Martingale Dog Collars, an Alternative to Choke Collars

Note: This post is sponsored by dogIDs.

Some dogs are … shall we say … more difficult to walk than others?

Everything might be going fine while walking your chocolate Labradoodle, Sweet Pea, until you pass another dog and suddenly Sweet Pea is on her hind legs lunging, “strangling” herself and squealing like a crazed Chewbacca!

Embarrassing.

Probably what Sweet Pea really needs most is consistent training and socialization over time, but dog owners also need the right tools to help control their dogs in these situations.

One tool I recommend is a martingale dog collar

What is a martingale dog collar?

A martingale collar is a training collar that will tighten slightly under tension but not enough where it could choke the dog. It’s also called a limited slip collar. If the dog pulls or if you prefer to lightly tug on the leash, the collar will tighten a bit. When the tension eases, the collar will loosen again.

As you can see below, a martingale collar has two loops—one to go around the dog’s neck and the other is used to tighten the collar under tension. You would adjust the collar to properly fit your own dog. You can get a martingale collar made with nylon, leather or part nylon/part chain.

Here’s a closer look at the personalized nylon collar from dogIDs:

Use code THATMUTT to save 10% at checkout

Reasons to consider a martingale collar for your dog

1. A martingale collar allows you to give your dog gentle corrections.

I like to gently tug on my dog’s collar at times to get his attention, and a martingale collar allows me to do that. It’s not really a “correction” but more of a way to re-direct his attention and then reward him.

[quote_right]A martingale collar allows you to give your dog gentle corrections.[/quote_right]Some dog owners are not comfortable with choke chain collars or prong/pinch collars, so a martingale collar is a nice alternative because it only tightens so far. Some dog owners are embarrassed to put a chain collar on their dogs because of what someone else might think. Also, some dog training classes will no longer allow choke collars.

On the other hand, martingale collars are not controversial. They’re used successfully by many different dog trainers and dog owners. They’re a good “middle ground” collar.

2. Safety.

Since a martingale collar will gently tighten under tension, it’s difficult for a dog to slip out of the collar or back out of the collar. For this reason, I prefer martingale collars for my foster dogs or any rescue dog I’m handling at adoption events. It’s far too common for dogs to slip from their regular collars and bolt. A martingale collar is an easy way to decrease that risk.

Specifically, martingale collars are a good safety collar for greyhounds or other breeds with narrow heads. These types of dogs can easily slip out of a regular collar.

The same goes with dogs that have wide heads and wide necks, like pitbull-type dogs (see above). Some of these dogs can also easily slip out of buckle collars so martingales are a safer option.

3. A martingale collar is a good training collar for a puppy.

When I start taking our puppy Remy for walks and to training classes, I’m thinking a martingale collar might be best for him. A martingale collar will allow me to gently re-direct Remy’s attention and prevent him from slipping out. It’s also much gentler than a choke or prong collar. If you read my blog you know I’m obviously not against these tools but they’re not always necessary either.

4. Works as an everyday collar + training collar.

When you use a choke or prong collar for training, it’s best to use it only for training for safety reasons. This is because the chain collar could accidentally get caught on something and injure your dog (or worse).  A martingale collar, on the other hand, can be worn all the time—for training and for lounging around the house.

5. Good alternative to the Gentle Leader.

If a dog owner chooses not to use a choke collar for training, another popular training tool is the Gentle Leader (or Halti) that fits around the dog’s muzzle.

While Gentle Leaders are handy for extreme pullers, they are a bit much for some dogs and not really necessary. I find that a martingale collar is a good option for those uninterested in the “extremes” of choke/prong collars or head halters like Gentle Leaders.

So I could go on and on listing the benefits of martingale collars, but I think you get the idea.

Ordering information – Martingale dog collars from dogIDs

The nylon martingale collars from dogIDs are available online or $29. They come with a free engraved buckle and are available in 15 different colors.

Use coupon code THATMUTT for 10% off at checkout

The code is valid for all dogIDs products.

Do you prefer to use a martingale collar? Or do you prefer a different tool?

Let me know what type of collar works the best for your dog in the comments.

Related posts:

Best waterproof dog collars

Prong collar vs. Gentle Leader

Does an anti-pull harnesses work?