A Martingale collar was originally made for use with dogs that have necks that are larger than, or equal size to their heads, as owners did not want their dogs to be able to back out of their collars.  One such breed would be a greyhound.  Although the use of Martingale collars have evolved somewhat, and it is now more often used as a training collar to help dogs walk correctly by your side.

These dog collars work in a similar way to the choke collars, but have adjustments that you can make so that you know you are not going to run the risk of choking your dog if he happens to tug on the leash. The Martingale dog collars are normally made from fabrics rather than the metal of the choke chain so they are much more gentle for your dog to wear.

So how does the Martingale dog collar work exactly?  The collars are quite unique in that they have two loops of either leather or fabric, whereas a standard collar will only have the one.  As with the more usual collar, one loop will fit over the dog’s head, the other loop is the one that you attach the leash to as it has the ‘d’ ring attachment for that purpose. 

With the way this collar has been designed, as soon as either the dog, or the owner pulls on the leash, the second of the two loops will also be pulled and in turn it will begin to tighten the loop which is around the neck of the dog.  So by using a Martingale collar you are getting the same benefits as using the choke type collars, but there is no danger of damaging your dog in any way, as you are able to control just how tight the loop will get round his or her neck.

There are many different designs and styles available within the Martingale collar range, so you will now have a problem finding one that you like.  Another added bonus is that if you go for the fabric style, they are also washable so you know you can keep your dog collar nice and hygenic.

If you like the leash to match the collar, this is not an issue with these collars, as many of the styles and designs are available as both collar and leash.  Here is a great range of Martingale Collars, many of which have the matching leashes available.