The dangers of choke / pinch collars

The recent strangling tragedy that occurred in another dog friendly park brings the spotlight upon the hazards of

inadequate understanding about the function of the various dog restraint and control devices – leashes, harnesses, web or leather collars, chain choke collars, chain pinch/prong

collars, nylon choke collars, “gentle lead muzzle harnesses”, leather or nylon muzzles, electronic field collars.  Each of these devices has strong points as well as

weak points.  Some of these devices can be left on the animal with minimal supervision, and some of these devices require constant supervision while the dog is wearing it.

Most of these restraint devices should be removed from

the dog, when the pet is in a “free-roam” situation.  The exception to this guideline would be the use of a properly fitted web or leather collar or a field “training” collar.

The dog typically will get out of a harness or gentle lead device, often resulting in the loss of the device.  If your dog requires the use of a muzzle, then you should probably reconsider bringing this animal into a free-roam dog park situation.  A muzzle restraint device severely inhibits a

dog’s ability to pant and thus to cool himself off.  So over-heating is a real possibility. Muzzles are also fairly easy for an aggressive dog to remove, with the real possibility of a dog-fight or person getting bitten.

The slip-type collars (choke chain, prong chain, nylon) should NEVER be left on a dog in a free-roam situation.  These collars are designed to tighten down on the dog’s neck to provide a corrective stimulus.  Unfortunately, these collars can also be snagged by undergrowth, fences, underwater obstructions, other dog’s teeth, with a strangulation resulting.

But, no matter what type of restraint device is used, supervision by the owner is a must, especially when the dog is allowed to free-roam.