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My brother is in a program training golden retreavers and labs for disable people either in wheelcahirs or blind, they use the choke cahin method and there dogs are extremelly well behave (since they have to be prepare to attend to disables) and friendly they love my brother to death, I just wanted your opinion on choke chain training the right way not choking your dog to death just giving your dog a tug and the chain atomatically reliases if put on properly, i have read in couple of website that is inhumane but it really don't see like it, i do think they should not let just anybody purchase one just trainers and people in training. what do you guys think?

I use a choke chain on my mix breed, he responds very well to it, I agree they should only be used by people who understand fully how to use them, and I have seen trainers who have no clue as to how to use them but insist everyone in their classes/one on one sessions use them.
since you say your brother uses choke chains I am sure he'd be willing to show you how he works with his dogs.
also most formal training, schutzhund/ring sports/therapy assistence dogs, use choke chains, some use a mix of the choke chain and clicker training, but treats for the most part are abscent in the training as dogs may become dependant on the treat and stop working when the treats stop coming.

I very much agree with you, onyone else got something to say feel more than welcome to post.

At first i was a bit apprehensive about using a choke chain as well, because I heard they would pull out Sibes' hair. We were using a harness for a while, but we coudlnt get her to stop pulling on her leash. So we tried the choke chain in a training class, and now she is an angel to walk. Quick little tug keeps her by my heel, we just make sure to take it off when shes at home.

I didn't like them. Even after attending training class, my dog not a sib, would pull and choke herself continually. I now use a halti and she walks perfectly at my side.

I have two problems with haltis;
1: my mom tried using one on her cocker, he use to be very aggressive towards anyone and anything, he slipped it one day and ran across a highway after an elderly woman, my mom was on his tail and caught him before he bit the woman but thats not the point.

2: I have horrible visions of me pulling the dog for a correction and snapping his neck, it's one thing to guide his head with a choke chain it's another to whip it to the side or up/down with a halti.

I think one needs to use the method that works for the dog. I know I've had to modify my handling over the years based on the needs and learning style of the dog I'm working with. I'm not a huge fan of using a choke chain as my first tool, but if it's needed, I'll use it. Ultimately, my goal is to have a dog that behaves no matter what is around it's neck.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

Well if you are very set against using a choke chain there are other options.

There is of course the head halters, some pull to the dog, some backwards. I found on my Alaskan that it made absolutely no difference.
You could also try a pinch collar, however again alot of people don't really know how to properly use one of these devices so finding somebody to show you the correct method is very important.

When I walk my dog in between training runs(I skijor). I put an actual harness on her. She can pull to her hearts content but I don't let her move me any faster then I want to go(ends up being more excersize for the dog actually).
You could go so far as to get an actual belt and tug line if you wanted to do that method. However this will NOT result in having one of those perfect dogs that walks by your side and so on. You can teach commands like turn left, right slow down, keep going or on by so that you don't have to drag the dog in various directions... however the dog will always be at least 6 feet infront of you.

If you want one of the perfect dogs you see on tv who walk beside there master then using a slip/choke chain or a pinch collar would be a better way to go. Just find somebody who can help you with them.

hello everyone thanks for the replies, i got a trainer to show how to use a choke collar, me personally would not use a pinch collar i think that is a little inhumane unless is a dog that no matter what you do it won't listen.

hi,
i have 4 sibes ,and i knew before i got them that sibes are working dogs that are meant to pull, i walk mine with a harness
on each one, and we all get a lot of exercise, i suggest if you want a dog that prances beside you that you look into another breed of dog, i wouldn't take the fun out of my sibes walk for anything,,its thier walk so i let them enjoy it and pulling is what they enjoy,if i wasn't able to do this i would have a very small breed of dog that enjoyed just walking,,this is just my opinion and i thought i;d share it..i love my dogs and always
try to remember that they are having a lot of fun when i take them out ,,not just walking

I'm in the process of training my sibe. I plan on sledding her and therefore didn't want to discourage her from pulling. however I use a choker chain for training purposes but then swap to her collar when taking her for a walk where she can pull to her hearts content. This seems to be working well and she seems to be able to easily differentiate between the 2.

hi,
thats great,,i just got a dogsled and equipment for next winter and hope to train mine over the summer with a scooter type bike
i'm hoping i'll be able to do it, i know they'll love it and when they are happy they return the love ten times over.

If I was you I would NOT use a scooter or bike for 4 dogs. Most people with 4 dogs or more use a dryland rig/cart or an ATV.

With 4 dogs pulling away at you, your level of control goes down very significantly, and ever very well trained teams will ocassionally dump the driver and continue there run.

So yeah with 4 dogs, consider a rig for stability and control etc.

If you want to discuss further then we should probably start a new topic

I meant choke chain as a training tool not to walk the dog, i don't mind if i had a husky him pulling but to a certain point since i don't want him to drag me around the block, my stregh does not compare to that of a husky since i'm a female and don't really weight that much. I had good control over my last husky but she did not really pull unless i let her.