Product Description

Our dominant dog collars (DDC) were designed by Ed Frawley back in the 1990s to control reactive dogs that display aggression towards people or other dogs. In many cases, these collars have saved the lives of dogs who otherwise would have been euthanized.

When a DDC is fit correctly (sizing is discussed in detail below), the collar fits right up under the dog's jaw and rides close behind the dog's ears with only an inch or two of slack when attached to the leash. Sizing is critical. Trainers who buy collars that are too large will have too much slack, which reduces the effectiveness of the collar.

How to use a Dominant Dog Collar

We are often asked how to use our DDC. The first part of the answer is to make it clear that the DDC was not designed or meant to give a POP correction (like with a prong collar). When the dog requires a correction, simply tell the dog "NO" and then take all the slack out of the leash as you apply pressure by lifting straight up.

Continue to apply upward pressure until your dog offers a behavior change. As soon as you see that change, you should immediately release upward pressure. How much pressure to apply depends on the dog and the circumstances you find yourself in, as well as the level of distractions. More about this below.

The key to this training is to remain calm. Don't sound angry, hectic, or worried. Don't scream at your dog. Simply say "NO" in a normal tone of voice. Before applying upward pressure, make sure to give the dog a second to respond. If it doesn't respond or ignores your "NO", then lift up.

If you are consistent EVERY time the dog acts inappropriately, most dogs learn very quickly to offer a behavior change. Dogs who have been allowed to practice bad behavior for some time will require more upward pressure for a longer period of time before their behavior changes. This work is going to take repetitions for a dog to learn to respect the handler when told "NO", but when done correctly, every dog will learn to respect a "NO" command and the power of a DDC.

Unlike a prong collar correction, DDC are not painful for the dog. While a prong collar can and will often trigger an aggressive or hectic response back towards the handler, that seldom happens with a DDC. If it does happen, the trainer should remain calm and continue to apply very firm upward pressure until the aggressive behavior stops. When you stop, say nothing. Do not praise or pet the dog, as this may encourage a fight. Simply act like nothing happened and continue on with what you were originally trying to do (unless the dog is aggressing towards people or other dogs, in which case you should turn and walk away).

It must be said that if you're reading this, you have some form of behavior issue with your dog. I would also guess that you agree with me when I say that giving a dog with behavioral problems to a rescue (where the bad behavior will continue) or putting the dog down is not a fair solution for a problem that most people have allowed to happen.

Killing a dog over behavioral issues must always be the last solution. Using a dominant dog collar correctly and managing a dog properly is a far better solution.

If you feel you need additional training help for a dog aggression issue, I would recommend my online course titled DEALING WITH DOMINANT AND AGGRESSIVE DOGS. This course does a deep dive into the causes of dog aggression and pack structure. It is well organized and has over 20 hours of training information.

Dominant Dog Collars and Handler Aggressive Dogs

I have trained police service dogs and dogs for the biting sports dogs since 1974. For a number of years during the 1980s, I imported selection-tested adult dogs for police service work. Most of these dogs came from homes in Germany where the high drive dogs were allowed to run the house. The owners inevitably gave them up because they simply could not handle them.

When these dogs came to my kennel, most of them came with behavioral baggage. It was common for the dogs to resort to handler aggression when asked to do something they did not want to do. They needed to learn that handler aggression was not a tool they could use. I solved these issues by using dominant dog collars. I have a great deal of experience working with seriously strong aggressive dogs.

If animal rights people saw the arguments I had with many of these dogs, they would probably go a little crazy. They would say that those dogs needed to be put to sleep--but they would have been dead wrong. In every case, the dog's issues just needed to be cleared up and they were over it. Every one of those dogs (except one that had a brain tumor), went on to have a full, productive career in law enforcement.

Dominant Dog Collars Can Be Used as Backup Collars When Training with a Prong Collar

Prong collars can come apart during training, leaving a dog suddenly and unexpectedly off-leash. This is why everyone training with a prong collar should have a backup collar on their dog. Dominant dog collars make excellent backup collars.

The important thing to take into consideration when selecting a DDC for a backup is to get a larger size and use it in conjunction with a Prong Collar Leash, which has a second clip designed for this exact purpose. Even if the prong collar fails completely, the leash will still be securely fastened to the backup collar--and you'll still have a hold on your dog.

How to Measure for a Dominant Dog Collar

Understanding the SIZING on a DDC is important. If you follow the directions below, you should not have a problem.

Our sizing options are only the length of the cord, not the cord plus the metal rings.

To get the correct training slack (you will need 1 to 2 inches of slack - not 5 inches), use a string or tape to measure the dog's neck right under dog's jaw and right behind the ears, then take that measurement and subtract 2 inches. This will give you the correct size of collar to order.

For example, if your dog has a 17-inch neck measurement, you will need a 15-inch DDC. This may seem a little weird, but the hardware rings provide additional length to the collar. Remember, we want a collar to have one to two inches of slack when put on the dog's neck--and if you follow these directions, that is what you will get.

For assistance to determine the correct size for your dog, use our handy interactive "Size Guide" helper.

