How old before switching to a metal choker chain?

[sharif]

Is there a typical weight or age requirment before switching to this type of collar?

[StephanieandToby]

Choke collars are strictly for obedience training. If your puppy is old enough to be leash-trained and go to obedience class...it is old enough to have a choke collar. (IMO)
Of course...a choke collar should never be left on a dog outside of actual training. (probably don't have to tell you that...)

[Lieutenant293]

I have used a choke Collar on other dogs before with positive results but Rocko actually was easier to train without using one..... But i agree with Stephanie if they are old enough for obedience its old enough for the collar

[sharif]

Originally Posted by Lieutenant293

I have used a choke Collar on other dogs before with positive results but Rocko actually was easier to train without using one..... But i agree with Stephanie if they are old enough for obedience its old enough for the collar

Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback.

This may sound like a silly question, but I am always "training" my dog when on the leash. For instance, when giving my puppy a walk, I am training as we go. Is it suitable to use the choke collar for extended periods of time? Obviously, when he is off leash, the choker is not left on.

I am sorta new to training with the choker, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

[spidey]

Sorry, but there's no way I'd be using a choke chain on a dog younger than 8 months or so, if then (training equipment should be used IF needed, not as a default for every dog, not every dog needs a choke chain, and a young puppy certainly doesn't). Training for a puppy should be fun and reward-based, corrections should only be used on a dog who's trained and ignores commands, not on a puppy.

I also wouldn't be doing intensive training all the time on walks, other than insisting on polite loose-lead walking, and even then, baby steps, positive, encouraging, not punitive. Even with an older dog, I do short sessions of training on walks (heeling across the street, five minutes here and there of work), not endless drilling - walks are for fun and exercise and working on building a good working relationship.

[sharif]

Originally Posted by spidey

Sorry, but there's no way I'd be using a choke chain on a dog younger than 8 months or so, if then (training equipment should be used IF needed, not as a default for every dog, not every dog needs a choke chain, and a young puppy certainly doesn't). Training for a puppy should be fun and reward-based, corrections should only be used on a dog who's trained and ignores commands, not on a puppy.

I also wouldn't be doing intensive training all the time on walks, other than insisting on polite loose-lead walking, and even then, baby steps, positive, encouraging, not punitive. Even with an older dog, I do short sessions of training on walks (heeling across the street, five minutes here and there of work), not endless drilling - walks are for fun and exercise and working on building a good working relationship.

If my puppy is pulling, shouldn't training and correction take place continually until the pulling stops? I am a beginner, so I do appreciate the candid opinions of those more experience than me.

[denverday]

if it is just pulling when walking,... I use a gentle leader harness.(not the muzzle type) that goes over the chest,shoulders and breast bone....Denver is 6 months and this has helped alot with pulling
He tends to get really excited when he sees people so I can pretty much keep him from jumping with this.
I have to put alot of strength when he is really excited...
Still working on that
link to it
http://www.premier.com/pages.cfm?ID=75

[sharif]

That's great information, thank you.

So what is the more appropriate scenario to use the choker?

[Lieutenant293]

Denver thats what i have on rocko and he loves it

[denverday]

Originally Posted by sharif

So what is the more appropriate scenario to use the choker?

I don't know for sure this is my first large dog.....my chihuahua didn't need one.
I'm sure a good trainer would be able to help you with info, I'm sure it all depends on the dog and situation.

[spidey]

If you do a search for "loose lead walking", there's lots of information about how to train it. However, as a general rule, corrections are for when you have already taught the dog the behaviour, you have practiced it in many locations, and the dog can reasonably be expected to understand it (and that includes being old enough to be mentally mature enough to perform properly), corrections are not for training a puppy how to do something in the first place. Treats, play, some form of reward are how you train a puppy, not corrections. Are you enrolled in a puppy kindergarten class? A good puppy class will teach you the basics of training loose-lead walking, sit, down and the other fundamentals of obedience. You really should find a good trainer to take classes with, and you should get some books to read (Ian Dunbar's "Before & After You Get Your Puppy", Jean Donaldson's "The Culture Clash", etc. - all are available from online stores like Amazon).

Now is the time to build a good relationship with your pup and lay down the foundations of good obedience training, and you do this by building your dog's trust in you, by being fair and reasonable and by making your dog WANT to work with you. Over-using corrections at this stage is a great way to make your dog shut down completely. Think of it this way, if I yelled some nonsense word at you and then hurt you without ever having taught you what the word meant, would your reaction be to want to learn, or to assume that I was some kind of unreasonable crazy person? Would you look forward to training, or dread it? What about if I gradually explained it to you, rewarded your efforts and made it fun? Which would give you the better attitude? Which is more fair and reasonable? Which is actually TRAINING you?