Tools: The "Dominant Dog" Collar

Before I even get to explaining what this collar is, what it's primary function is supposed to be, or how to use it, I will preface this with a warning:

Do Not attempt to use this collar as a 'yank n' crank' choke collar.
Do Not Use This Collar unless you are prepared to also implement a strict pack structure that communicates clearly to your dog that you are the leader of said pack.
DO NOT tie your dog out with this collar.

There are many reasons I like these 'dominant dog' collars.  They stay put.  They are designed to sit high and snug on the neck of the dog, just behind the ears.  They are a sound alternative for animals who are living with so much aggression that the application of a prong would send them into the point-of-no-return, as they do not use a pain-based correction.  They are great for thick-headed animals who seem to lose the ability to hear, or smell anything because they are living at such a high-level of stimulation.

You can get the same results without this collar, but you are looking at a long process where you, the Human, must be responsible for everything that happens within your dog's environment.  i.e. a Positive Reinforcement based approach.  If you wanted, you could use this as your emergency back up plan, in case you and your bag of treats are caught in a situation you weren't prepared for, and had no choice but to haul that dog out of it....But please, please, use this collar only if you are working with, or at least talking to a good Teacher.

So, what exactly IS a dominant dog collar?
Well, simply put, it is a device, a tool, meant to take away your dogs ability to get air.  That's right.  It is designed to choke him. (I'm not one to mince words)  And it is designed to choke him quickly; effectively stopping whatever he is attempting to do.

It is not, as I mentioned, a yank n' crank choke collar.  Doing so may injure your dog.

I am not a fan of chain chokes.  They pinch ears, grab skin, and the amount of force and speed necessary to make them effective is something that most of us common dog owners cannot attain.  Chains do not stay where they are most effective on the neck either; you must buy them large enough to fit over the dogs' skull, and therefore, unless the dog is being kept at your side with you holding most of the slack out of the lead, they will slip too low on the neck.  That is why you see so many dogs hauling themselves down the street with that lovely "hhhaaaaghhh hhhaaaghhh" noise as they try to breathe through the strangulation their Humans are allowing to happen.

Chain chokes have also been responsible for causing tracheal scaring.  The inside of your dogs' throat gets damaged, and the resulting scar tissue build up can cause deep, sad sounding coughing when your dog gets excited, or runs too much.  My own dog, Rockey suffers from this.  It isn't all the time, but whomever was responsible for him (ha, responsible!) before he found his way to me, was cruel to him with a chain collar. Or at least, that's the theory my veterinarian has presented.

This is not a collar that is meant for your everyday wanderings through your neighborhood, as your dog enjoys a good sniffing of the grass, or pees on every corner.  No.  This is a Tool meant for serious focus and training of a canine that has a serious lack of said focus.  They are commonly applied to dogs with human aggressive tendencies; dogs who could care less that you are throwing salmon at them, or dogs in the care of Humans who do not have the patience to work on a Positive Approach , or are in need of an Emergency Intervention to save them from being put down, or causing more injury to themselves or others.

They are also a good alternative for areas in which an electronic collar is not allowed.  But you will have to wrap your head around the idea that your dog will never be off a leash.  Yes, I am talking to you; those Humans who have dogs who shouldn't be allowed to be more then 4 feet away when off your property, but you still insist that you want him to be in a position of being trusted off lead "eventually."

The Dominant Dog collar can be a good way to wean a dog from a prong to a slip, if done correctly, and for the right dog.  There are some dogs out there who make a better transition from prong to head halter, or prong to martingale; check with your Teacher to be sure you are choosing the right Tool for your dog.  If you are a go-it-alone kind of Guardian...Please be careful with this one.  Do your research.

So you've decided this is the Tool you want to use.  Ok.  Did you know it does the same thing as this when fit properly?

That's right.  The slip n' go leash, when fit correctly, offers the same correction as the dominant dog collar.  Most of the people you see using these leads do not have them cinched in the correct fashion, so they ride too low on the dog's neck.  And for some dogs, this is fine.  Those dogs hopefully are not acting in a way that requires that level of correction.  If your dog has delightful leash manners, and you are looking for an easy leash/collar combo, these are great.

But for those dogs that need correcting, need to walk in a controlled Heel due to an inability to function well when away from your side, these can be amazing, soft tools.  If you are using this, and all you hear is labored breathing, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.  The idea, with both the slip and go with a good fit, and the dominant dog collar (again, with proper fit) is that any time your dog is beginning to fall into a certain pattern of undesirable behavior, you lift up on the leash.  If you are working with an extremely forward personality, you may find yourself lifting the front paws off the ground a bit, but remember, this is not a wrestling match.  

If you cannot lift up on the leash because your dog is ahead of you when they present the undesired behaviors, You Are Using It Incorrectly.  Your dog should be walking at your side.

Using a dominant dog collar on a dog with a softer personality, normally only requires a bit of lift to make your point.  If your dog is so forward that he has bitten you for attempting to correct him, please contact a good professional and get help to assist you and your dog.  

When applying this collar to a dog who is bullheaded, or stubborn (or in some cases, unaltered, mature and looking for a mate) this may be the difference between being yanked off your feet, and a dog who respects your walking space.  This collar, coupled with a tab leash (a short length of leash) allowed to hang from it, can give you an easier way to catch hold of a dog and calm him from excited or out of control behavior when not attached to you.

You know those moments you've seen on Cesar Millan, where he slips that little cord around the dogs' neck and immediately the dog is settled and no longer attempting certain things?  Magic right?  A lot of it is that leash being applied in the proper place behind the ears and under the jaw.

You know those dogs in the show ring?  The ones prancing so high on their toes and showing off their gait?  Slip lead in the right place.  Those handlers have learned how to "work" their dogs in the proper fashion.  (I personally love it when I see a handler who knows his dog is so good, he lets him have a loose lead and flies around the ring with him, so he doesn't inhibit his motion...beautiful!)

Proper fit on the Dominant Dog collar is the only way to ensure that it will work as you intend it to.  If your dog has a neck that measures 15.5 inches just below his jaw and wrapping around behind his ears, then that is the length of collar you need.  If they don't have a 15.5 inch collar at the store, or when you order it, find someone who can alter it for you.  When they make these, they are accounting for less then a quarter inch larger then you ask for, and it is in the hardware.  These must fit where they belong.

This dog is wearing both a prong collar and a dominant dog collar, but he also has a tab leash on.  This is a photograph of a working Schutzhund dog.  I have chosen it because it illustrates proper placement and fit of the dominant dog collar, and shows you what a tab leash is.  Applying both the prong and the DD collar is not advised, without the express instruction of a professional who knows what they are doing.  If your dog is suffering from aggression towards other dogs, you can in fact, make it much, much worse, if you are applying a prong collar to the wrong personality.  Again I warn you, talk to a good Teacher before attempting to "fix" a severe behavioral issue by yourself.

Speaking of dogs, I must go walk mine.....