How to Choose the Best Training Collar For a Pitbull
Thanks to extensive media hype, one of the most talked about breeds of dog is the Pit Bull. Between constant controversies over dog fighting, attacks, and the outward looking “tough dog exterior,” owners of Pit Bulls are forced to constantly defend the nature and disposition of their beloved pet. With so much strength in their neck and chest, Pit Bulls can pull their pet owners easily if not properly trained. The goal for walking any dog, including the Pit Bull, is to teach the dog to graciously walk next to the owner’s side. The following list of training collars helps provide assistance to train and restore the reputation of one of man’s best friends.
Slip Collar
Many times seen as a metal chain or nylon loop, the slip collar tightens around the dog’s neck when pulled and then loosens immediately. While this type of collar can be very effective to correct pulling, it is important that it is used properly. If the slip collar does not loosen immediately, the dog is being continuously corrected for no particular reason. The sole purpose is to use the tightening to modify behavior.
Head Halter
Not to be confused with a muzzle, the head halter uses moderate pressure to guide the dog, similar to that of a horse halter. The nylon device loops tightly over the nose and fastens behind the ears. The head halter has a loop under the chin where the leash is clipped, and when the dog pulls forward the owner lightly pulls back. This guides the dog’s nose down or back towards the owner, making it physically difficult to pull while walking.
Harness
Due to the enlarged chest size of the Pit Bull, one of the most comfortable and preferred to wear of all the training collars is the harness. Usually made of nylon or leather, the harness hooks on the top and bottom of the dog giving a more secure feel. The harness has a loop on the chest where the leash hooks. When the dog pulls forward, the harness moves the dog’s chest to the side to stop the pulling.
Prong Collar
Often mistaken for a torture mechanism, the prong collars are generally safer than slip collars because they have a built-in device to stop them from tightening too far around a dog’s neck. Prong collars are made of a sequence of interlocking metal links, each with two blunt prongs. The prongs are turned towards the dog’s neck so that when the collar is tightened, they pinch the loose skin of the neck, applying mild pressure for correction.
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Do not use a prong or slip collar unless you have actually received professional training. Corrections must be administered at the exact millisecond, and poorly timed corrections can result in a dog that doesn’t know what it’s being punished for. This leads to 1. Not learning and continuing to pull. 2. Not understanding why its human doles out seemingly random punishments, which leads to 3. A lack of trust in its human, who seems unpredictable and inconsistent with when and why they punish. Learned helplessness is a terrible state of mind for any dog to be in, so please be responsible with corrective based training.
An amazing headhalter is the Newtrix halter, it actually tightens against the back of the dog’s head, causing the dog to want to push against the tightening: aka push BACKWARDS. The result is whenever your dog pulls, they immediately either stop or even back up. As a professional dog trainer I’ve never seen this halter not work, I recommend it 100%.