How to Choose the Best Training Collar for your Dog

Training is an important responsibility of the dog owner. Not only does properly training your dog make your life as an owner easier, it can also make the life of your dog more comfortable. Training collars can be a necessary tool in the dog training process and as such it is useful to know how to choose the best training collar for your dog.

Know Your Collars

When it comes to choosing a dog collar, the first issue at hand is to know the types of collars available to you. While, conventional dog collars are an essential purchase for the dog owner, these are not training collars. Conventional collars are the collars you use for routine walks. They are inexpensive and adjustable according to the size of your dog. However, training collars are specially designed to help you control your dog. They can act as a collar and leash but also help you monitor the behaviour of your dog. There are a variety of training collars available to you.

• Choke collars are perhaps the most famous of all training collars. These collars are typically used for larger, powerful dogs that pull aggressively during walks. When the collar is put on correctly, it will briefly choke your dog if it pulls or tugs and when the tugging action stops, the collar is released. Traditionally, choke collars were used to deliver a punishment to misbehaving dogs but recently this type of punishment is frowned upon. Choke collars should never be used your dog is unaccompanied as they can strangle your dog.

• Electronic collars can be used to deliver an irritating, but harmless shock to your dog if they are misbehaving. Again, the shock is given as a punishment in the hopes of discouraging unwanted behaviour.

• Gentle leaders are a relatively new development in training collars. Also known as the halter or Halti type training collar, gives you control over your dogs head. The collar is placed over the entire head of your dog such that when they pull or tug, their head is turned. This is a very effective deterrent to tugging and is considered more dog-friendly than the choke collar. This type of collar is also particularly useful with larger dogs.

Selecting a Collar

Now that you know more about the types of collars available to you, there are a few other factors you should consider before purchasing a training collar. First, be sure to consider the individual characteristics of your dog. You should know the size of your dog as well as some information about your dog's temperament before heading to the pet shop. Large dogs, as mentioned, can be more easily controlled with a choke collar or a gentle leader. However, very headstrong dogs, who are not easily deterred from tugging at the collar, might better be controlled with an electronic collar. If you're still unsure, speak to your veterinarian about which kinds of training collars are best suited for your dog.

Key Tips for Litter Box Training your Cat

For the sake of cleanliness and hygiene in your home, litter box training is crucial. Typically speaking, kittens will learn from their mother about using the litter box but if you have recently purchased or adopted a kitten there may be no mother to teach. As such, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that your kitten uses the litter box.

Start Young

It is best to start any kind of training with a pet from young age. Older cats tend to be set in their ways, just as older humans, so the job can be much more difficult (although not impossible). Moreover, training kittens at a younger age increases the consistency in which they will use a litter box. Typically, you can start litter box training after about 4 weeks old. Kittens who do not have a mother cat to learn from will usually take a bit longer to litter box train but by following a few simple steps, the process should not be too difficult.

1. Put the kitten in the litter box after meals. Also, using a scratching motion, rub the kitten's paws in the litter to familiarize it with litter.

2. You can increase interest in the litter by stirring it.

3. Allow the kitten to explore the litter box independently. Many cat owners make the mistake of attempting to restrain the kitten in the box. This can create anxiety and actually make it more difficult to litter box train.

4. Keep the litter box away from feeding areas as cats do not like to eat and toilet in the same area.

Be a Model of Behavior

Not surprisingly, a good place to put the litter box at the beginning of training is the bathroom. Leave the door open slightly when you go to the washroom and cats will quickly learn what business is meant to be done in the bathroom. By associating toileting with the bathroom the kitten will also learn to associate the litter box with the bathroom. In addition, as most cats have an instinct to bury their waste, they will be naturally drawn to the litter box rather than defecating on tile.

Be Patient

Kittens will take some time to learn and you should expect accidents. While you may think that rubbing a cat's nose in waste will be an effective punishment, it is not. The act is already done and the cat will not immediately associate the punishment with the unwanted behavior. Instead, clean the waste in the presence of your cat and if possible put the waste in the litter box so that the cat knows where it should go. With consistent rules and a bit of patient you'll have your cat litter box trained in no time.