What is a martingale collar?

A martingale collar is also commonly called limited slip collars, humane-choke collars, double loop collars or Greyhound collars. They were originally designed for sight hounds whose heads are smaller than their necks and can easily slip out of other types of collars. The martingale has gained popularity among other breed owners, with many trainers now recommending them instead of traditional choke collars. A properly adjusted martingale collar does not choke the dog (more on proper fit later).

A martingale collar is made up of two loops - one larger than the other. When fitted properly, the smaller control loop pulls taught which makes the large loop smaller. It is important to adjust it so the large loop is never smaller than the dog's actual neck size when pulled taught by the leash. This way the dog is never choked, but the collar stays snug around the dog's neck (just behind the ears) until the pressure is released.

It is not recommended to leave any collar on a dog at all time, Because of the double loop design of the martingale, there is a chance that the dog may get its foot or bottom jaw caught in the smaller loop. To decrease this risk, be sure to adjust the collar properly so it the smaller loop does not hang down loosely when a leash is not attached.

Choosing the right size

Take a measurement around the top of hte dog's neck, directly behind the ears. This measurement corresponds directly to the martingale collar size in the closed position (when it is being pulled taught by the leash). Simply identify which collar size range suits your dog's measurement best. If it's on the upper end of a small or medium size range, we recommend you choose the larger size.