German Shepherd Training|Choosing a Training Collar

What is the Best Dog Training Collar?

The prong collar (also called the pinch collar) is a popular dog training collar that can help you train your dog if used correctly.

So what is the best dog training collar? Well that depends on who you ask. There are many training collars to help you train your dog. We've compiled a list of the most popular along with the pros and cons that each collar brings to the table.

Before you use any training collar you should understand how to use it effectively. Some collars are safer than others and in some cases the collar can be abused either on purpose or by accident. Knowing exactly how to fit the collar is also an extremely important part of using the collar correctly.

TotalGermanShepherds.com will not be held liable for any damage resulting from the use of any of the collars mentioned on this page. You are encouraged to seek the advice of a professional dog trainer before using any of these collars.

Warning - Strong opinions ahead ...

Popular Dog Training Collars the Good, the Bad, and the Down Right Painful

Choke Chains or Slip Collars. Do not use these. Period. They are old, outdated, do not serve a single purpose in the dog training process and should be removed from pet stores around the world.

Again you may feel like these opinions are a bit strong and you would be right. Thousands of people use choke chains on their dogs and sadly 99.9% of them have no idea why they are putting them on their dogs.

We'll say this once for the cheap seats, Choke chains are meant for one purpose. To choke a dog unconcious. Hence, the name. So unless you plan on choking your German Shepherd unconcious there is no need for these collars or collars that are "limited slip" collars.

E-collar aka Shock Collar aka Stim collars

Anytime you introduce electric "stimulation" into the dog training process you are playing on the edge of a razor blade. One slip and you're going to screw your dog up for life. You should avoid using these collars unless you are instructed by a highly trained professonial dog trainer who specializes with e-collars and has demonstrated that they know what they are doing. These collars are not intended for novice trainers/pet dog owners.

Pinch aka Prong Collars. You might find this strange considering the last two opinions but pinch aka prong collars are safer than both the electronic and choke collars. While you can still abuse these collars easily they are far less likely to cause a long term problem with your dog than the two previous dog training collars.

Some might disagree with that last statement but from our research (and practical use in dog training on a daily basis) these collars while they might look medievil are quite tame. Proper fit is a must if you plan to use these collars.

As with all the collars mentioned you should consult with a professional dog trainer who knows how to use them. You should always choose the smallest prong available. The smaller the prong the more effective the collar with be.

The Head Halti. Not worth the material they are made with. Dogs are canines. Dogs are not horses. You do not need to put a halti on your dog and drag it around by the head. Might as well slap a choker on the dog.

The danger with the halti is the dogs neck can be wrenched around when they pull. Fido sees a squirrel and takes off what happens? You're right, they get swung around by their muzzle. This puts immense pressure on the spine. While no official studies have been done to prove this is a problem it doesn't take a degree in canine biology to know that when an 80 pound dog runs and is snapped around by the muzzle it's not good for their structure.

The Conclusion

We encourage you to use one of the following. A normal leather buckle collar or a prong collar with professional instruction. You are your dogs keeper. You should have their best interest in mind. Yes, they can frustrate the living doggy doo out of you but you are still responsible for their care and well being.

Our recommendations are based on years of hands on dog training experience. Most problems in training are solved without collars and leashes. They are solved with superiour intelligence and the ability to think on your feet.

With that said, you're an adult and you will decide what is best for you and your dog. We encourage you, again, to use a professional dog trainer with experience using the collar you choose.

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