Archive for the ‘Martingale Dog Collars’ Category
A Martingale Collar Works Great On My Puppy
Sorry I haven’t been posting a lot the last few weeks. Summer is such a busy time and with my new puppy being sick since I got him, I haven’t had much time to post.
I named my new puppy Chase because he loves to chase things. Things are going much better with Chase now. We have been to the vet 3 times in as many weeks and have finally found an antibiotic that works. I am pleased to say he is on the road to recovery as are my other two dogs who caught the respiratory illness from him.
I have been using a martingale collar on him and it works great. It is so much more humane than the traditional choke collar and he responds really well to it. He loves to run and thank goodness I have a big yard. I attach a ten foot drag line to his collar so I have a chance to catch him if he tries to leave the yard but he has been so good. After almost four weeks he has not even made an attempt to run away.
A Martingale Collar For My New Puppy
Recently, sixteen dogs were seized by animal control from a home in a small town not to far from here. It seems the owners only took took two dogs outside so the neighbors had no idea there were that many dogs in the home. The Lord knows my house is not the cleanest but I can only imagine what a mess the inside of that house was with so many dogs doing their thing wherever they wanted.
Now, I wasn’t looking for a dog at this time and really did not want another dog, but the people I work with kept at me all day. “You have a big yard where a dog could run.” Wouldn’t it be nice to have a new dog”. “All those poor dogs need a home. You could help by taking one”. Then one of them pulled out one of those fancy phones and and brought up the pictures of the dogs in the humane society. By the end of my shift, I felt such a sense of urgency that I did not even go home first. I went right to the humane society.
Sure enough. I wasn’t there for five minutes and I had fallen in love with a border collie mix. He is about three months old. I have named him Chase because that is what he likes to do-chase a ball, chase a Frisbee, chase other dogs.
He is a smart little guy and it did not take him long to figure out how to “back out” of his collar. I don’t know if you can tell by the picture above but he is now wearing a martingale collar. Problem solved.
Martingale Collars-A Safer Alternative to the Choke Collar
The martingale dog collar is gaining in popularity with pet owners. It is the safer, more humane alternative to the less desirable standard choke collar. With it’s double loop design, the martingale collar allows limited closure, reducing the risk of injury to the neck area of the dog.
This collar can be used with or without a leash and also makes it difficult for a dog to “back out” of the collar.
What is a Martingale Collar?
The martingale collar is a newer, more humane and safer version of the choke collar. Although it was originally designed for greyhounds to prevent them from escaping their collars, the martingale collar has become a popular collar choice for all breeds of dogs.
This collar operates on a two loop system. The larger loop goes around the dog’s neck. For a proper fit, the measurement is taken at the top of the neck, right behind the ears. This is different from the way you would measure for a traditional collar. The measurement you take for the martingale collar corresponds to the size of the collar when it is in the closed position.
The smaller loop is used to hook the leash on or you can also grab it with your hand. The collar loop remains loose until tension is put on the smaller loop. Unlike a traditional choke collar, this system limits the closure of the collar. The looser fit reduces matting of the fur in the collar area.
If your dog is notorious for escaping from his collar while on walks this collar will prevent that from happening.
Martingale Collar-Which Collar Is Best For Your Dog
This is the fifth in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.
Originally designed for Greyhounds, the martingale collar has gained popularity for all breeds. Unlike a traditional collar, the martingale collar is composed of two loops to allow the collar to tighten. It offers greater control and it reduces the risk of your dog backing-out of his collar. If properly fitted, it is much safer than a choke collar because it has limited closure. It can be used with a leash or with your hand.
On the down side of this collar, it will not release if entangled. It will not significantly prevent leash pulling, so if your dog is a puller, it will place pressure on the trachea. When used on puppies, they are likely to try to chew the secondary loop, especially for the first few days of wearing it.
This collar is great for the dog that likes to shoot out the door every time it opens because it is easy to grasp the secondary loop. It is also great for the dog that has figured out how to back out of a traditional collar. Sighthounds are notorious for slipping out of traditional collars. With a neck that is larger than the head, it is easy for them to slip out of a regular collar. The martingale collar was developed with that in mind and significantly reduces that risk.
A Martingale For Your Adopted Greyhound
I have always been aware of greyhound rescue groups that take in retired racing dogs and try to find homes for them. Recently a dog race track in the area closed and increased the number of homes needed for these beautiful animals by almost 1000.
If you are in the market for your next dog, adopting a retired greyhound might be a viable option for you. You are probably thinking they will be way to much work with all the exercise they will need, but let me take a moment to dispel that myth. Greyhounds actually require less exercise than other dogs comparable in size. Known for their speed as sprinters, they expel all of their energy at once and will often sleep for the rest of the day. However, a greyhound will have to be walked if you do not have a fenced in area to let him run.
Loving, calm, docile and gentle are a few of the words I would use to describe these dogs. Aside from that, lets take a look at some other qualities that, as a pet owner you will be able to appreciate. These are low maintenance dogs. Although they enjoy a good brushing, it is rarely necessary. They don’t have that “doggie” smell associated with most dogs because their skin does not produce the same oils as other breeds. In many cases they are easily tolerated by people who are allergic to dogs because they don’t shed as much, nor do they produce the same dander as other breeds do.
