In October 2020, Petco shocked the world by removing shock collars from all its stores. The American pet retailing giant also enjoined others to do same, read it here.
This move could change how dogs are trained and their behaviours modified if implemented by every player in the pet industry.
This is long overdue when you consider the negative impacts of prong, choke and shock collars on our furry friends.
Apart from being less effective, using prong, choke and shock collars as aversive methods of dog training can lead to painful injuries in dogs.
Scientific studies have shown that aversive training methods such as negative reinforcement and positive punishment can endanger the physical and mental health of dogs.
There are also instances where dogs that were trained using prong, choke and shock collars exhibited escape behaviours, aggression, apathy, fearfulness, reluctance to explore and in extreme cases got injured or shocked to death.
These are the reasons why animal welfare organisations such as PETA, Humane Society, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour and Welfare in Dog Training openly denounced the use of prong, choke and shock collars, and countries like Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Wales banned these tools outrightly.
In this post, we will share the best prong, choke and shock collar alternative you can sell if you're in the pet supplies retailing business or simply want to switch over to collars that are more humane for your dog.
Flat Collars
When searching for a collar to use in walking, training, or playing with your dog, the comfort, safety and security of your dog should be given priority. This is where flat collars come in.
Flat collars are made using a quick release buckle which holds the collar snugly around the neck of your dog. Most flat collars have safety features such as a D-ring which holds your dog's identification tag, licence and registration number.
Flat collars are made using leather, nylon and water-resistant materials.
Leather flat collars are strong, durable and have smooth rounded edges that won't irritate or fray the sensitive skin of your dog. They come in different sizes and colours. Most manufacturers and retailers can give you a personalize nameplates and leashes that match when you buy leather flat collars from them.
The nylon flat collar is becoming popular among people who like to walk their dogs at nights because some of them have reflective stitching bands which increases nighttime visibility.
If your dog likes swimming, getting a water-resistant flat collar can save you money in the long run since the buckle and other hardware materials used in making it won't corrode or rust.
You can protect the necks of aggressive dogs that like to attack, fight and pull by using a wide, studded flat collar. This can help in distributing the pulling force over a wide area of your dog's neck thus reducing the chance of injury during fighting or pulling.
Flat collars are durable, strong and suitable for puppies, and adult dogs.
Martingale-type Collar
The best collar for Whippet, Greyhound, Saluki, Sighthound, and dog breeds whose heads are smaller than their necks is the martingale collar.
But you can also use a martingale collar for dogs that like to escape or pull their leashes.
When your dog attempts to escape or pull his leash, the martingale collar gives him a slight correction by tightening his neck and when he stops pulling, the collar loses its grip on the neck. This only happens when there's a need and will not choke your dog but prevent him from pulling or escaping.
You can use a martingale collar with your hand or along with a leash.
Martingale collar is safer and more comfortable than prong, choke and shock collars.
You can get a martingale collar that is made from leather, nylon and even plastic material from any retail outlet or online store.
Head Halter
Another collar that is safe and humane for your dog is the head halter. This collar comes with a strap that goes around the neck and just behind the ears of your dog, but you have to fasten a leash under your dog's chin to the ring attached to the nose strap for it to work perfectly.
If your dog attempts to pull or escape while the head halter is on, the head halter will make the nose of your dog to turn back towards your direction. This will in turn make it difficult for your dog to escape or pull.
Head halter fits around your dog's head and nose thereby preventing choking and the tendency of your dog to pull.
It also gives you total control during dog walking and training thus, making it a safe and pleasant experience.
Front-clip Harness
If you are struggling with dogs that pull on leashes, the front clip harness can help you manage this situation effectively during training and walking.
This harness is preferred by many dogs and their owners because it is less aversive than prong, choke and shock collars or even head halters.
Front clip harness is suitable for loose-leash training and is perfect for all dogs including tiny dogs, snub nose breeds and dogs with airway medical problems.
It can help in reducing pressure on the neck of your dog if he is a puller.
Pressure on your dog's neck can be painful and most times lead to medical problems like collapsed trachea, gasping anxiety, soft cartilage and cervical disc damage, or even ocular, carotid artery and jugular vein pressure.
A front-clip harness takes care of the pressure and reduces strain on the neck of your dog.
Another benefit of a front clip harness is that it encourages your dog to walk by your side thus, giving you more control.
Back-clip Harness
What makes back-clip harness to be different from the front-clip harness is that the ring which the leash clips onto is right on top of your dog's back.
This makes it easy for your dog to wear, protect his neck and helps those dogs with airway related medical issues.
Back-clip harness is very popular because dogs adjust to them easily
If your dog is a small breed, back-clip harness can be useful to you. This is because small breeds have delicate necks that can be damaged easily by a prong, choke and shock collars or wrongly fitted front-clip harnesses.
Conclusion
These tools can range from prong collar, choke chains to shock collars.
Even though prong, choke and shock collars can make dog training easy, they can sometimes be cruel and inhumane to the freedom and welfare of dogs.
That's why we recommend a more humane and safe way of training and modifying your dog's behaviour using flat collars, martingale collar, head halter, front-clip harness and back-clip harness.
If used correctly, the prong, choke and shock collars alternative can deliver great results in a short time while keeping your dog safe and comfortable in the process.
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