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ThePetAlchemist@FastMail.FM

Misuse of Choke Chains
by Des Hawgood (des@hawgood.freeserve.co.uk)
Copyright © 2000
Institute for Animal Care Education
New Road, Framlingham
Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 9AT




During a recently completed Instructors Course earlier this year, I
elected, as a special study, to carry out a small survey into the
Misuse of Choke Chains. The preferred name of these chains in the
dog-training world is Check Chains, but as they check the dog initially
by choking it, I decided that for my special study I would use Choke
Chain as a more apt description. My survey extended to 51 pages on
completion so the following is a shortened version containing most of
the important points discovered.

My interest in this survey stemmed from my original use of Choke Chains
on my own Golden Retrievers, which I soon stopped once I realized that
the chain was removing hair from my dogs necks. At the same time, I had
taken up agility and soon realized that I had to maintain control over
my dogs by voice and encouragement alone. I was further puzzled by
seeing handlers who had good verbal control over their dogs during
competition and yet slipping a choke chain over their dogs necks at the
end of the run.

My study was therefore to find out if there were recorded injuries to
dogs caused by these chains being misused, and to gather the views of
as many differing bodies as I could. I therefore contacted The Kennel
Club, The National Canine Defense League, The Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Veterinary Practices,
Trainers, Pet Shop Outlets and Chain Manufacturers/Distributors.

After badgering The Kennel Club and the RSPCA several times I managed
to establish that neither have any particular policy on the use of
Choke Chains, and that both consider they are relevant pieces of
training equipment, if used "by experienced handlers". (Surely, that
statement in itself constitutes a policy.)

The National Canine Defense League does not use choke chains in any of
their kennels and advises against their use when re-homing dogs to new
owners.

>From 16 Veterinary Practices, I received 13 responses and seven
confirmed recorded cases of injured dogs caused by choke chains. This
number in the Norwich area alone would amount to hundreds on a national
scale if this were the average. Add to that the ones that never are
brought to the attention of a veterinarian. Almost all the Practices
agreed that they would advise against the use of chains if there were
confirmed cases. None recommended their use.

Most of the trainers I contacted do not use chains but 2 recommended
their use, with one recommending their use on untrained dogs. One
trainer advised that they should be banned altogether after nearly
losing one of his own dogs through strangulation when a choke chain
locked. Only one agreed they should only be used by experienced
handlers, which I personally found disturbing. Seven thought it might
be a good idea to add a warning label to each chain at the point of
sale.

Pet shop outlets seem more interested in the till takings but agreed
they may consider displaying "warning information" about choke chains
only being used by experienced handlers if injury proof existed. The
two distributors I contacted apparently are not aware of any problem
but one of them decided to consider adding a warning into its standard
label.

My survey also brought me into contact with Robin Walker, a Veterinary
and Dog Behaviourist, who had an article on this very subject printed
in The Veterinary Record in March 1999 showing evidence of injury to
dogs. He listed:

Injured ocular vessels
Tracheal and oesophageal damage
Severely sprained necks
Cases of fainting
Transient foreleg paralysis
Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis
Hind leg ataxia
Radiographs showed misalignment of the cervical vertebrae and in some
cases Horner's Syndrome was diagnosed. I personally suffer from this
condition. The injury was caused by a suddenly, but in my case
voluntary, movement of the neck which has left the nerve supply to one
eye damaged, resulting in occasional pain to the eye and headaches. The
injury is not visible to another person so it would not appear to show
in a dog without a radiograph. Some of the conditions described above
were at the time known as "Woodhouse Neck".

My Conclusions

Obviously, the most dangerous chains are the long link chains. These
can lock in the tightened position if one of the links turns at 90
degrees and jams across the opening in the end ring. Secondly, all
chains would appear to be dangerous if used on an untrained dog, which
is most likely to pull. Further stress is then put on the dog by the
chain tightening and in some cases, the dog then starts to struggle.
This situation in the hands of an inexperienced handler is obviously
likely to lead to injury. There are obviously also ideal situations
where a chain is used correctly and the trained dog responds correctly.
However, why the necessity to use a chain on a trained dog which should
be responding to voice command?

Most of the injuries must be caused before dogs ever get to training
classes and before the correct guidance is given to the new owner.
Therefore, if we are concerned for general dog welfare and not just for
the ones in the training classes, I can see no alternative but for some
legislation to be put into place. Unfortunately, the Kennel Club and
the RSPCA who between them control almost the total registration and
welfare of dogs is this country cannot see that their may be a problem.

I would appreciate any comments any reader may have on the above
subject that may assist in my further perusing a hazard that may lead
to the safer handling of dogs sometime in the future.



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http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/Miace1.htm