Measure the dog's neck just under the jaw and right behind the ears using a string or cloth tape measure. The string should be very snug, as tight a measurement as you can get it. There should be no extra room at all between the dog's neck and the tape measure.

If halfway between two numbers, round down.

If you just need a backup collar, simply select the size that matches the number you got. For example, a dog with a 13" or 13.25" neck will need a 13" backup dominant dog collar.

Because the length of the hardware varies, determining the appropriate corrective dominant collar will depend on your measurement. The name of the options do not necessarily relate to the number you get from your measurement of your dog.

The hardware is smaller on the dominant dog collars that are 8" to 13", so if your dog's neck is between 8" and 13" you should select the option that is 1" smaller. For example, a dog with a 10" neck will need the 9" dominant dog collar.

The hardware is larger on the collars that are 14" and larger, so if your dog's neck is 14" or greater, you will need to select the option that is 2" smaller than your measurement. For example, a dog with a 15" neck will need the 13" dominant dog collar.

Because the hardware dimensions vary, some dogs with different neck measurements will end up with the same option. For example, a dog with 13" neck and another dog with a 14" neck will both need the 12" corrective dominant dog collar, because the 13" collar uses a shorter fastener than the 14" collar.

If you need help sizing, view our video on Dominant Dog Collar Sizing. If you are questioning your measurement, please feel free to call our sales team and we can talk you through the process.

What Happens When You Don't Measure Correctly

When dominant dog collars are properly fitted, they will stay in place and not slip down the dog's neck. If the collar does not stay in place, it will not be as effective for training. It is very important that trainers understand that the proper fit will not only ensure better training, but that it also helps keep the dog safe. The less movement in the handler's arm, the faster the trainer is going to be able to take the slack out of the collar, and the less likely the trainer is to cause the dog injury.

Dominant dog collars are extremely durable, however a dog can still chew through it. This shouldn't happen if a dominant dog collar is fitted correctly, but if it has too much slack, or if a dog is left with it unattended, owners run the risk of the collar becoming damaged. Dogs chewing collars off their neck are not covered under warranty.

Disclaimer

If you are new to this product, it is important that you understand how the product is intended to be used. This collar should not be used to give a leash correction. It is not intended to be used in the "yank and crank" manner, where a trainer jerks the dog around to give corrections. Attempting to do so with this collar or with a metal choke collar will damage the throat of your dog.

Our dominant dog collar should only be used in the manner explained here and as demonstrated in our DVDs. If you use the dominant dog collar correctly, it is the best collar available to solve serious unwarranted aggression problems, but if you use it to jerk your dog around to administer leash corrections, you could very easily injure your dog.

This collar is meant as a training collar and not to be used as an “everyday” collar and should not be worn without direct supervision. We advise that this collar is used for walking or training and then removed at the end of the session.

Leerburg will not be held responsible for any injuries that result from the improper use of dominant dog collars.

Due to government restrictions, countries like Australia and several in Europe do not allow the use of remote or electric collars. Dominant dog collars are a viable alternative.

Nylon vs polypropylene rope - what's the difference?

On the surface, they appear to be identical, and they do share many similar features. For example, they're both constructed from industrial-grade synthetic materials, making them a stronger alternative to natural fiber ropes. Additionally, both materials are resistant to UV rays, abrasion, and rot.

But there are some key differences between the two, which make them either more suitable or less suitable for certain jobs.

The 3 differences between nylon and polypropylene

1. Flexibility

   Nylon has a high level of flexibility. When necessary, it's possible to stretch nylon rope by up to 20% without affecting its strength - and it will simply return to its original size afterwards. This makes it particularly good when you need the rope to be more shock absorbent, such as towing or mooring.

   This is not a feature we want with slip leads or dominant dog collars

2. Absorbency

   Both nylon and polypropylene sink in water. However, they differ greatly in terms of their absorbency.

   Although nylon rope is normally very strong it absorbs liquid quickly and easily, and this compromises its strength significantly. The fibers become waterlogged and start to sag. They also take a long time to dry. Therefore, nylon isn't the best option for wet conditions.

   Polypropylene ropes, on the other hand, do not absorb water. They retain their normal level of strength when they're wet and, as a result, they are a better choice for dog training applications.

3. Temperature resistance

   Another important difference between nylon and polypropylene is their resistance to heat. Nylon rope cannot withstand heat as well as polypropylene. Polypropylene is typically a better choice for working in higher temperatures.

Which is the right option for me - nylon or polypropylene?

Nylon rope is likely to be the ideal option when you need a rope to stretch a little and return to its original length, or to be more shock-absorbent, but for most other applications (like our dominant Dog Slip Lead or Dominant Dog Collars, unlike our competition, we recommend and use polypropylene rope.)

It's just as strong and durable as nylon, but it has a number of additional benefits, such as low water absorbency and high temperature resistance.

In fact, many people believe that if polypropylene had been invented first, there would have been no need to invent nylon. In our opinion, polypropylene is a much better option for dog training applications. We do not want stretch in our slip leads or dominant dog collars.