From: N51LS801@ncsuvm.cc.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: Stop dog from making a lunge
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 18:03:23 GMT

It may be time to repost the following ON CHOKE COLLARS:
      There appears to be a sharp conflict between Michael W. Fox's view
(in Superdog, Howell,1990) on the use of choke collars in dog training
and the view of the Monks of New Skete (in The Art of Raising a
Puppy, Little Brown, 1991).  Here's what they have to say in their
books:
      In Superdog, pp. 113-114 ("Don't Use Choke Collars"), Fox
writes,
 
      Some experienced veterinarians and dog trainers are now seriously
questioning the wisdom of using a choke chain on dogs for training....
      For training a dog to heel and not to pull on a leash, a broad leather
or nylon collar can be just as effective as a choke chain.  Owners who
use choke chains to stop dogs from leash pulling generally give a loud
verbal reprimand and then pull hard on the leash, which snaps the chain.
This can cause the dog considerable pain and may cause permanent
damage to the neck.  A far better way is to simply stand still when the
dog is pulling ahead and command the dog to "heel" while braking it by
maintaining pressure on the leash and moving up alongside and in front
of the dog.   As soon as the dog has been passed by the owner, it
should be rewarded with praise, either with food or with a gentle pat,
for being in the position by the owner's heels....  This kind of training
sequence rewards the dog for being close to the owner and is far more
effective than giving the animal a painful jerk with the choke chain when
it is out in front of the owner.
      The pain and trauma caused by the owner's suddenly snapping the
choke chain could interfere with the dog's ability to learn.  In contrast, a
regular leather or wide nylon collar will give a steady pressure around
the dog's neck without causing pain or physical injury.
      Although many dog trainers advise their clients to use choke chains
to stop their dogs from pulling on the leash, more than one experienced
trainer has found that as many as 50 percent of their clients' dogs still
pull on the leash with or without a choke chain after they have been
through routine training with one.  One is led to the inevitable
conclusion that is cruel and unnecessary.  Since its function is to literally
choke the dog in to obedience, it cannot be considered a humane or
enlightened training aid.  Furthermore, significant injuries can be caused
by these choke chains by people who are too rough, are inexperienced
or lose their tempers with the dogs.   These include rupturing of the
windpipe or severe bruising around the larynx; neuromuscular disorders
resulting from constriction and damage in the cer-vical region of the
neck; bruising around the base of the ear causing hypersensitivity to
touch and a tendency to bit when handled around the head; and epileptic
seizures triggered by constriction of the blood supply to the central
nervous system.
      While some animal trainers follow the path of power, using all sorts
of inhumane devices, more enlightened trainers endeavor to use
gentleness and under-standing at all times and recognize that choke
chains not only can cause injury to dogs but also have limited
effectiveness as a training device and are closer to an in-strument of
torture than one of control.
 
      In The Art of Raising a Puppy, pp. 172-179, the Monks
recommend using choke collars in training.  On pp. 172-173, 'Learning
How to Correct', they write,
 
      A combination of related elements must all work together [to make
leash corrections properly]:
      -a properly-fitted training collar that is put on correctly
      -a leash that is held so that there is always some slack between you
and your pup
      -a three-step correction consisting of a "No" with a leash pop,
repetition of the command, and immediate praise upon compliance....
      ...for most breeds we recommend a soft braided nylon training
collar that is snug going over the pup's head and which rests
comfortably high on her neck.  Because nylon collars are lightweight
and flexible, they do not tend to slide down to the bottom of the pup's
neck as many steel collars do, so you can make easier, more effective
corrections.  An exception to this would be training a long-coated breed,
like a bearded collie or Old English sheepdog, whose long hair tends to
tangle easily in the nylon collar.  For these cases, we suggest steel
training collars with small links that are pounded flat, not rounded, so
that the collar moves through the ring cleanly when pulled. In such
cases, make sure that the pup's hair is tucked underneath the collar so
that it stays high up on the neck.  For most pups, you can anticipate two
inches of slack when the collar is pulled tight.  {Footnote: A flexible,
braided nylon training collar is best.  Collars come in twoPinch
increments and are flexible enough for a knot to be tied to shorten it,
should a more precise fit be necessary.}
 
