Martingale collar

[reddog21]

My girl is 8 months old and we train every Monday. I was using a Gentle Leader but the trainer has said that, to progress, I should get her out of the GL and into a Martingale. I've done this for about 10 days and find she is pulling and I am having trouble with her lunging. Is there a technique to using this type of collar. Has anyone had experience?

[Judi W]

As far as I am concerned the martingale is no better than working on a flat collar. I'd suggest a normal slip collar or a pinch. Your instructor is correct however about getting out of the head halter which you have seen by the fact that you dog pulls so badly when not wearing it.

[LavenderRott]

Max wears a martingale collar for his "regular" collar. It really isn't any more effective to stop pulling and lunging any better then a buckle collar.

[Daisy Duke]

I would definately get a prong collar...they are AWESOME....They look pretty nasty, but they are not so bad!

[Burnsway]

Isn't the pinch/prong illegal in Australia?

If so see if you can go with a choke. Just make sure you have a trainer show you proper use.

[Stubby]

What were your trainers reasons to switch to the martingale? What is your trainers "style" of training? All positive reinforcement? No corrections?

[scooterjohansen]

Originally Posted by Burnsway

Isn't the pinch/prong illegal in Australia?

If so see if you can go with a choke. Just make sure you have a trainer show you proper use.

Nope not illegal. Choke collars are not the best idea.

[Burnsway]

Originally Posted by scooterjohansen

Choke collars are not the best idea.

Not my first choice either but for some reason I thought in some parts of Australia the prong was illegal.

[reddog21]

I agree that the Martingale doesn't seem any better than a flat collar. Prong collars are legal in some states but not in Sydney, New South Wales. The training school is committed to positive reinforcement and does not use choke type collars. Last evening I walked her with the lead held vertically, the collar up high on the neck, and with the dog very close by my side and a quicker pace than normal. This was successful but will not reduce the lunging from the sit position. I thought there may be a technique to using this type of collar but I now believe I have to go back to square 1 as far as the lunging and pulling goes. Thanks for your posts.

[Judi W]

Go ahead and use a standard training slip collar. Get a chain one, no longer than is necessary to barely slip over her head. Means you might need to purchase more as she grows, but they are not expensive and you don't want to work with one that is too long. You can nicely explain to your trainer that you need a bit more control than you are getting with the martingale. You should be able to take a walk without having the dog strung up at your leg which is not fun for either of you and a slip collar will allow you to make a correction when necessary and also allow you to slide it up behind her ears as needed.

[StephanieandToby]

I walk several dogs that wear Martingales and although it is true that the larger dogs still pull..(collars always fitted too loose as well),they do make a snappy "jingle" when you give a correction. I like them a lot for small dogs.

I trained my dog in a regular choke chain and it worked beautifully.