HOW TOOLS CAN HELP CLIENTS

 

Introduction

With increased interest in canine behavior and psychology, a lot more people around the world, including those seeking a reputable Dog Trainer in Dubai, are starting to get immensely involved in their pets’ lives. As a result, the overall intrigue in police K9 dogs, service dogs, and dogs used in various other operational environments has increased. With high interest comes a lot of opinions, some warranted and some unwarranted. Over the past decade, in particular, training tools have become a burning topic of debate—whether one is in London, New York, or pursuing Dog Behavior Training Dubai services. 

This article will explain what training tools are, how they are used to train dogs in various operational sectors, and the importance of using them correctly in order to ensure their prevalence.

Most commonly used training tools

Training tools are of many types; some simply assist with training, and some provide functional benefits. They have various material and configuration choices for one to choose from, depending on the breed and requirements. The Martingale collar is similar to a normal flat collar, except it has a limited slip section, which tightens to a certain extent if the dog pulls on the leash. It is therefore also called the limited slip collar. The functionality is slightly similar to a prong collar, which will be discussed later on. 

Second, we have the Halti and Gentle Leader collar. This collar is fitted around the dog’s muzzle and behind the dog’s ears. It looks similar to a horse’s bridle. Its purpose is to put pressure and direction the dog’s muzzle in a certain direction. “The dog thinks about what it looks at.” This literally gives us the control to change the direction of the dog’s face, which might not be very effective in hindsight because the behavior change will not be a voluntary decision made by the dog itself; it was heavily influenced by us. 

Then we have the choke chain, also called correction chain, slip chain, or check chain. It could be metal or stainless-steel rings that have two bigger rings at each end. You loop one end of the chain through the other making the one that moves the ‘live ring’ and the other, the dead ring. The leash is attached to the live ring. It chokes the dog when the dogs pull on the leash and has no limited slip. However, if we were to use a training tool for ‘correction’, not pulling on the leash, etc., we would rather use a more efficient tool, in terms of overall effort and impact. That brings us to the Prong collar, also called Pinch collar. It is commonly made of stainless steel with ‘links’ throughout the chain (see ‘picture 1’ for reference). The links have rounded ends (with the Herm Sprenger collar at least) that are not sharp and pointy. It should be un-latched and fit, rather than slipping it over the dog’s head like other collars. The links need to touch the dog’s skin and be fitted very snugly on the higher end of the dog’s neck (see ‘picture 2’ for reference). 

There is an O shaped ring and D shaped ring to it and in the Herm Sprenger collar, a center plate that equalizes the pressure throughout the neck. The O-ring prevents the collar from functioning as a choke collar, and the D-ring is what the leash is supposed to be attached to. Similar to the two tools discussed above, the prong (however threatening it might look) does not hurt the dog unless there is pressure added. The ‘hurt’ caused is momentary and non-dramatic, with no long-term repercussions on the dog’s health—when used correctly (Bailey, 2022). The ‘pop and release’ technique should be used to give corrections when undesired behavior occurs. To give appropriate corrections to a dog that needs behavioral correction, is being taught to heel or maintain basic obedience, the prong collar fulfills all the functions of the previously discussed tools and more, while doing it more efficiently. All the training tools discussed until now clearly communicate the source of the correction to the dog i.e., the handler or client. 

Next, we have the harness. The harness is equipment that goes over the dog’s chest. It looks like a vest and is designed for pulling. Lastly, we come to a very common training tool called the e-collar or remote collar. The e-collar is an electronic training tool that has two parts, the remote i.e. the transmitter and the electronic collar i.e. the receiver. 

The client provides an electronic stimulus through the transmitter to communicate with the dog. The remote collar is most effective when used as a communicative tool rather than a correctional tool, though it can be used as both depending on the circumstance. The e-collar must be used carefully so as to ensure the dog does not inculcate a negative association with it. It is popularly used for teaching off-leash obedience to a dog, whether through Dog Training UAE programs or individual sessions.

Who can use these tools and how?

The Martingale dog collar is a mild training tool used commonly by pet owners who want to stop their dog from pulling on the leash. The Martingale collar can be used on more mellow dogs, who have a ‘softer’ temperament than usual. However, in most cases, it isn’t a very useful tool as very few dogs have a soft enough temperament for this collar to be effective. 

The choke collar is frequently used by military, law enforcement handlers, and trainers. The width of the choke chain depends on the temperament of the dog. The metal helps provide a choking sensation, restricting airflow and applying pressure, which is certainly more effective than a Martingale collar for high-energy dogs. 

