Choke chains and how to use them

I am writing this particular article because of an incidence that happened recently with a dog that was constantly kept, chained using choke chain.

Billy is a Rottweiler with a lot of energy and very difficult to control especially during walks so the owner always use this chain on him during walks because he (Billy) has the tendency to chase or harass people when being walked. The choke chain was used to control him fairly well. One Saturday morning, the owner took Billy for a walk; along the way he got a call from a friend who was waiting at his house. He went back to his house and tied Billy at the balcony at the boys’ quarters.

One hour later Billy was hanging from the rail of the balcony with his tongue outside dead. He was strangled by the choke chain around his neck.

Accidents like this are rear but are worthy of note. It is unfortunate that choke chains do not come with precaution label to educate the dog owner on how not to use them.

Many Nigerians make the mistake of using the choke chain on their dogs permanently which sometimes result to bruises on their neck with sores from the abrasion caused by the chain.

Strangulation is one very common result of bad use of choke chains as learned from the story above.

Choke chain is misconceived by some Nigerians to be the ONLY type of chains for mastiff breed of dogs due to many pictures they see without knowing the real use of the chain.

Choke chains are actually behavior control device used to control hyperactive dogs from trying to drag the handler around uncontrollably. They choke the dog when the dog tries to move far away from the handler forcing the dog to give up and come back to the person holding the chain. Several attempts to pull the handler will make the dog to behave properly while on chain or during a walk.

Choke chains are used to train such dogs and eventually removed when the dog learns to behave properly during walks or when on chain or leash.

It is important to be mindful that choke chains are not necessarily good but are helpful when very necessary.

Please do not leave the choke chain constantly on your dog like you might do with leather collars or nylon collars because they are metal and can cause discomfort and injuries on the dog around the neck. Only use it when you need to take the dog on a walk but as soon as the dog starts to behave well discontinue the use immediately. Thank you.