There follow sections on putting on the collar correctly (pp. 173-176,
with photos), the three-step correction (pp. 176-177, including
directions to spend several sessions, each involving at least a dozen
corrections, practicing on a human helper's wrist), and using one's
voice correctly (pp. 178-179).  The Monks clearly believe that there is
an art and a complex technique to making corrections properly with
choke collars.
      Perhaps Fox believes that the overwhelming majority of his readers
simply will not learn the art or techniques described by the Monks,
corrections will almost always be improperly done, and dogs will be
harmed P so, as a practical matter, it is better to take a strong, even
exaggerated, stand against using choke collars.  Or there may be a
deeper disagreement here.
 
Since I was taught to use a metal choke collar in training, I was
concerned by this apparent conflict and decided to write to Fox and the
Monks, and to discuss the matter with our vet.  Here are the responses I
got.  First, Fox's reply:
 
      ... concerning my condemnation of choke collars for training dogs.
To reconcile the concflicting opinions of Fox and the Monks of New
Skete, I would concur with you that most readers of SUPERDOG
won't go to a sensitive and experienced dog trainer and won't use a
choke collar correctly, thus placing the dog at risk.
      I'm especially strongly opposed to metal choke-chains, but with
very strong young dogs they are necessary.  I use a flat nylon choke
collar on my own dogs, designed by Honey Loring, Putney, Vermont
05346. It is comfortable and effective.
      Choke chain and sliding nylon collars should only be used for
training and walking a young pull-your-arm-off-dog, and only then
when the handler/owner has had some personal instruction over correct
and appropriate use. I do disagree with the Monks that the choke collar
can be worn all the time. [Ref.: HOW TO BE YOUR DOG'S BEST
FRIEND, CH. 29, Equipment, "We feel strongly that a dog should
wear a training collar all the time."]
 
And here is the Monks' reply:
 
      ...While it may indeed be true that Dr. Fox is writing out of concern
that the majority of people use "choke collars" inhumanely, our
experience suggests that this is more the exception than the rule.  Any
training aid can be abused by an ill tempered owner; that does not ipso
facto discount the value of such devices properly used.  To generalize a
training collar as being "closer to an instrument of torture than one of
control" seems hyperbolic.  To our knowledge, there has been no
serious study made documenting the ill effects of training collars.  In
our judgement, the more serious problems are the many dogs whose
owners neglect formal training and whose resulting bad behavior often
puts their lives in jeopardy.
      There are several additional points that might be helpful to make:
      1)  We dislike the word "choke collar", because it gives entirely the
wrong impression of what the collar does.  A collar is never meant to
"choke" a dog, and when that happens it indicates that the collar is being
used incorrectly.  We prefer the term "training collar", since the purpose
of the collar is to help foster a proper relationship through the intelligent
process of obedience training.
      2)  Having trained many dogs of many different breeds, our
experience is that a flat, buckle collar, used for training purposes, is
usually counter productive.  It fosters a misunderstanding of the proper
dog/owner relationship and often results in the dog dominating the
owner by excessive and repeated forging.  The training collar, properly
used, is a means of communication between the owner and the dog and
is more helpful in creating the proper development of that bond.
      We have long respected Dr. Fox's work with dogs and their owners
and suspect that you appraisal of his position regarding collars is
correct.  However, we do feel strongly that it is both possible and
necessary to educate dog owners on the proper use of training aids, so
as to foster a healthier bond between man and his best friend.  Towards
this end, we are contemplating developing a video program to go along
with our two books....  [Signed Brother Christopher, Monks of New
Skete, Cambridge, NY 12816.  (518) 677-3928]
 
When I discussed this material with our vets, Drs. D and T, I also asked
them these two questions:  Have there been any studies of the physical
effects of long-term use by skilled individuals of choke collars?  Is there
any evidence of cumulative choke-collar 'microdamage', resulting
eventually in more serious injury to the dog?  Dr. D said that he and Dr.
T agreed with the Monks, and that they had no knowledge, from either
their own experience or any studies, of cumulative damage; indeed,
neither of them had seen more than a couple of choke collar injuries in
all the thousands of dogs they've examined.
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