martingale/greyhound collars

[Marsha]

I've just started a training class with Spanky at the local Humane Society. Last night was the first class....a class with no dogs. It's a clicker training class, and we cannot use choker or pinch collars on the dogs. We can use a flat buckle collar or a gentle leader or, I think she said, a martingale collar. Someone asked about harnesses, and she said that generally they pull too much on them. I have a Sensible/Sensation no-pull harness, and I asked her about the no-pull harness, and she said she'd rather have them on the collar. I really think all she heard at that point was harness, not that it was a no-pull type. Anyway, he's small but quite a puller. I was wondering if anyone has used the martingale, and does it help with pulling, or is it primarily just to keep them from slipping out. Is it humane?

[Summer Magic]

I use a martingale on Magic because of the small streamlined head on a shetland sheepdog. They are quite a bit safer than a choke collar because when they are adjusted properly they close around the neck but stop short of "choking" them. When we walk tho I do use a halti.

[Marsha]

Is it an aid in pulling, or is it no more effective than a regular collar? Since Spanky threw a fit with the GL on, I got the Sensible harness, and we do pretty good with that. Now that I don't think the instructor wants those in class, and Spanky is not fond of the GL, I was wondering whether the Martingale would help in training class with the pulling or if I should just go with my regular flat collar and work on gaining some ground with it.

[Summer Magic]

Actually I think the Martingale collar was designed for greyhounds and dogs with small heads to keep them from pulling the collar over their own heads when the lead is tightened. I don't think the collar is an aid for pulling but the gentle lead and halti are designed to curb the pulling. Using these along with positive reinforcement will help them learn that pulling gets them nothing where being a good heeler will get rewarded with TREATS!

If you've had a bad experience with the gentle lead I'd try the +R while he has it on without a leash attached. Once he accepts it on his head, then attach the leash and use no pressure on the leash. once that is accomplished then try walking him around in the house with it on. If he accepts it try outside in the yard, and build up to the walkies. Don't let him run to the end of the leash with the head gear on, he can injure his neck. I started with two leashes one attached to the halti and a shorter one attached to her martingale collar when she reached the end of the shorter leash I would gently turn her head by using the longer lead attached to the halti. It didn't take her long to realize that she wasn't supposed to pull on the lead after a few times out.

[Sarah Moore]

Marsha-

We tried a Martingale collar for one of our dogs (Lucky, who had the beautiful habit of backing out of flat buckle collars). It did absolutely nothing to help with pulling, it only prevented it from slipping off around his head. As far as the GL is concerned, I tried a Gentle Leader with one of my other dogs (Teddy), he HATED it, freaked out, and took to lying down and refusing to move. So I talked to the trainer of the class he was in at the time and she suggested the Halti, as it doesn't stay tight around the muzzle like the gentle leader does (if they are not pulling, the Halti is loose around their muzzle). Teddy accepted it much better. He still isn't crazy about it and will try and get it off every now and again, but much better then the GL and he is learning to walk beautifully on a leash. Because I know these are only tools, we take his halti off for a bit every walk we go on so he learns to walk like a gentleman even on a buckle collar. It's a long process, but I'm beginning to see results. Good luck!

[aussiesmum]

I'm with Sarah. We use a martingale on Aussie only to keep her from slipping. She is a lab, but I like a martingale because it allows us to give aussie the loosest "daily" collar while at the same time allowing it to "restrict" only as tight as a "normal" collar would be (and hence no slipping).

[Amber]

I used to foster Greyhounds and I volunteer with a local Greyhound adoption agency here in Louisiana. The Martingale collar is used so that dogs with heads that are close to the size of their necks cannot slip out of their collars and run off. It does nothing for pulling, as my first foster pulled me all around my yard the first couple of days I had her! Your trainer should know exactly how this collar functions before suggesting its use for the class. Also, I've heard with a REGULAR harness, the person who is trying to control the dog has very little control over the dog. I'm not sure how a no-pull harness works, as I've never tried using one.