They are inexpensive and readily available like the Martingale. However, one must know that a major drawback of this tool is tissue clotting that forms around the neck after heavy usage. It also does not have a limited slip. The Gentle Leader or Halti is also used by some trainers and pet owners. 

However, we do not use this tool because it is simply not as effective for the reasons mentioned in the previous section. On the other hand, the prong collar is very effective and can be used by a varied client base; your common pet owner, law enforcement, military, service dogs, rubble pile dogs, search and rescue dogs, etc. This is because the prong collar is an extremely useful tool in teaching control, obedience, and authority. 

These are things needed for dogs in every sector of society. All working dogs, sport dogs, pet dogs, and service dogs need to know some degree of obedience to be successful and compliant with their handler. It clearly communicates the source of the correction and consequences of indulging in undesired behavior. That being said, their uses from client to client will differ depending on the role of the dog. 

Working dogs will use the prong collar more restrictively than other sectors because they avoid curbing the dog’s drive and teach them to be more independent. On the other hand, pet dog owners can rely on the prong more, to build well-rounded client-dog relationships and have a more compliant and ‘well-behaved’ dog. The tool is easily available and comes in various shapes so pet owners can buy one according to their dog’s breed. Plastic prongs are another great option to use on dogs with a softer temperament. 

The prong is also heavily used in the service dog industry since compliance and obedience are a very significant part of their training. Once taught, clients can use it to correct various types of reactivity, certain types of aggression, etc. The harness, as discussed previously, is used by dogs that need to pull. Iditarod race dogs, sled dogs, and mushing dogs typically use a harness. Lastly, the remote collar is also useful in all sectors of dog training, whether one is looking for dog training in Dubai or local sessions elsewhere. 

It varies immensely in functions, designs, and brands. It is preferable to get one that has a wide range of stimuli, for example, 0 to 100. The wide range of options gives the client more leeway to fine-tune the stimulus in accordance with each dog’s response. The transmitter has many other functions and there are options for multiple-dog clients as well. I cannot emphasize how important the e-collar is in some working dog sectors especially. 

A good recall is particularly important for search-and-rescue dogs i.e. wilderness search, cadavers, air-scenting, detection, disaster search, and sometimes, law enforcement too. Dogs in these fields need to work off-leash and independently. A good recall using an e-collar could determine the dog’s safety (Vieira de Castro, Araújo, Fonseca and Olsson, 2021). A dog with a reliable recall can always enjoy more freedom as compared to another training tool. From the client’s perspective, the e-collar might take a little more time to comprehend and get familiar with in comparison to other tools. 

However, once used efficiently, it is one of the best training tools one can come across. Caitlyn (see ‘picture 3’) says her Dutch Shepherd Pim, who is her service dog, was trained using the e-collar and has been able to enjoy off-leash freedom to a great extent for the past 6 years. He is happy to put on the e-collar because, to him, it means adventure time.

Appropriate use of these tools will enable continued use

Punishment or pressure that does not stop the behavior reinforces the behavior. Keeping this in mind, it must be noted that these tools will be ineffective if not used correctly. Correct use by a client also involves proper fitting and placement of the training tool. You might find dogs on a prong collar pulling their handler across a dog park. The dog using the opposition reflex has numbed itself to the sensation of the prong, simply because it is not fitted and used the way it is designed to.

There are numerous arguments against training collars. Some of them say they cause immense stress, are archaic, cruel, and inhumane in nature (Greenebaum, 2010). Yes, they cause stress, but amounts that are not detrimental to their well-being in any way. Stress, when given in the right amounts and at certain times, can change behavior and enable success, therefore allowing a more stress-free life for the dog in the long run. A lot of training tools have been banned in countries in recent years. 

This is because of the same bandwagon mentality that is mentioned above. A mere lack of knowledge and expertise in the matter has caused such drastic measures to take place, putting the overall welfare of the canine community at risk. Client knowledge, be it me, you, or anyone else using these tools can ensure that training tools are used appropriately to create better results, better dogs, and ultimately a positive impact.

References

Bailey, J., 2022. An Investigation of Force Potential Against the Canine Neck Associated with Collar Use. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Greenebaum, J.B., 2010. Training dogs and training humans: Symbolic interaction and dog training. Anthrozoös, 23(2), pp.129-141.

Vieira de Castro, A.C., Araújo, Â., Fonseca, A. and Olsson, I.A.S., 2021. Improving dog training methods: Efficacy and efficiency of reward and mixed training methods. Plos one, 16(2), p.e0247321.