Thread: Dog question for DB

Not illegal but very frowned upon in regards to the RSPCA....

They are called CHECK chains but the name you give is the nick name given

WHY?

Originally Posted by dullbird

As far as I'm aware not illegal but very frowned upon in regards to the RSPCA....

WHY?

I took a very large annd strong Wolfhound/LabX to an RSPCA boarding kennel for a mate, the people threatened to have me charged. Only after they got me to take the dog to the enclosure, as none of them were strong enough to hold it.

check chains when not used correctly can cause extensive damage to a dogs throat!

if the dog is THAT strong tell you mate to buy a halti will ever be able to pull him again and its a lot lot nice for the dog...

in regards to having you charged its not illegal in any state as far as I'm aware...simplest way to find out is walk into a pet shop and see if you can buy one.
now if the dog is wearing a check chain that is too small and you cant get it off his head that is a different story.......quite often the most frequent culprit of and embedded collar....the owners put them on young dogs and forget about them.

What RSPCA was it? we are not directly affiliated with them but we work under the same RSPCA Australia Banner But our human resources manager works both QLD and NSW...and is VERY UP on customer service

Was it someone at their front counter? or was it an inspector?

I had no idea they were so frowned upon. Every single time I have ever taken any of our dogs to see a vet I have done so with a lead and chain. Not once has anyone said boo about it.

The chocker was bought from a vet, and only used under human supervision. The dog now has one of those halter type leads and can be controlled by a 12 yr old kid. It was front counter staff in Qld.
Thanks Lou, I would never be cruel to any animal, and was unimpressed with the attitude shown.

DB - can you tell me how you can damage a dog's neck from a choker chain please?

I've got a boistrous Doberman pup (1 year old approx) who pulls like mad on the lead for the 1st 10 minutes of any walk, until he settles down.

Wouldn't like to be hurting him. He is a very strong boy, I can come home with a sore arm sometimes if he tries to take off after something.

Thanks
David

BTW - the choker chain is only on when we go for a walk, otherwise he is collarless.

Like DB said, get a Halti.

I use one on my very boisterous Kelpie / Blue Heeler X and it makes him a dream to walk.

Originally Posted by spudboy

DB - can you tell me how you can damage a dog's neck from a choker chain please?

I've got a boistrous Doberman pup (1 year old approx) who pulls like mad on the lead for the 1st 10 minutes of any walk, until he settles down.

Wouldn't like to be hurting him. He is a very strong boy, I can come home with a sore arm sometimes if he tries to take off after something.

Thanks
David

BTW - the choker chain is only on when we go for a walk, otherwise he is collarless.

it can bruise their wind pipe when they constantly pull on them especially if it is not put on correctly and doesn't allow to loosen. also if you pull pack on it in a snatching or jerking kind of way can also damage the windpipe.

Trust me if any of you are having trouble walking a dog the best thing you can do for a dog is walk it in a halti...you may also find that once you have them walking calmly on a halti you could probably go back to a lead and collar on its own.
even great Danes can't pull that easily in one.

Just remember how big the check chains are they are quite thin in comparison to a collar they have no give and thats a lot of pressure when a dog is pulling put on a small diameter chain on a sensitive part of the dog.

• Get a halti.....the dog will claw at it at first and try and get it off (it does not hurt them)
• people who dont know what they are may think you have a muzzle on your dog even though they look nothing like them.
• make sure you still leave on the dogs normal collar and lead when walking..so you will need to walk with two leads it just means you can use it as a correctional tool if need be. BUT if you just hold it like a normal lead the dog will correct it self. at first you will walk it more off the halti when the dog starts behaving (and this wont happen on the first couple of walks) you will walk it more off the lead and then eventually totally off the lead and can probably remove the halti.
• importantly carry treats reward calm behaviour it also helps to keep the dogs attention, keeping the dog closer to you

In regards to someone being sold one by a vet....doesn't surprise me. not everyone shares the same views as the RSPCA, but we don't like them purely becasue we have seen the nasty damage that can be done with them in the wrong hands or with misuse. And its not occasionally