Fit and Position of a Martingale Collar or Half Check Collar is Crucial
Sometimes, one article is not enough to relay all the information pertaining to a subject. That is the case with the recent column about Martingale collars and half check collars. The debate about the different types of choke collars was the subject but there was not space to discuss the proper fit and position of these types of collars, which is a very important aspect of using Martingale and Half Check collars.
In summary, Half check collars and Martingale collars are variations of choke collars that are considered to be more humane that the chain choke collar. These two types of collars were originally designed for sight hounds, such as Greyhounds, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Bolzoi, Saluki, etc., which are breeds that have necks larger than their heads, but prevents any dog from backing out of a regular collar.
Half check collars, or half choke collars, are typically manufactured of leather or nylon webbing and chain, while Martingale collars are made entirely of nylon webbing. Both collars have a dual-loop design which functions by tightening around the dogs neck when it is attempting to remove its head from the collar, yet it will loosen when the struggling dog stops fighting. The distinctive, restricted closing of the half check collar and the Martingale collar averts it from becoming too snug. Nonetheless, proper fit and positioning is crucial when using these types of collars.
The Martingale collar, which is usually made of nylon webbing, has two loops. The small loop, also called the control loop, has the dee ring which is the attach point for the leash. The Martingale collar is adjusted with the second loop which allows the collar to be tightened or loosened to fit the dog perfectly. A buckle can be added to the collar so it can be buckled around the dog’s neck.
To fit and position the Martingale collar correctly, slide it over the dog’s head and pull the collar vertically at the rear of the dogs ears. Adjust the collar at this point as this is the position where a regular collar slides over the head. When the dee ring is pulled, the control loop should close. The two pieces of hardware attached to the control loop should be no shorter than two inches from one another and they should never contact one another. If they do touch, the collar is too loose.
The Half Check Collar is comparable to the Martingale except part of this collar is made with chain. Similar to the Martingale, it has two loops which work the same way. The control loop on this type of collar is made of chain. The dee ring is attached to this circle of chain and is used as the attaching point for the leash. The chain is connected to the webbing or leather part of the collar with metal rings
As with the Martingale collar, the half check collar is positioned and fit in the same manner. When the dog pulls or tries to slip this collar over its head, the chain slides through the rings, tightening the webbing around the dog’s neck. The chain itself never tightens around the neck. The dog only feels the webbing or the leather. The distinctive clinking noise also serves as a training tool as the dog pulls against the Half check collar.
When trying out both of these collars, it becomes apparent how equivalent these two collars really are. Fundamentally, these collars act the same way. More importantly, these two collars are more gentle to your dog while tethered to a leash.
A dog owner should to be well-informed about the various collars available and how to use them properly as to not inflict harm to the dog. Jim Witt suggests visiting Country Brook Design to view the wide assortment of custom made Martingale Collars that are available in many sizes and colors.