There are some things to be aware of as a greyhound owner though. The average weight of a greyhound is between 60 and 75 pound and because of their fine bone structure, they should not be allowed to gain excess weight. Body temperature cannot be regulated as efficiently because of the low percentage of body fat which makes living outside prohibitive.
Because greyhounds are sighthounds they should not be allowed to run loose in an unfenced area. They will be unlikely to find their way back to you if they lose sight of home. With that being said, the neck of a greyhound is larger than his head so you will need to fit him with the proper dog collar. Although it has become popular with all breeds, the martingale collar was originally designed specifically for greyhounds. This is the only kind of collar a greyhound should wear because it will prevent that cute little “needle nose” from slipping out of the collar, allowing the dog to escape.
Greyhounds make great pets for the right families.
Jeopardy Answer is Martingale Collar
The Jeopardy question is, “What is better than a buckle and safer than a choke?” That is right! Whether you use a leash or your hand, the martingale collar, also known as the Premier® collar, will give you greater control and reduce the risk of your dog escaping.
“Why”, you might ask, “is a martingale collar better than a buckle?” You have two choices when fitting a standard buckle collar on your dog-to0 tight or too loose. You can adjust it for the comfort of your dog and take the risk of him “backing out” of the collar if he is frightened, leaving you standing there with and empty collar blowing in the wind while your dog is running scared. Or you can adjust it snugly on your dogs neck, making it uncomfortable for the dog, possibly causing bald spots from the rubbing or excessive matting of the fur around the collar.
The second question you might ask-”Is a martingale dog collar really safer than a choke? Well, yes it is. The feature that makes it safer than a choke is the limited closure. Choke collars are called choke collars for a reason. They choke the dog and are often associated with neck and throat injuries when used improperly. They can also restrict both breathing and blood supply.
How I stopped My Dog From Backing Out of Her Collar
My dogs are pretty good about walking on a leash. We take lots of walks and for the most part, all three of us enjoy the time together. However, one day when we were out walking, my little Lucy saw a dog she wanted to go say “hi” to. I wanted her to stay with Clara(my other dog) and me. We had some words and then in a total act of defiance, she “backed out” of her dog collar and left Clara and I standing there with her leash and collar dangling while she went visiting. Under normal circumstances, she is pretty good about coming when I call her, but not this day. She ran across the street, with me freaking out. God was watching out for my little Lucy that day, because she made it safely to the other side.
I knew then, that I needed to prevent that from ever happening again, knowing very well that, now that she had figured out how to escape, she would most certainly try it again. The next time she might not be so lucky. I did some research and found that martingale dog collars were developed for this very reason. They were originally created for greyhounds and other sight hounds because their necks are bigger than their heads and they were always slipping out of their collars. I found that they are now becoming more and more popular with all breeds of dogs and are actually recommended by a lot of breeders and trainers.
I got her a martingale collar and sure enough, the little stinker thought she could do it again. She was a little disappointed when she realized it wasn’t going to work this time but we did enjoy the rest of our walk and now that she knows she can’t escape, she doesn’t even try anymore.
Martingale collars are not fitted the same way a traditional collar is, so make sure sure you know how to measure your dog for a martingale collar, before you get one.
The Martingale Collar Is The Humane Alternative To Choke Collars
Antiquated, obsolete and archaic-those are words you could use to describe metal choke collars. Because it is more humane, the martingale collar has been referred to as the “gentle choke collar” and is becoming more and more popular with breeders, trainers and dog owners all over.
When a dog pulls while wearing a metal choke collar, the collar continues to tighten until the dog quits pulling. Every time this happens there is a chance of the collar digging into the dog’s neck and causing damage to the delicate throat area.
Unlike metal choke collars, the martingale collar’s double loop design, with limited closure, will prevent the collar from continuing to pull closed. Because the martingale collar is usually made of the same materials as a traditional flat collar, the risks of causing injury to the throat area or damaging your dog’s coat around the collar area are greatly diminished.
It is true that martingale dog collars are great for use in training classes, on walks and around the home, but they do offer more than just function. You will find that martingale collars are available in a multitude of colors and stylish patterns. That means, you are sure to find the perfect collar for your dog.
If you are one of those dog owners that is still using a metal choke collar, it is time to move into the 21st century and a kinder, gentler dog collar.
What Is A Martingale Collar?
A martingale collar is considered to be the safe alternative to choke collars. Because it was originally designed to prevent greyhounds from backing out of the collar, it is also known as a greyhound collar. Don’t let that name fool you though. Martingale collars are often recommended by dog trainers for all breeds. They are suitable for all breeds of dogs, from the largest to the smallest.
The martingale dog collar consists of a two loop system. Unlike the snug fit of a traditional flat collar, the larger loop of a martingale collar is fitted at the largest part of the dogs neck. For most breeds, that would be right behind the ears. You can then attach a leash to the smaller loop or grasp it in your hand.
When tension is applied to the small loop it tightens the large loop around the dogs neck to give you firm control with limited closure so you don’t cut off your dog’s air.
Martingale collars can be worn all the time. It has a loose fit when not on a leash or when you are not grasping the smaller loop with your hand. This looser fit has a couple of advantages. It allows for seasonal coat changes and it reduces bald spots and matting caused by traditional collars while still providing firm control.