A very unfortunate accident has happened to a dog wearing a choke chain. Choke chains or check chains should never be worn by dogs and certainly not left on dogs unsupervised. Here is an account of what happened from the dogs owner (we have permission to post this from the owner)
About two weks ago our beautiful chocolate lab died, we are still devastated as he was only three years old. This should never have happened. He was just like a bear and the collar we had on him was a choke chain which was easy to remove and put on whenever the need required. Our dogs spend their time sleeping lazily outside on the deck and spend most of their time there, they are never tied. We went out for two hours recently and left the dogs in their usual spot telling them to mind the house. When we got back our lab was dead, it took quiet a few minutes to register what had happened we were just in complete shock. His choke chain loop had gone down through the small gap in the deck boards and he panicked and kept pulling the collar and gradually strangled himself. I beg anyone who uses these chains or any collar with a loop and chain not to leave them on the dog. This was a horrific death and one the children and I will never forget.
Rest in peace ‘Banjo’ we miss you terribly.I would be delighted if you would post this topic anywhere that would make people aware of how dangerous these are it was such an horrible thing to happen. I noticed these chains are sold in a lot of hardwear sections of the big diy stores, no warnings or how to use them.
What can you do?
1. NEVER ever use a choke chain.
2. Always use a Safety collar when your dog is left alone unsupervised or crated. You can put a tag onto your safety collar so as if the tag gets stuck the collar will release. Safety collars will clip open if needed leaving the dogs neck free.
3. Explain the dangers of these collars to store owners when you see them being sold in their shop. Feel free to print this out and hand it to shop owners. They are responsible if they sell these.
SAFETY COLLAR (We have these in stock)
Click here to see how they work: www.premier.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/collars/keepsafe/description
Rest in Peace Banjo.
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Comments
Tragically the exact thing happened to my beautiful Chocolate Lab, Sophie aged 2 1/2 years, on July 5, 2009. She was wrestling with our boxer mix, like she had 1000 times before, and the boxer’s hind paw got tangled in her choke collar. We got bit and scratched trying to free them. Sophie was gone in under 2 minutes. DO NOT USE these choke collars!!!
That’s so sad and unfortunate. I’m sorry for the dog owner in the post and you, Marjorie. Losing a beloved pet under any circumstances is difficult, but this is sad because it was preventable. I guarantee that after reading both posts, I will never EVER use a choke collar on my dogs.
I think what you did to your dog was very cruel. I would never dream of buying a choke chain. That was just plain studpid. Now you have paid an expensive price. Chocolate Labradors need time and patience when training. Training should be done at a young age and it should be reward based not punishment.
I know the dangers of choke chains as well.I have a dog who pulls and sometimes still does.Everyone advised me to get a choke chain.I did and I put it on him.When he pulled,it tightened up to the point that he was gasping and fell to the ground.I quickly got it off of him and he was ok.When I got home,I threw the thing in the trash,I’d never do that to my baby again.I can’t believe that they sell things like that,same goes for pinch collars.