Choke Chains

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-22501314

We may not ever get to know how this happened - poor dog.

Hate them but any dog left tied up in whatever lead unsupervised (and I assume they where) is very irresponsible.

I hate them too Janey, although I used to use them about 20-30 years ago, before we knew better.

We can only guess how this happened - it sounds as if the dogs' owner tried to rescue them as she got bitten on her arms (presumably the dogs were frantic).

I was away last weekend with my sister and brother-in-law, he has the most angelic English Springer Spaniel. She wears a leather collar 24/7, but he slips a choke chain on her when walking her on lead, because "it's easy to get on and off" and on Saturday I told him (gently) that he had the choke chain on upside down, but he couldn't see the problem (it's difficult to tell men anything, no matter how gently put).

I do so wish that choke chains were banned

I had to use choke chains in work, it is a security thing cause they are harder to break and faster to get on and off and hold the dog back more. I hate them now though, lexi would never walk on one without gagging and choking with the slightest touch. As someone whos never tied a dog up on a chain i really fail to understand why people get a dog if they don't want to secure the garden... I am extremely against chains for animals. I will never change my mind on that.

My two have got half check chain collars (nylon with a bit chain) but I don't tend to walk them on them, only if theyr just gettin nipped out for a quick pee.

Aww poor pupsters I hate choke chains.

Poor dog, hope the other is OK, I hate the bloody things tbh,

Amazing how short the story is when it's a dog dying because of a human rather than a dog attacking a human.

Anyway, I hate them too my cousin took my other cousin's DDB out for a walk and for some reason used a choke chain (the cousin that owns the dog doesn't use them) and when they came back his neck had been really cut from the chain digging into it. It's so easy for someone who doesn't use them 'properly' to cause serious harm.

I agree. Used properly they can be useful, but only when all else fails!

As to leaving collars (of any sort) on dogs 24/7 this is precisely why I won't do it!

Poor dogs.

I hate those. Pixee is never in a collar for 24/7 either.

I've never had a collar on any of my dogs whilst they're on my premises either. 30 years ago when I got my first dog people thought I was bizarre at the least and irresponsible at the most, but it must be so uncomfortable and possibly dangerous for the dog. I don't know why my b-i-l does it, she doesn't need it she is so sweet and well-behaved.

Some people just put it on & leave it!

My boss's GSD has a leather collar on 24/7. It gets tangled up in her long neck fur.

I have a collar on lexi all the time, it is faster for people to read her tag than get her microchip read. At least if she has the tag, she has some chance of coming home without having to be picked up by the pound, who would then probably pts cause shes a staffy who doesn't like other dogs. She can't get out unless a gate is left open by mistake, but mistakes do happen esp on a yard. I wouldn't leave her with a leather collar on though. The one she has is the lightest and thinest i could find in PAH and im pretty sure it would snap under any pressure. Its very loose too, as i don't use it for walking. I have lost count of how many she has lost cause they are loose enough to get over her head. she seems to like this one though, keeps it on lol

But it could still get caught on something.

Not a fan of any style of check or choker chain personally - I think they should have to come with warning instructions to help ensure that people understand the damage they can do.

I agree Kell, especially when they are put on upside down

Caryll wrote:But it could still get caught on something.

Yeah or she can get picked up and put down cause the dog pound wont keep "dangerous dogs"

frankly i think the collar is the lesser of the evil. It is also the law to have a dog wearing a license and name tag at all times.

Hayley wrote:

Caryll wrote:But it could still get caught on something.

Yeah or she can get picked up and put down cause the dog pound wont keep "dangerous dogs"

frankly i think the collar is the lesser of the evil. It is also the law to have a dog wearing a license and name tag at all times.

The law says at all times in a public place.

I think it's far more likely that a collar can get snagged on something than a properly looked after dog gets out & is picked up by the pound.

I keep a collar on Louby all the time too - its a fabricy/nylony one from Dogmatic - it is easy to control her should someone come to the door or if she is the garden and the postman wants to get in. Yes she should be trained to come when called but she isnt fully, especially when she's at home. outside she is always on a lead so recall isnt an issue.
When im not at home she is in a crate so nothing for her catch her collar on. when im home she is always in my sight.

Dempsey's grandfather died because his collar got caught up in his crate. The owners didn't normally leave it on, but it was Christmas day & he was being a pain while the turkey was cooking. So the owner popped him into his crate for half an hour. When she went to let him out he had strangled because the collar had caught up on a small piece of the crate wire.

Used to use them years ago because they were easy to slip off and on. We always regarded them as a" check " chain. They only become a" choke " chain if put on improperly. Most people don't know that you can inadvertantly put them on upside down whereby they don't slacken when the tension is released.

reuben wrote:
Most people don't know that you can inadvertantly put them on upside down whereby they don't slacken when the tension is released.

This is the thing - most people don't know, including my b-i-l. I told him gently but I think he just thought I was being a know-all (which I can't be, because he is).

Check chains should only ever be used by somebody who has been shown how to use them, and even then only for short training sessions - never for just ordinary walking etc.

Caryll wrote:Check chains should only ever be used by somebody who has been shown how to use them, and even then only for short training sessions - never for just ordinary walking etc.

Certainly wouldn't use them on a dog who is a puller. I only had to hold the chain for my Shepherd and he would put his head through of his own accord. Because it had never been used as a "choker" he just associated it with going for a walk.