What Are Martingale Dog Collars?

Martingale dog collars are also known as "humane choke collars" or "Greyhound collars".

The Martingale collar was originally designed for Sighthounds. Because their necks are larger than their heads, Sighthounds and other similarly built dogs can easily slip out of buckle-type collars. The collar was designed to provide control over the dog without the choking effect of a slip collar. They are fitted so that the collar will be the dog's exact neck size once it has been pulled closed.

Recently, Martingale collars have increased in popularity with owners of other dog breeds as well. Many dog trainers recommend them over choke chains or choke collars for dog training.

How it Works:

Many types of materials can be used for the "fixed" portion of the collar including nylon, leather, even decorator fabrics. A control loop (typically chain as shown in this picture, although it can be of other materials as well) on the collar controls the two hardware slides to pull the collar closed. These slides should pull close enough together to fit the collar appropriately snug, but should never touch each other. A properly fitted martingale collar will be comfortably loose when not in use.

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