Choke Chains.... Views please?

All training tools are good when used properly. Any of them can be used for abuse as well.

For one thing I hate the name Choke Chain. These are NEVER to be used to choke. The proper name is slip collar. And yes, they are a good tool in the right hands. They can also be an abusive tool in the wrong hands. IE: the people who use them to "choke".

Every training device can be abuse if used improperly, even Haltis, and harnesses.

Most training devices if used correctly on the right dog can be useful.

Me too, we use the harness and then in some situations the gentle leader because I know my dog would not do well on it.

It's amazing because Victoria Stilwell can get about any dog walking well on a leash without using one of those collars at all.

I think in very certain circumstances they could be used, but I'd prefer to not have to deal with them.

ADD: Prong is relevant to that last paragraph. I think someone should only use choke when walking other people's dogs or we had to use one when my dog came off the transport since you can never be too sure you'll get a collar that fits. Other then that that I don't think you'll fix anything by using a choke collar.

Sorry, I can't say that I have ever used a harness. I really don't care to use a device that encourages pulling. (of course, unless I were to use it intended for that purpose) I have used choke chain collars and prong collars for years. (not on the two dogs I have now) Both can be used with great success if you know what you're doing. Neither of these collars should be left on a dog as a typical collar would, because of the possibility of injury.

I used a choke chain to train my Labrador Retrievers back in the 1980s, however, I never really used the "choke" aspect of the chain. My male was so quick to learn, I had him go from "sit" to complicated commands in just about 10 days.

If you get a chain that is large enough for the dog and don't use it to choke per se, it can be useful. I prefer to use the nylon or cloth webbed collars on my dog now. Pommies are far too delicate for anything more.

My Pomeranian's daddy by a BYB, wore one in the house unattended and hung himself on a baby gate separating rooms. So if you let your dog wear one, immediately remove after using it to prevent such tragedies. ♥♥♥

I don't like them not even as a training tool, I think they are very outdated. I would prefer a martingale collar, same basic concept but properly fitted it is not going to choke the dog and damage its trachea, and they dont slip over the dogs head if you have issues with that (sight hounds, thick necked breeds) I used one with my aussie when I train him in busy areas because he is a very stocky dog (working lines, show aussies tend to be more willowy) because he easily and accidental slips out of flat buckles.

At home he wares a regular flat buckle, and when we go on hikes he wares a harness. Its a properly fitted tracking harness, I prefer it to a regular collar as the leash doesn't get tangled around his legs, and if he is off leash the tab at the top of it is easy to grasp. He does not pull with it on since he is leash trained

I think all training tools are good, provided they are used correctly and do not substitute for creating a good strong trust relationship with your pet. I actually do not find a harness very useful--for me and my dogs, they are broad and strong in the chest and the harness just seemed to give them more pulling ability. I stopped with the harness when they were pups, but if they work for you that's great. I think the key to it all is to be invested emotionally and mentally enough to explore all the options you have available to find what works best for you and your pet.

Useless. Dogs are interested in what they want and will strain against that harmful collar no matter what. It's like a junkie with a fixation, they don't even seem to notice the strangulation, nor the spike going into their necks.

I've had much better success with persistent vocal training commands. But I've also had good fortune with very smart dogs.

I like the firm command & stop method where you turn your back until dog sits or calms down. (No matter how long & how often it takes on a walk.) And that 1st walk can take a LOT of time, but I see that most dogs tire themselves out & start learning very quickly. Just remember to praise & give high note command to beginning walk again.

If it strains on leash three steps latter. Repeat the stopping process.,et.al.

Keep dog at your side & never let it lead until it has learned this basic instruction. I usually have a perfect result by 3rd walk. But those 1st 2 were quite a practice in patience & endurance for me. I just know that it's worth it in the end. Which, fortunately, comes rather quickly for dogs.

Harnesses were made for pulling, therefore I'm guessing your dog takes you for a walk.

Choke chains should never be left on a dog unattended and should only be used by people who know how to use them properly.

I do use a choke chain when I am walking my Husky and he walks right by my side.

I do however know how to use a choke chain and how to put one on. He only has a choke chain on when I am with him!

If you put a choke chain on right, it should be slack when the dog is by your side, and tighten only when he pulls, when he stops pulling it loosens.

Here's my opinion choke chains do not hurt dogs, uneducated owners do, if someone is dumb enough to leae there dog unatended with a choke chain on, well then they shouldn't have a choke chain.

In my opinion, no. The Gentle Leader harness is the only training collar I endorse. Choke chains, as you said, can cause injury and some animals seem to not even slow down with one. To the dog, it seems that their excitement and pulling wins out over pain from a choke collar. Dogs that pull already choke themselves with a regular collar so why risk injury with the "choke collars?" I have not seen any positive results with a choke collar regardless of whose hands it's in.

I've used chain chokers on my hounds (and also the leather equivalent) since forever, with no problems. But they should never be left on a dog, especially when crated, they should always be put on correctly (so they release properly) and the correct link size should be used too.

And I used to show my hounds on a very light chain (and also sometimes a martingale).

Provided they are used correctly, I have no problem with them at all.

PS We had numbers, and using a choke chain was essential when out on exercise (when they needed to be on the lead).