Are leather choke collars as evil as choke chains? I'm assuming not because there are nice ones sold here, but I wanted to ask before I buy one.

My dog is not doing well with a prong collar at all, but I feel like I need something more than a regular buckle collar.

A few web board members have helped me start with a whole new training plan, so its not going to be for constant correction.

I only really trust leather for strength, so most alternate styles are out.

Anybody use them?

I use these as my daily collars for my dogs.

I have two of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Mendota-Rolled-English-Bridle-Leather/dp/B001AMQY6G

And I just got the one Leerburg sells for my pup...now he just needs to grow into it!

Personally I love these collars. They are great for when I just want to slip a leash on and head out the door. The completely eliminate the possibility of them slipping out of their collar.

What's going on that a prong isn't working?

I'm with Melissa- how is she not doing well with a prong collar?

There are also Martingale collars, (which cinch up like a choke or prong when there is pressure), or the plastic starmark collar. I know a couple folks here use them and love them as a step below the prong, but more then a flat collar. I've never used one, so I can't say personally.


Oh!!! Perfect in between, (IMO) is a fur saver. It can have a cinching action, or you can clip it back to it's self so it sits nice and high on the neck like a prong or DD collar. It's worked wonders with Koenig as far as weaning him off the prong full time. http://leerburg.com/fursaver.htm#881

Edited by Kelly Byrd (02/25/2011 08:48 PM)
Edit reason: Fur saver! Duh!

She's pretty reactive to dogs, and even the presence of a prong seems to make it worse. I've just noticed that she is much better on a buckle collar.

I would just use that, but the only thing is she is really crazy for cats. She has nearly pulled me right off my feet before, and we have a bazillion stray and out door cats around here. Its definitely a situation that I need a correction to be able to keep control. A buckle collar correction doesn't cut it if there is a cat in the equation.

My previous dogs I always used choke chains, but now I know better. I just wasn't sure if the leather style would be as bad.

Mellissa, that collar is exactly the same idea as the one I'm looking at.

Glad to know you like them.

Slipping the collar is another consideration of why I was thinking about getting one.

I have 4 of these Leerburg collars (only needed three but Leerburg is such an awesome company – long story). More importantly, absolutely love them. I generally train with flat collars and our exercise walks are with flat and e-collars but when I take the boys to populated areas (work, town, assisted living home) I love the classy look of a leather collar.

With the added benefit of the choke, should an occasion arise where additional control needs to be gained quickly and effectively, it gives me the security I need. As well, I don’t have to defend my use of the torturous prong and e-collars (I have three of each of these as well - outstanding collars).

I am still breaking the leather collars in though. They’re made of a nice quality leather and kind of like a new saddle, needs some use to work the stiffness out. The tightening action is slower sliding compared to the quick moving chain choke. I like it.

The active ring, although plenty wide, runs a bit of friction with the leather. Doesn’t tighten up instantaneously.

Not an issue with my boys at this point but if you’re used to the quick action of the metal choke or prong, I’d recommend a couple of test drives before you use it the real world. It certainly does tighten but just takes that fraction of second longer.

Again, I like it. Suits my purposes perfectly. Doesn’t get to that throat crunching stage immediately if the dog corrects with minimal pressure yet the security is there, should it be needed.

Thanks CJ. It sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

I don't know if you do this already, but when I get a new leather lead or buckle collar, I wet them down and dry them a few times before the first use. It really breaks them in nicely.

Another question. For sizing, is it better to go with bigger or smaller? She is almost in between sizes. I measured her prong last night and fully exended it was 19 inches. It fits well at that size, but tends to slip down just a little. I always wished they made a half link!

I went down a guage on the prong once, but it didn't feel solid and a correction was way overstimulating.

Does that mean I should go with the 16 to 20 inch?

Go smaller with the leather....it stretches. Also wouldn't recommend repeated wetting and drying. It dries the leather out and weakens it. A good leather conditioner is better. Just "work" it in while sitting watching TV some night.

Frankly, I'd try a snap choke (Leerburg calls them a Dominant Dog collar). Fitted properly, they stay in place and offer a great deal of control over the dog. Some I know call them the "Jesus" collar, as the results can seem almost miraculous. ROFL

I love them so much, I had one custom made out of leather as a show collar.

Tracy

Good points Tracy . I always forget about the stretch factor!

For now I am going to go with the choke. A buckle collar is almost fine, her training is decent for most situations. Its just that she is very strong and young. If she gets worked up she could pull me down if I lost my footing.

Christmas night a friend and I went out with our dogs. She let her dog off leash at park and she couldn't get him back, he was in that really bratty stage an has almost no real training.

After about 20 minutes of trying to catch him, I had her hold Tasha so I could give it a try. My friend is a very strong person, she is a track laborer for the public transit system. Tasha almost brought her down at least 5 times!

Wetting them down is ok as long as you be sure to put a cleaner/conditioner on the leather afterwards and before the leather dries.

Neatsfoot oil is good for softening leather.
CPR is one of the best I've found for conditioning dried out leather (I used it after my husband threw one of my leather collars in the washing machine).
Mink oil will also waterproof the leather, too.


http://www.leathercpr.com/leather-care/