Dog Training Equipment The Good The Bad and the Ugly

By Andrew Strachan

When thinking about what type of dog training equipment to get, it is important to consider the difference between dog training and dog control. For example, using hand gestures and reward for a given action by your dog, is classed as training. Whereas the use of choke chains and anti-bark collars, would be considered as a form of control.

Controlling your dog should not be considered a bad thing. Your dog will need to be aware that you are the leader (alpha) in the pack. If you do not adopt this role, you will end up with an unruly, destructive noisy dog that has little respect for you. So a certain level of enforced control is essential.

In the same sense, the alpha male in a pack of wild dogs will take control.

Choke Collars

Choke collars are used to assist you in gaining control of your dog. Some dogs, especially the larger ones can be very assertive when on a leash. Pulling the owner is a big problem and can be dangerous. Certain breeds are also known to be slow learners. For dogs that do not respond well to leather or nylon collars, a metal choke collar can provide that extra bit of discouragement.

The big problem with the use of a choke collar as a form of dog training equipment is that they can easily be used the wrong way which can be dangerous for the dog.

A choke collar fits only one way. If fitted the wrong way around, it can cause problems such as pinching and even suffocation.

Also a collar of incorrect length will cause problems. As a general rule, the collar should be two inches longer than the circumference of the dogs’ neck.

Prong Collars

Prong collars can look like a form of medieval torture machine for a dog but thankfully they are a lot less dangerous than they first appear. That said, it is our view that these collars have little to no positive value as a piece of dog training equipment. The only good aspect of these collars is that they can only be closed down so far.

An animal that has got to the stage where a prong collar is needed is in need of more than a bit of poking and choking. They will need a committed dog behavior training regime designed to correct the behavioral problems of the dog.

Halter Collars

A Halter collar is a harness type collar that wraps around the dogs face and neck without interfering with drinking or panting. This type of collar can give extra control but they have a BIG down side. They do not prevent biting or grasping and therefore have limited use.

It may be preferable to go for a good leash and collar or a chest halter. Both of these will provide equivalent forms of control.

No Bark Collars

No bark collars are designed to help with dogs that tend to bark for long periods of time and often for no reason.

They come in two main types. Noise collars and Shock collars.

Noise collars produce an unpleasant sound that distracts the dog from its barking.

Shock collars produce an electric shock that is produced in response to the noise of the barking.

Using some forms of dog training equipment as a quick fix is very tempting to most dog owners. The problem is, they become a fix-all substitute for longer term training which is more beneficial to both dog and owner.

Taking the time to learn more about your dog and how you can both work together will produce a happier dog and a happier owner!

Article by Andrew Strachan. Find out more about dog behavior training and types of dogs at http://www.types-of-dogs.com

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New Dog or Puppy Training Equipment Checklist

So youre bringing a new canine companion into your home, and you want everything to be ready for his arrival. If youre planning on training your dog (and you should definitely plan on it!), youll need to add some extremely important items to your new dog or puppy checklist. What follows are several training equipment checklists, broken into two categories for your convenience, with advice on what to get and why.

For Housebreaking/Crate Training

The crate:

Mountable water dish:

Washable bedding

Chew toys:

Carpet/Wood-Safe Cleaning Products:

A Baby Gate:

For Basic Obedience Training

A Training Lead:

A comfortable, quality collar:

If you can teach yourself how to properly use one, a "slip collar" can be a valuable asset in training sessions. If you dont take the time to talk to a trainer or read a book on dog training, however, it can be the exact opposite of an asset. If you do decide to use a slip collar, make sure you purchase one where the metal links are set very close together so as to avoid pinching. Also make sure that it is never left on the dog outside of training sessions, and dont allow children or inexperienced dog handlers to work with the dog while he is wearing the slip collar. For most dogs learning their basic obedience, a regular nylon or leather collar will work just fine. As with the leash, make sure the collar is of quality construction, and make sure it fits. It should be tight enough to stay around the dogs neck and not slip up over his head when tugged on, but loose enough for you to fit two fingers beneath.

Healthy, bite-sized treats:

Since youll probably be dispensing a number of treats during training sessions, try to get treats that are as healthy as possible and either come in or can be torn into bite-sized pieces. A perennial favorite for dog trainers everywhere are liver treats and "dog jerky," both of which are available at most pet stores.

