More of this Feature • Part 2: The Prong Collar • Part 3: The Head Halters • Guide Picks

Elsewhere on the Web • Chain Gang Blues • The Misuse of Choke Chains

Keeping the buckle on him, I started using a choke collar on our walks, using the buckle collar to hang on to him when necessary, and to secure him outside when I entered a building that did not allow pets.

I used the choke chain for a year with only mild success. I was able to stop him quicker, but the pulling continued, and leashed walks started to become a very rare occurence. I took him out into the bush more often for off-leash runs, and rarely took him with me on errands anymore unless I was driving. As you may have guessed, the freedom of constant "free" runs only exacerbated the problem. Why would he behave on a leash when he knew the more trouble I got, the more off-leash runs he would get. I was inadvertantly rewarding him in a very roundabout way.

These days I shudder to think of the damage I may have done.

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