trainers recommend training with the pinch collar and
having the dog wear it all the time. In this case, when
the dog barks, you tell her “hush”, and if she doesn’t
stop immediately, administer a pinch by giving the
collar a tug. Theoretically, by tugging the collar, this
pauses the dog in the act of barking, at which time you
fill in the surprised silence with “good dog’, and a
treat. Like the soda can, the water spray, or the
citronella blast, the pinch collar provides an
interruption in the unwanted behavior. For a dog who
hasn’t responded to milder interruptions, the pinch
collar may be a solution.
That said, if you must use the pinch collar, first get
yourself properly trained in its appropriate use and how
to fit it on your dog. Then, remember that if you use it
for bark training, it should only be used to interrupt
the barking, not in any way as a punishment.
There’s no denying that the pinch collar hurts your dog,
and when a dog is driving you crazy, it may be difficult
to restrain your irritation. If you have a temper, don’t
get a device that causes pain: you may end up hurting
your dog more than helping him.
Choke collars workon the same principle as pinch
collars, only they press the dog’s windpipe. If you want
to read about them, check out the URLs at the end of
this section. |
