Martingale

What is a martingale collar?

A martingale collar is primarily designed for sighthounds but can be worn by all breeds. It is designed to help prevent the dog from backing out, or slipping its collar. Using a martingale is also a very effective way to help control a leash puller. Also known as a humane choke collar or limited choke, it consists of two loops. A larger loop that has a slide to give the collar adjustability and two slides at the end through which a smaller loop is fed. The second loop is known as the control loop onto which the dee ring is securely sewn. See diagram below. Unlike the buckle collar, the martingale is slips over the dogs head and is adjusted once around the dogs neck.

Is it safe to leave a martingale collar on my dog unattended?

All collars can be potentially unsafe and a martingale style collar carries a slightly greater risk of injury if left on 24/7. However, you should evaluate whether the risk of choking or getting a collar caught is greater than the risk that you may need to grab a collar quickly as a hound makes a dart for an open doorway. Around the Hounds does not endorse either policy but we do stress that a martingale left on all the time MUST be adjusted so that it cannot choke the dog when the smaller loop is tightened. Remove all collars when crating your dog.

By no means should a dog ever be tied out by a martingale collar.

Tag placement recommendations

Due to the slight risk of tags getting caught and causing a choke situation, we highly recommend that all tags be secured on the slide and NOT the dee ring

See all Martingale Collars