when to use the choke collar - Page 1

can anyone give me advice on when to use a choke collar?  I really didn't want to resort to using one, but she needs some strong corrections at time. Is it okay to use one on a 6 month old puppy?  What about prong collars?

It's fine for 6 months old just adjust your level of correction appropriately, I would not use it on a dog that I am working in protection :) I like them wild the time to trim them to society rules will come :).

Margarita,

As you will recall, we have repeatedly suggested you get some competent help with this dog. Now you come here asking about using a collar. How about getting some real help to teach you how to set limits? Had you followed much of the advice you received in the past, perhaps now, at 6 months old, you would not be having the troubles you are. Let me be clear: it will only get worse if you do not know how to deal with this dog. Do yourself AND the dog a favor and get some help. I am sure that if we know what part of the country you are in, someone may be able to suggest someone to help you.

I agree with hodie ....

choke collars are not suitable for a pup so young. bones are still developing and they can do untold damage ...

why are you making strong corrections with such a young pup?

it sounds to me like you need to go to a trainer and learn how to train your pup

no collar or gadget is a replacement for good training, your pup should be on a solid flat collar or at worst a half check. 

Here, how about this:

NEVER USE A CHOKE COLLAR. THEY CAN, AND WILL, DO PERMANENT NECK MUSCLE DAMAGE. THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN IN MANY STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED USE OF CHOKE COLLARS WHEN TRAINING DOGS. LIKE THEY SAID ABOVE, "GET HELP" AND USE A PRONG COLLAR!!!

LMAO can hardly see that, could you make it a bit bigger

I don't think that a prong is really suitable for the owner.

you need a professional trainer prongs can be just as dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced handler ...

 Hodie-

Me nor the dog are not in trouble as you implied in your above comment.  We do belong to a Schutzhund club here in Southwest Florida and our dog goes every Sunday for training.  We are having a problem with her jumping on our smaller dogs and hurting them.  She just wants to play, but the dachsunds do not want anything to do with her.  Her only problem is jumping on people or other dogs when I walk her.  

 Margarita,

if you are in a SchH club, then someone there should surely be able to teach you about how to stop this unwanted behavior. If I were a small dog, I would not like a GSD jumping either. And if you cannot walk her without her jumping on dogs and people, then again, you need some help.

I am NOT even close to being an expert!!!  But I have 3 GSd's, had 4, now have 2 Beagles and 1 English Bulldog.  My 17  month old GSD is too big & rough to play with the beagles & GSD pup so I keep them separated.  The English Bulldog wants to hump everything and is not allowed to be with the GSD pup to ensure she doesn't get injured.  My yard has 4 separations, one of which is a dog kennel with 3 area's; two 7' x 10' kennels, and a 20' x 10' play yard with an open 10' x 10' sleeping area.  I have a dog room that is enclosed in my garage & under heat & air with a doggy door to the side yard.  There are 8 kennel in there and 4 kennels in the house.  The English Bulldog is always in the house but the other dogs take turns in the dog room & house.  I put the one from the house in the kennels during the day as I prefer they to have some room to play instead of being in a crate all day.  

The little dogs just can't really play with the big dogs without getting hurt, nor can the puppy.  When they are all together I monitor it 100% to ensure no one gets hurt.  I would not subject your little dogs to the bigger dogs since you know it's an issue and I wouldn't punish the bigger dog for just wanting to play.  As the dog matures and is better with obedience this may be an option.  I wouldn't take the chance of injuring your bigger dog or decreasing her drive with too many corrections.  

All of my dogs except the Bulldog are SAR working dogs.  The Bulldog is a show dog.  My 17 month old GSD has started in Schutzhund.  So I have a vested interest in making sure no one is injured for more than one reason, plus with this many dogs, I can't afford and don't want unnecessary Vet bills.  And I don't want to decrease their drive for SAR or Schutzhund work.  If all your dogs are in the house, try putting up baby gates to separate the dogs and walk them separately.  It is more work but well worth your peace of mind and dog safety.  

Teri