I hope I have helped some.

[Marsha]

The instructor didn't say what purpose the collar had....just that we could use flat buckle collars or martingales....no choke, prong, or pinch collars.

[Karl Krohn]

I use a martingale on my Australian Shepherd. It is totally ineffective in regards to pulling. I got it so that she would have a loose collar to wear. Her buckle collars and the chain collars for training cut her hair. My dog also hated the GL and tried to (sometimes successfully) rub it off on the ground. I found treats the most effective way to get any decent heeling.

[Vicki Pagano]

:) I wanted to post on this subject because I have a 7 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who had skull surgery at 3.5 months old. The neurologist, who performed the surgery, advised me she can NEVER be leashed by a regular collar as this would apply too much pressure around her neck where the surgery was done.

I have purchased two harnesses, one is a step-in harness, the other was a no-pull type from Walmart. I didn't like the no-pull as it was bulky and didn't seem to stop her from pulling. The step-in harnss doesn't do anything for pulling either, but it fits better and doesn't seem to bother her as much.

I thought the pulling would get better and possibly stop once we begin puppy training classes. Is there another product out there that might do the trick and stop the pulling?

I'm sorry I don't have any advice for you. I am pretty confused about this myself :confused:

regards,

[heathea]

No collar will ever work to prevent pulling except possibly a gentle leader (and even that will only work when that is on). Only training will prevent pulling, it is hard work but definately worth it to train your dog to not pull. I believe there is an article on how to train your dog not to pull on leash, but I am not sure. However there are plenty of positive re-enforcement articles available on-line, just look up leash pulling.

I, whether fortunately or unfortunately was taught by a trainer how to keep a dog from pulling using a choke chain. Had I known then what I know now...and all of that I probably would have used a different method. But I am fortunate in that my dogs walk next to me or slightly in front of me on a loosh leash. No matter how you train them, it takes work, dedication, and continued training. But it is worth it.

Vicki, I would start reading articles regarding training your dog not to pull. There is no reason you cannot use a harness and train your dog not to pull.

Good luck!
Heather.

[Amber]

Vicki, do you have a Petsmart where you live? There is a product called the Sporn Harness that is supposed to be good for pulling. I haven't used it because I don't really walk either one of my dogs a lot. My poodle gets all her exercise indoors and in a fenced area and my rescue has yet to understand the whole collar+leash=walk idea. Maybe someone who has used the Sporn Harness will come here and tell you more about it. You could probably also look it up on the Internet.

[Jody Hayes]

I use the Sporn Harness on my Beagle...it works great! He used to pull me the whole time we walked, which is an hour a day and by the time we got home my back was killing me! NOw we can walk nicely, no pulling, and I can take my coffee mug too:) No spills...LOL. I don't think it will ever work for my dog to walk w/ a regular collar, but I can live w/ that. I give the sporn harness 4 paws up.

[Casey Laurie]

I would be wary of any instructor who would tell me that I could not use a harness for training. That smacks to me of a trainer who thinks her way is the only way. What would she say if you were to tell her that your dog is unable to wear a collar for health reasons? That he is untrainable? If she cannot teach you to train your dog on a harness instead of a collar I would not have much faith in her as a trainer.

[Chris Smith]

I went to Nalu's first "everyday manners" class last night. This is the course for dogs that already have had a basic puppy class and are working on strengthening their manners and obedience. It is +R class.

The instructor talked alot about harnesses, collars, etc. This instructor thinks the "sense-ible" or "sensation" harness is the best one out there - doesn't harm the dog at all, helps to teach and guide the dog by a gentle touch to the directions that you want, and if used right, can really reduce pulling. She also said the sporn is good too, but her favorite are the sensations/sense-ibles.

We talked alot about dogs pulling, loose leash walking, etc. and all of the harnesses, gentle leaders, etc. and the martindale collar was never mentioned by her. So, as most people said already, it's probably not for pullers.