A quiet place:

A quiet place will be one of your biggest assets in training your dog. Be it a spare bedroom, your backyard, or an empty plot of land, make sure your dogs "classroom" is guaranteed to be free from distractions and that people know not to bother you when you are working with the dog in your chosen area. The fewer furnishings, external noises, and interesting smells, the better!

While this list may be nowhere near comprehensive, were confident weve covered all the basic materials youll need to help your dog become an upstanding canine citizen and impressively well-mannered member of the family. Enjoy this exciting new journey youre about to embark upon!

While you may choose for your dogs training lead and his regular leash to be the same thing, you need to make sure that the lead you use for obedience training meets some basic criteria. For starters, the lead should be 6 feet long and made of a sturdy, but lightweight material. A flat leather leash works best, but a good quality nylon lead should work fine, too. Just avoid using a chain leash (far too heavy and noisy), a leash so cheap the stitching looks as though it will unravel with the slightest tug, or a a retractable leash that can be difficult to maneuver during training sessions and might intimidate the dog. Make sure that the leash will be comfortable to hold for long periods of time and that the handle end is solidly constructed.

While your dog is being housebroken, youll need a way to confine him in an easy-to-clean area such as the kitchen or a room with a hardwood or tile floor. An adjustable baby gate is one of the best ways to do this. Theyre relatively cheap, easy to set up and take down, and theyre a great way to keep your dog confined to a single area without making him feel as though hes missing out on all the action. Despite your best efforts, your dog will, at some point, have an accident in the house. Your best defense against stains and odors is to clean the area immediately. For both hard surfaces and carpeting, use paper towels or highly absorbent bath towels to thoroughly soak up as much of the urine as you can. For feces, simply scoop it up in a paper towel and toss it, then use clear water to rinse the spot, soaking up the water with a clean towel.

If theres still a spot, use a stain and odor remover formulated especially for pet problems (can be found at any pet supply store). When housebreaking a puppy, its always a good rule of thumb to carry a roll of paper towels wherever you go, especially as very young puppies are often unable to hold their bladders when theyre excited or frightened. Dont worry, though. Dog urine is an overall odorless liquid. Soaking it up and rinsing the area with clear water almost always proves effective, and you need not worry about using any harsher, more specialized products.Provide plenty of safe, sturdy chew toys to keep your dog entertained while he is crated. Avoid any toys that have plastic eyeballs or noses that could be torn off and swallowed, and avoid toys that have internal squeakers or filled toys like Beanie Babies.

If youre not looking for a mess, steer clear of fluff-filled stuffed animals Some good, no-fuss choices for the crated dog are rawhide bones, rubber Kong toys, and rope chews. Kongs, especially, come in a variety of sizes and have a hollow core that can be stuffed with peanut butter or treats that will keep your pet occupied for hours.: Dont overload the crate with bedding, but make sure that theres enough soft, comfortable material in the bottom of the crate to ward off drafts and keep your dogs bones and joints from getting sore. A good idea is to line the bottom of the crate with newspaper and then place the bedding on top of the paper. That way, if there is an accident (either spilled water or urination), you wont have to deal with a sloshy crate bottom. Of course, make sure that the bedding will stand up to many washings-old bath towels work great, as do sheepskin pads made specifically for crates. If the crate you buy does not come with one, youll need to get a small water dish that can be mounted to the interior of the crate, either on the wire (for a collapsible metal crate) or on the door (for an "airline kennel").

The water dish will not always be in the crate, but it should be available if your dog is to be crated for more than two or three hours at a time.Choose either a metal collapsible crate (make sure it has a solid, removable "pan" for a bottom or a sturdy plastic "airline kennel." If youre getting a puppy, make sure that the crate is large enough for him to grow into somewhat, but know that you may eventually have to replace the crate once your puppy has reached his full adult size. The crate should be large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around in, but no larger. This is because youll need the entire crate to act as a bed for the dog, as dogs instinctively shy away from soiling their sleeping space. Treating a crate solely as a sleeping space will automatically help train your dog to "hold it."

About The Author: Barry S. Mcgee is a pet enthusiast. His site at: http://www.squidoo.com/puppyanddogtraining covers all areas of dog training.

For answers to all your puppy and dog training questions, please visit: http://www.squidoo.com/puppyanddogtraining

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