Half check collers

Question
hi!

I recently rehomed a great cocker spaniel who is fab in all ways, except she pulls like mad when i'm walking her.

I've been advised to use a choke chain on her, but i don't like them so insted i'm planning to use a half choke coller.

Please can you advise me on the fitting of these collers?

Syd

Answer
The ''half choke collers'' is not a common term.  If what your are talking about are the pronged pinch collars, you will not get the advice you need on the net.  Some things can be easily easily explained, but those collars require hands on fitting by a very experienced person.  I do not recommend them at all. I have used a restricted slip collar which was sort of a cross between them and a flat Nylon collar.  It didn't work well on a Lab.  Her head was too big.  One big enough to go over her head, was too big to have much effect on her.  She was a great dog, and didn't need much correction.  

For dogs that do not respond well to a slip collar, I recommend a head collar. The leading brands are Promise, Haltie, and Gentle Leader.  They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle.  They work by pulling the dogs head around.  No other way gives you such great control with so little force.  The prong collar is now a dangerous relic of value only for its macho looks.  Do not consider using one without hands on instruction from somebody with plenty of experience with them.  The great thing about the head collars is the ease of fitting and use.  Anybody can go buy one, fit it, and safely use it following no more than the instructions in the package.  One loop goes over the nose, and just adjust the other to the neck.  The only important thing is never to jerk on the leash, a little tough for those used to the slip collar.  They are very effective, without punishing the dog.  

A few years ago, I was given a big, 15 month old, intact, male Lab, that hadn't had any training at all.  When the lady came out of the house with both hands on the leash and in the full backward water skiing position, I figured he was hopeless.  I put my slip collar on him and did get him to heel decently, but my old joints won't take that sort of abuse very long.  Put a head collar on him, and within a week he was walking with a loose lead even after switching back to a slip collar.  I never met the dog I couldn't make lead with a slip collar, but really love to use a head collar instead.