Martingale Collars - An Alternative to Choke Collars 

By Alisha Navarro

The Martingale Dog collar is also known as a Greyhound Collar or Humane Choke Dog Collar. They were originally designed for Sighthounds (ie, Greyhounds, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Borzoi, Saluki, etc) because their necks are larger than their head; but these collars have gained popularity among other breed owners in the recent past.

AKC Dog Show Owners prefer the Martingale Dog Collar because it does not damage the fur and will not crush the trachea. Many trainers have started to recommend them because they prefer its gentle choke over the choke chain. Others have learned about this style of collar and have made the switch from regular buckle collars.

There are several options of Martingale Dog Collars. The most common is the version with 2 loops. The largest loop of the collar is called the adjustment loop and that is the part that slips over the head. The smaller loop is called the "Control Loop". This is what makes the Martingale special. When your Greyhound or other Sighthound tries to back out of his or her collar, this loop will gently tighten and prevent your hound from getting loose and getting hurt.

A Martingale Dog Collar is fitted to the exact size of the dog's neck when the Dog Collar is pulled closed. If the collar is properly fitted, it will be comfortably loose when not in use. When the Martingale Control loop is pulled, the 2 slides (hardware on the small control loop of the Martingale Collar) should pull close together but the two slides should never touch. As with any collar that tightens when pulled, your dog should never be allowed to wear a Martingale Dog Collar unsupervised.

Alisha Navarro is the owner/collar artist for 2 Hounds Design, a company that specializes in Martingale Collars. She is the owner of 3 retired racing Greyhounds.

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