milder training collar or just a standard flat collar.
Recommended Training Collars
The Martingale type – this training collar can be an all webbing material or can be webbing with the active part being a chain. This type is best for puppies, smaller dogs, more sensitive dogs, or dogs that react more to the handler’s verbal commands than any correction. The design of the Martingale type collar is that it will tighten with a lead correction “tug” but will not constrict around the dog’s neck.
 
The Choker/Slip type – this training collar can be metal, braided nylon, cotton, or leather. This type of collar has metal "O" rings at either end of a line, the collar loops through one of the rings, making it the dead ring or non-working ring. By doing this you make a "P" shape with the collar. The ring at the bottom of the “P” is the live or working ring to which the lead attaches, allowing the collar to tighten and loosen with pressure from the lead. If a lead is attached to the dead ring, the collar will not tighten. This type is for dogs that are not so sensitive and need a little more stimulation to get their attention but not for pullers. Choke type training collars do not have a safety stop to keep them from closing or “choking” the dog, therefore a dog that is a puller will end up hurting his neck and/or damaging his trachea.
 
The Prong type – this training collar is made of a series steel links that have the ends of each link pointing towards the dog’s neck and an acting chain loop with a swivel for attaching the lead. This collar should never be slipped over the head of the dog. To put this collar on you must disconnect one link from another link and fit the collar around the dog’s neck making sure there is enough space for you to put your hand flat between your dog’s neck and the collar. To adjust the fit remove or add a link, a little loose is better than too tight. Prong type collars are for the pullers, dogs that need more stimulation to keep focus, and handlers that need to gain better control. The design of the Prong type collar is that it will tighten with a lead correction but will not constrict around the dog’s neck.
Most dogs start with one collar and move to another as they grow and progress. With all of the collars listed above you want to use the one that is the most effective with the least amount of correction effort. You do not want to be constantly yanking on the dog’s neck or having the dog pull you around by her neck, which may cause her neck and back problems in the long run.
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