New Addition: What Are Martingales?

As we walk through the park or a pet store, we see many, many different versions of collars. Some are very narrow, half inch wide—often for cats for very little breeds of dogs; other collars are metal and have prongs on them and there is always the collar made out of webbing with buckles or the martingale collar. They all have their place, but some are better than others, let’s explore.

One of the collars that I see frequently in the stores or the park is the traditional choke chain collar. Is it safe—sure if used properly, but let’s be realistic, how many people have had some training on how to properly use that type of collar. One of the biggest problems with those collars, that I see, is that there is no STOP. The collar can just continue to tighten, until you’ve effectively choked your dog to death by crushing their trachea. Some basic training and that dog would still be alive! A choke chain is dangerous due to incorrect placement of the collar on the dog, again, any collar that is not used properly can be very dangerous to a dog’s well-being.

So, are there other options? Sure, how about the prong or pinch collar? They do look like a medieval torture device, but used properly, they are actually safer and more humane than a choke chain. The prong collar puts even pressure around the dog’s neck, unlike the choke chain which tends to put pressure on the trachea.

More options: haltis, harnesses and traditional buckle collars. They all have their place, and by talking with a trainer you can find the right collar for your dog’s needs.

What about those martingales? Aren’t they a choke collar? Sure, in some ways, but they have a stop to them. As the owner pulls on the leash, the small loop of the martingale tightens, which then snugs up behind the ears. The pressure is evenly distributed over the entire neck of the dog. This type of collar is often noticed on the sighthounds, dogs whose necks and heads are about the same size, so most collars would just slip over their heads and the dog is free. Many breeds can benefit from these collars.

You can find out more about martingale collars or purchase stylish ones at www.k-9komforts.com or through Rover411. All of these collars have polypro webbing which does not stretch when wet and actually resists mold and mildew. The webbing is completely encased by cotton fabric, so no chafing of the skin or fur. Reinforced double X stitching is used for all high stress areas. Our collars are even washable.