The breeder I bought my boxer pup from had started collar/lead training them using a puppy half choker.

I would rather buy a puppy harness to go around the chest. Which is best?

A strong dog like a boxer will haul you around in an ordinary dog harness, they are really only used for small lightweight dogs. I would follow your breeder's advice and make sure she demonstrates how to use the half choke, and shows you exactly how to use/fit it. This sort of collar must only be used for exersising on a lead and never left on around the house and garden or while he is running loose.

Absolutely right WL, a dog harness only gives strong dogs something to pull into, they can get their chests into it and really go. I always use a gentle leader but I don't think they would be any good for short nosed dogs. Go with your breeder and rely on her experience.

If you wanted to use a harness I would use either a lupi or a micki walk rite, which do not go across the chest. A normal harness will only encourage a dog to pull. I think you can fit a gentle leader to a boxer but be very careful to get the fit right. However I would agree with your breeder and go for a collar or a half check to train the dog.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Thanks for your replies.
I have just got off the phone to my local dog trainer to arrange puppy classes/obedience etc and I put the question to him.
He said much the same and that they do not advocate full chokers bu the half choker is fine as long as you have full instructions on the fitting and using.
Can't wait to begin.
Ali

Hi all,
I just came back from the large pet store in this area... warehouse style. It's like a big candy store for me. Anyway, I saw a relatively new product (German made)..... It's like a haltie, but with soft leather padding around the inside of the harness area. It looks as if it's made specifically for the short nosed breeds. The pictures had a boxer & a large mastiff both with it on their faces. Looked like a much better fit than Halti & Gentle leader. I liked the quality of the padding.
Sorry that I can't remember the name now. If anyone's interested in trying it, I could get more info on it the next time I"m there.
toodles

I've just got a leather head collar for my dog, found the Gentle Leader kept breaking, it's from Dogmatic and they come in 8 sizes and they also do made to measure for short nosed breeds. So far we have found it very good, and my snob of a GSP who hates having the Gentle Leader put on actually puts his nose into the leather one. Ingrid

As a matter of interest, why shouldn't a half choke be left on a dog when it's on its own or when it's running loose?
Jane

hello ! i use a lupi on my boxer as i find i have better control ! i wouldn't use or leave a half choke collar on any dog as i have experienced 2 dog deaths(not mine) where they have managed to get a tooth lodged in the chain and strangle themselves - not very nice believe me and these were 2 big dogs(seperate incidents- different owners) who had their collars on around the house playing with the owners other dogs, one was witnessed by the owner who couldn't get the collar off in time - so be careful

No check or half check should ever be left on a dog when free running, whether in the garden or in the fields. Just imagine a dog running at full speed and the end of the collar getting caught in a low branch or even a bramble. The poor dog would get hanged! This is the reason why working gundogs and working sheepdogs are exempt from the collar laws.

Regards, John

Maybe Thistle's half check isn't tight enough then because she I can't imagine she would do any more harm if she did that than she would if she had an ordinary collar on. Maybe that's why she still pulls like a train. Actually I have just bought her a harness and it has really made a difference to how much she pulls. I bought it mainly because I was worried about her throat and if it stopped her pulling it would be a secondary bonus. Anyway I don't know if it's just the 'novelty' but she is pulling much less with the harness. The reason I have left her half check collar on when I let her off the lead is that it has her name tag and 'I have been microchipped' tag (thistle is a 10 month old lab) Anyway I won't leave it on any more after hearing your advice. Thank you .
Jane

A half check should never be left on a dog unattended or used as an everyday collar. When it just hangs it is too loose and you can get a dog strung up by it even worse than by a regular collar.

For size - the collar should 'just' slip over the head to go on, which means the dog cannot slip out of the collar while on lead. However, when loose they hang. As opposed to a regular collar which is relatively snug to the neck and won't catch on stuff.

I would leave a regular collar on her to hold her tags. We use regular collars for tags and slip a 1/2 check on our dogs for walks - hence walking with 2 collars while on lead, but it works. With the long skinny necks our two have they can slip out of most regular collars so they are pretty useless for lead walking.

Wendy

Mine wear theirs all the time, but they have thick ruffs and the collar and chain setle around under it.

With a short coated dog especially (or when one of mine has lost all theirs really badly), what can happen is that when the dog is sniffing the collar will slip down to the narrowest part of the neck behind the ears, and the chain will hang down in a loop, and they can sometimes get their foot in it!

Fortunately my dogs are not panickers, and all that happens is they come hobbling over with a sheepish expression, for me to get it out.

I suppose it could also get caught on a branch, but in that case it could only tighten to the width of the dogs neck, and keep it tethered, and I supsect the dog would bark for you to rescue it! :D

A lot will depend how heavy the chain is. You can get half slips that are all webbing. You loose the benefit of the sound of the chain tightening to warn the dog it will go tight if he keeps pulling, but they do not have the problem of the chain hanging down due to the weight of it!

Because it can get caught up and when the dog twists to get away it can actually become very tight and slowly choke the dog.I never leave half chokes on anymore.Gillian