Dog collar

Collars can be traumatic to the trachea if the dog pulls against the restraint of the leash, causing severe pressure to the neck.

Conversely, dog breeds with slender necks or smaller heads may easily slip out of collars that are too loose.

[11] Today's fashionable dog collars come in a wide variety of designs, patterns and materials and may include accessories, such as bow ties and flowers.

Brands include Comfort Trainer, Canny Collar, Halti, Gentle Leader, and Snoot Loop amongst several others.

These type of collars can aid in stopping a strong dog from pulling an owner in an unsafe direction.

[citation needed] Cervical injury is a possible result from improper use of the head halter; if a dog is jerked suddenly by the leash attached to the head halter, the dog's nose is pulled sharply to the side, which might result in neck injury.

If the nose strap is fitted too tightly, the hair on the muzzle can also be rubbed off, or the dog might paw and scratch at its face, causing injuries ranging from mere bare skin to severe abrasions.

Manufacturers claim they are safer than halters that attach below the muzzle because they do not pull the dog's head to one side, avoiding stress on the neck area.

Some rear-fastening head halters can have the noseband removed during use, therefore providing an element of training the dog to eventually walk on a regular collar and lead.

[15] The use of aversive collars is controversial, and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior prohibits their use.

[34] A meta-review of 17 peer-reviewed studies found that "The results show that using aversive training methods (e.g., positive punishment and negative reinforcement) can jeopardize both the physical and mental health of dogs.

When triggered, the collar delivers the aversive of electrical stimulation to cause pain to the neck of a dog.

[37] Shock collars are illegal in Spain,[38][39][40] Germany,[20][21] Austria,[24] and Denmark[41] Netherlands,[42] Iceland,[28][29] Norway,[30] Sweden[31][43] Slovenia and Switzerland,[44] Portugal, Wales,[19] the province of Quebec in Canada, and some states in Australia.

[50] However, meta-studies have shown that they produce stress, cause pain, and damage the relationship between dog and owner.

[citation needed] Like the choke chain, the prong collar is placed high on the dog's neck, just behind the ears, at a point where nerve endings are less padded (to cause more pain with less effort by the handler).

Unlike flat, martingale, or slip choke collars the prong protects the trachea as a bonus to causing pain.

It is used as a brief "corrective" tug which brings the dog's mind back to the handler by making them experience pain.

Footage of this collar being actively used typically shows a dog with common signs of pain (ears pointed back, lip licking, raised eyebrows and "stress lines" on the face)[citation needed] At times, plastic tips are occasionally placed on the ends of the prongs to protect against catching the fur and pulling tufts, or in the case of low-quality collars with rough or chisel-cut ends\, irritating or perhaps puncturing the skin.

[63] Choke chains are illegal in Spain,[38][39][40] and Switzerland[34] Even where legal, some professional dog training associations prohibit them.

[64] Pulling harder or longer on the choke chain presses on the dog's trachea and/or larynx and may restrict breathing.