A strong dog making a sudden lunge on a lead can often break the connection with sometimes disastrous results. No matter how decorative the collar and lead, the main purpose is to control and keep your dog safe so buying quality products is important. Choke or check chains are meant to be used only for training purposes. There is a right and wrong way of putting these collars on as they are designed to briefly tighten and apply pressure when the trainer is delivering a correction and then to slacken again. Never leave a dog unattended with a check chain collar on as they may cause injury or strangulation if the collar gets caught on something.
Some owners prefer to use a harness when walking the dog.
These fit around the dogs ribcage and they may appear to be more comfortable for the dog than having a collar around the neck, especially for dogs which pull. However, traditionally harness has been used on the breeds of dog which pull carts as they allow the dog to use its weight against the harness. Because of this, dogs which pull when walking on lead are difficult for the owner to control if they wear a harness. Dogs which pull against the lead should have a refresher course at a training club to teach them to walk without pulling, however wearing a halter can help owners manage these dogs. A halter fits around the muzzle in a similar fashion to a halter or head collar on a horse, and the lead attaches to it.