Training Collars
You do not need a special collar to begin training your puppy or adult dachshund. A flat-buckle collar or a comfortable harness will do just fine. With today's new gentle methods that literally shape the dog into the behaviors you want, many of the training collars of the past have literally become things of the past.
However, you are certain to encounter trainers and handlers who use a variety of training tools, and it is important to know what kinds of collars you may encounter. That way, if a trainer asks you to use a certain collar with your dachsie, you can make an educated and informed decision about whether this training tool is going to be of any benefit to you and your dog.
Martingale Collar
Martingale collars are also referred to as hound or greyhound collars in pet stores. The reason for this is that sighthounds — the group of hounds that hunt by sight, such as salukis, whippets, and greyhounds — are renowned for their graceful ability to back out of collars, escape, and run away. To solve this problem, the sighthound folks use a martingale collar. This collar is wider around the throat section, so as not to choke the dog when he is pulling hard against the leash. The collar also tightens when the dog tries to back out of it, extinguishing the possibilities of the dog making a fast escape.
The flat-buckle collar is the collar of choice among trainers using positive, reward-based training methods. This is an everyday collar that does not pinch or tighten. Also, the wider the collar, the less severe the discomfort when the dog pulls against it.
Guess what? Your dachshund can perform this nifty little escape act, too. The martingale collar can be used for dachsie training purposes if care is taken not to pull or tug too hard on your dachshund and inadvertently injure his neck. Fitting the collar properly is important, too. The collar should be just big enough to slide over your dachshund's head. You want as little play (extra length) in the collar as possible. This creates a collar without much “pop” in it.
Choke Chains
Twenty years ago, it was the norm to use a metal-link training collar for all obedience training. This collar is often referred to as a choke chain because as the handler pulls on the leash, the collar tightens around the dog's neck. The concept behind the choke chain is that the dog is punished (with a pop from the collar) if he does not perform the correct behavior, is out of position, or isn't paying attention. The dog, therefore, performs the correct behaviors to avoid pain.
With a choke chain, a slight pop on the leash could severely injure a dachshund's vertebrae. This breed is already at a high risk of disc disease. Adding trauma to the vertebrae is just not a good idea.
Slip or Training Collar
This training collar is similar to the choke chain, except that it is usually made of rolled nylon or other synthetic material. The collar tightens and releases like a choke chain, and is also used to train by avoidance of pain rather than rewarding good behaviors. The nylon does not pinch as hard as the metal chain, but it can still easily damage a dachshund's vertebrae.
Head Halters
These specialty training devices are designed to help owners who have difficulties controlling their dogs. The head halter is often mistaken for a muzzle because of the way it straps around the dog's muzzle and then wraps around behind the dog's ears on the back of its neck. The head halter, however, is not a muzzle, nor is it an instrument of torture. It exerts absolutely no pressure or pain on the dog.
It also turns out that a head halter is effective in working with dogs with dominant aggression issues. If you are working with a trainer or animal behaviorist who suggests you use a head halter, follow the expert's advice as to how to introduce the head halter to your dachshund.
The head halter uses the theory that as the head goes, the body follows — and if the head can't go, neither can the body. Therefore, if a dog in a head halter forges forward, he doesn't go anywhere. He may end up facing you, but if he wants to move forward, he must follow his head, which you control. The head halter is an extremely helpful training tool if used correctly, especially when working with strong adopted adults who haven't learned all their leash manners yet.
Harness
A comfortably fitting harness applies no pressure to the dachshund's neck and doesn't run the risk of damaging vertebrae. Additionally, the dachshund cannot back out of a harness as it can from a flat-buckle collar. Harnesses can be difficult to fit properly and even if fitted correctly they can rub, so don't leave the harness on your dachsie constantly. If you have an adult dog who pulls very hard, using a harness can make walking a bit of a struggle — your dachshund is amazingly strong and has a low center of gravity — until you train him to walk nicely on a leash.
