What Do we Mean by Martingale Safety & Use?

Martingale collars are excellent for maintaining control and keeping your dog safe on leash. But you must be mindful if you keep a martingale collar on when off-leash. Martingale collars are ideal for training and control. But they can pose a danger to your dog if not used properly. If you are new to martingale collar safety & use, this is a good place to start. There are many different martingale types available, which we suggest you familiarize yourself with. Below are a few tips for safe martingale collar use.

Martingale Collar Safety Rule #1

Make sure your martingale is fitted properly.  Proper fit for any collar is important, but even more so with a martingale collar. To get the proper fit, adjust the collar down to fit around the neck snugly (but not tight), just like a regular snap-on collar. When you attach the leash and pull, the two metal hardware pieces that form the loop of the collar should not touch (see at right). If those two metal pieces touch each other and there is too much space between your dogs neck and the collar, your dog may be able to slip out or back out of the collar.

Note that collar design is important. Some martingales are designed poorly, and the loop of the martingale can be oversized – making it difficult to get the proper fit. Look carefully at the loop size in comparison to the rest of the collar when shopping for a martingale. The Artful Canine  martingale is designed to fit properly, with a loop that it proportionate to the collar size. For proper fit, always measure the width of your dogs neck.

Martingale Collar Safety Rule #2

Never leave a puppy or new dog unattended in a martingale collar. When you bring your new pup/rescue home, you’ll need a little time to get to know each other, and your pup will need to learn its new surroundings. If nervous, they may chew, piddle, hide – even try to escape. Because the weight of the hardware on the martingale loop moves to the front of your dog’s neck, they can get that loop caught on something, or get their teeth/mouth on the loops. Each of these situations increases the risk your dog can become injured.

Martingale Collar Safety Rule #3

Don’t allow your dog to go outdoors off-leash in a martingale collar. If your dog goes into brush, or worse, tries to jump a chain link fence, the collar loop can get caught and potentially choke them.

Martingale Collar Safety Rule #4

Do not put your dog in a kennel/crate with his/her martingale collar on. Similar to Rule #2 and #3, your dog can potentially chew on the loop when it is hanging in the front. Worse, if the cage edges are not welded, the collar loop could get caught and risk your dog choking.

Martingale Collar Safety Rule #5

Discontinue use if your dog does not respond to training or use.  While martingale collars work for most dog owners, your dog may not respond to martingale training. Consult with a professional trainer who is experienced with leash training and the alternate tools that are available.

Don’t let all the dangers of a martingale collar scare you from their use. These collars were invented to keep your dog safe. The same things described above could happen with a traditional buckle collar as well. Consult a reputable trainer if you need help. They can help you with your initial use of a martingale color, and make you feel confident in its use.

Shop a fantastic variety of Martingale Collars at The Artful Canine.

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