Leather Working collars for IGP training

[Ravenbird]

I'm looking at leather working collars, most are 2" wide. I'd like a soft leather lining to pull against (when it comes to that) - really nice ones at Dean & Tyler but they are only 1 3/4" wide. Is that wide enough to disperse the pull? Handles or no? When are these used instead of a harness to pull against? I need to learn more before I buy!

 

[Doberman Gang]

I'm looking at leather working collars, most are 2" wide. I'd like a soft leather lining to pull against (when it comes to that) - really nice ones at Dean & Tyler but they are only 1 3/4" wide. Is that wide enough to disperse the pull? Handles or no? When are these used instead of a harness to pull against? I need to learn more before I buy!

I never use a collar for agitation work ever, on any dog breed, always a harness.

 

[Ravenbird]

I never use a collar for agitation work ever, on any dog breed, always a harness.

Agree, that's what I would do too. I was looking at TT & WAC tests - where the boogie man appears and the dogs lunge at them. I saw several dogs that obviously had bite work before and really yanked hard, but I don't think a harness is allowed in those tests. What are those collars made for other than that? And with a handle no less, obviously designed to hold onto while the dog lunges forward. If I were to take that test I'd want something to protect her neck even if it was just a few seconds of lunging forward.

 

[Rits]

I've seen bully breeds be on really wide collars, especially for tie outs. I think the idea is the same. They are gonna pull so the wider the better to disperse the weight over the entire neck. Harness would be better but where you can't use it, I wouldn't want anything under 2" thick.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Happy to see these comments. We have seen some YouTube videos where they use such things (always wider collars), but I just can't bear the thought of any dog lunging against a neck collar. I personally would not ever allow this for Kaiser.

If I were to take that test I'd want something to protect her neck even if it was just a few seconds of lunging forward.

I can see wanting one for this usage. Another purpose might be to use this in place of a traffic leash. If Kaiser would pull against the traffic leash, then I'd entertain the idea of a collar with handle just for that added control.

 

[Doberman Gang]

Agree, that's what I would do too. I was looking at TT & WAC tests - where the boogie man appears and the dogs lunge at them. I saw several dogs that obviously had bite work before and really yanked hard, but I don't think a harness is allowed in those tests. What are those collars made for other than that? And with a handle no less, obviously designed to hold onto while the dog lunges forward. If I were to take that test I'd want something to protect her neck even if it was just a few seconds of lunging forward.

I believe we used 1 1/2” wide padded collar on our past dogs. Old picture but these are the ones we had.

 

[strykerdobe]

A harness is less strain on the neck of the dog! Especially a Dobe that is prone to Wobblers!

 

[Doberman Gang]

A harness is less strain on the neck of the dog! Especially a Dobe that is prone to Wobblers!

She is looking for something she can use during the test. Harness is not allowed.

 

[strykerdobe]

She is looking for something she can use during the test. Harness is not allowed.

If she is looking for something to protect the dogs neck in a lunge then I would get at least a 2in wide collar to protect the dogs neck.
Because a wider flat leather collar will be distributing the force over a wider area.

 

[Rits]

Those ray allen agitation collars looked nicely made for not too bad of a price. You can get with or without a handle and 1.5 or 2". I think for the purpose of holding back, a handle would be nicer than letting her hit the end of a leash.

Heavy Leather Agitation Collar

 

[Ravenbird]

I think for the purpose of holding back, a handle would be nicer than letting her hit the end of a leash.

I agree, but the Temperament Tests you are on a "flat leather collar" and leash, no commands. TT/WAC is judging the dogs reactions to stimulus rather than training. This is the one I was looking at,

Simplicity | Double-Ply Leather Agitation Dog Collar | Dean & Tyler

I like the pad in front of the buckle and it's pretty enough to be a "town collar" but be able to use in a trial. D & T does beautiful leather work, Asha's harness came from there. Only thing is it doesn't come in 2", which is what prompted the original question. Makes more sense to get a heavy one, cheaper, and just put on the shelf until needed. I've shopped at Redline before, they are a good company too.
I was having a happy idea of traveling to a TT in a few months, but the more I think of it the more ridiculous it seems. Sometimes I get absolutely depressed at how much dog I got and the lack of anything within MILES to train or trial...

 

[Kaiser2016]

Another thought, if you only have limited use for this type of collar (for the test, not going into town), then why not spend a bit less than the D & T (they do have a nice selection though!), and just get something 'good enough' for now? When K was younger, we had found a good leather collar company and bought 2 nice collars which now no longer fit and it is beyond annoying because I even got a bigger size but didn't expect his neck to widen so much still.