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Why are Choke chains considered necessary for big dogs2007-11-25 2:55:41

I've been visiting my mom, she lives in a suburb of Chicago. My husband and I live in a small town. I have gotten more comments and questions about why don't I have a choke chain on my German Shepard Dog while visiting my mom on our walks. No one out where I live even looks sideways at us. Are people that dependent on these choke chains to get their dogs to obey? I've always considered it a training aid only to be used temporarily. But I've never needed one for this dog at all. And they act like its a big deal. Why is it that big of a deal?

I have a simple nylon collar with reflective bands on it, so the light catches it. Both my dogs wear those kind of collars. Now that I think about it, no one on my block at home has a choke chain for their dogs, and there's two labs next door and two pitt bulls, one behind us and the other a couple houses down and they all have nylon collars.

Answers:

People think that because it's a big dog it is unruly, and aggressive, and so on and so forth. So, I say ignore them, they are just scared and think that you have no control over your animal. I use a pinch collar for my Amstaff/pit-bull, just because she is a puller, and without that pich collar, I would be pulled to the end of the world, but I never need to apply any pressure to her, because she knows that it's there, and when she is calm I put the leash on her leather collar, and everthing is fine.

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I've never heard of that before. Maybe its the fashion there. Don't use a choke chain on your dog if he doesn't need one- you will only create a "hard neck" from constanst pulling on the leash (if he pulls of course) and choke chains are VERY dangerous when left on. I wouldn't care about what other people things- they sound like nut cases. Be proud your dog doesn't need one!

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It's probably because most people fear dogs can slip a nylon clip collar.

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Depends on the dog & the kind of choke chain, they do make soft choke collars & for leash training a choke chain is ideal when used right & proper...think you might be talkin them spiked kind...never had anyone make a big deal out of choke collars..other then the spiked ones !! Oh yeah, i've seen a few dead & lost dogs who slipped out of their collars too, so choke collars are definately not all bad, just have to be used right !!! Never seen a dog killed from someone using a choke collar..LOL !!! Take Care :)

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They are cruel and unnecessary. I trained my dog off leash and never used a lead or a collar. He listens to everything I say. A good trainer would agree with me, so please don't use a choke chain it is cruel and you will be sad if you injure your dog. Also, you are too smart to do something so mean and stupid. Best of luck. A dog only needs love and attention. A dog does not need the abuse associated with a choke collar. Only a stupid and mean person would use one of them. Please, I beg of you not to use it.

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I see this all the time in my obedience training classes! People will have big dogs on choke chains. I make them take choke chains and prong collars off any dog in my class.