"Yes, You do Need a Dog Training Collar!"

Whether your dog is large or small, young or old... Yes! You do need a dog training collar for him to wear. Contrary to popular opinion, training collars are not cruel, barbaric or abusive.

Training collars are simply a means to enhance your communication with your dog.

In the long run, you and your dog will be much happier if he is well trained. And you will find it much easier to train him if you can get your point across efficiently with one or two *meaningful* corrections, rather than a lifetime of niggling corrections that don't effectively encourage your dog to modify his behavior?

What is the right type of dog training collar for you to use?

I like the choke or slip collar - these come in chain versions as well as a nylon version. The nylon training collar actually fits tighter around your dog's neck because it has a clip closure and doesn't have to be big enough to slip on over his head.

The chain training collars are very effective, and cheap. However, they do have the tendency to hang low on your dog's neck, closer to his shoulders.

To give your dog the most effective correction with a training collar, you'll want to administer a short, sharp jerk on the leash and have the collar sitting around his neck right below his ears at the time the correction is administered.

What other types of dog training collars are there?

Two more expensive, but also useful training collars are:

1) The electric shock collar. This type of dog training collar can be operated remotely and is very good for training your dog while he is off-leash. The intensity of the shock can be altered to make sure it is effective for your dog, but not too strong.

2) The citronella training collar is also very useful. These administer a scented citronella mist (the plant-based substance found in mosquito-repelling candles) into your dog's face which he finds unpleasant. A common application of this type of dog training collar is as a bark-deterrent. Many citronella collars are designed to release a spray when your dog barks or makes other vocalizations.

So - dog training collars are important for dog's of any age. Make sure you use one during your dog's next training session and make sure it fits well to be most effective.