Dog collars to avoid
Updated 14 October 2026
In short: the collars to avoid are those that work through pain, discomfort or fear: the choke collar (chain or nylon with no stop), the prong collar, the electric collar and, to a lesser extent, anti-bark collars using vibration, sound or spray. They can injure the neck, raise stress and worsen fear or reactivity. Since July 2025, dog professionals in France may no longer use them. For a dog that pulls, barks or runs off, reward-based training and a Y-shaped harness work better.
Our position: at Goofy Goldens we neither sell nor recommend any of these collars. We stand for positive, pain-free, fear-free training.
Which dog collars should you avoid?
Here are the four families of so-called "training" or "aversive" collars, how they work and what they can cause.
| Collar | How it works | Main risks |
|---|---|---|
| Choke (chain or slip with no stop) | Tightens around the neck when the dog pulls or the lead is jerked | Injury to windpipe and neck, raised eye pressure, panic |
| Prong (or "pinch") | Metal prongs pinch the neck skin under tension | Pain, skin damage, negative association with other dogs or people |
| Electric (remote, anti-escape) | Delivers a shock triggered remotely or by a boundary | Fear, chronic stress, redirected aggression, loss of trust |
| Anti-bark (vibration, sound, citronella spray) | Triggers on barking, usually without telling why the dog barks | Confusion, triggering by other dogs' barks, the cause (fear, boredom) remains |
Why these collars make behaviour problems worse
These tools can stop a behaviour in the moment, but they never address its cause. A dog that barks out of fear, pulls out of excitement or runs off out of boredom keeps the same emotion, now with pain or shock added.
The neck is a fragile area
The windpipe, thyroid, blood vessels and nerves lie just under the skin. Tests on a neck model show that no collar stays below safety thresholds when a dog pulls hard or the lead is jerked.
Pain gets linked to what the dog sees
If the shock or pinch comes as the dog sees another dog or a child, it can link that encounter with pain and become more reactive.
Trust gets damaged
Dogs trained with aversive methods show more stress signals and a more negative emotional state, according to a study of 92 dogs.
What to use instead
Pick your situation to see the gentle alternative that works.
Gear: a Y-shaped anti-pull harness with the lead clipped to the chest ring. When the dog pulls, it turns towards you, with no pressure on the throat.
Training: stop as soon as the lead tightens, move on when it slackens, and reward your dog for walking beside you. Our article on the Stop and Go method explains the steps.
Look for the cause first: boredom, fear, alerting, frustration or attention-seeking. A dog that gets enough exercise (walks, sniffing games, chewing) barks less.
- Reward calm, even for a few seconds.
- Reduce triggers (frosted film on a window, background noise).
- If barking happens when you leave, talk to a vet: it can be separation anxiety.
Practise recall with a high-value reward, first at home, then in a garden, then on a 5–10 m long line on walks. Never call your dog for something unpleasant. Our guide to the perfect recall takes you step by step.
Keep your distance from what worries your dog, reward it for looking at the trigger calmly, and increase difficulty very gradually. Get help from a reward-based trainer or a veterinary behaviourist.
What does the law say in France?
- Professionals: since 3 July 2025, a French ministerial order bans trainers, breeders, shelters, boarding kennels and pet shops from using any "pronged, electric or choke device without a stop".
- Private owners: the French ministry of Agriculture confirmed in August 2026 that these rules do not apply to owners. A bill for a general ban was passed by the National Assembly in 2023 but has not yet been examined by the Senate.
- Tethered dogs: choke collars have been banned on dogs tied to a fixed point since a 1982 order.
- In Europe: an EU regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats, adopted in 2026, will extend these bans to breeders, pet shops and shelters across the Union. Electric collars are already banned for everyone in Wales (2010) and England (2024).
True or false: arguments you often hear
"An electric collar doesn't hurt, it just tickles."
FALSETo work, the stimulation has to be unpleasant: that is the whole principle of the tool. Dogs trained this way show more stress signals than dogs trained with rewards.
"A prong collar mimics a mother dog biting her puppy's neck."
FALSEThat is a myth: mother dogs don't correct puppies by repeatedly biting their necks. The collar simply causes pain each time the lead tightens.
"These collars work faster than positive training."
FALSEThey may stop a behaviour in the moment, but in a study of 63 dogs, those trained with rewards responded better to recall and sit than those trained with an electric collar.
"A citronella anti-bark collar is harmless."
IT DEPENDSIt doesn't injure, but it startles and can be set off by another dog's bark. Above all, it doesn't address why the dog barks. Better to find the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Which dog collars are not recommended?
Choke collars with no stop, prong collars and electric collars are advised against by veterinary behaviourists. Vibration, sound or spray anti-bark collars are also best avoided, because they don't address why the dog barks.
Are electric collars banned in France?
Dog professionals have been banned from using them since July 2025. Private owners are still allowed for now: a general ban passed the National Assembly in 2023 but has not been adopted yet.
What can replace a choke collar for a dog that pulls?
A Y-shaped anti-pull harness with the lead on the chest ring, combined with loose-lead training. The dog turns towards you when it pulls, with no pressure on the throat.
Is a martingale collar dangerous?
Correctly adjusted, it never tightens beyond neck size and stops narrow-necked dogs from slipping out. It must never be used for jerks. For a dog that pulls, choose a harness.
Which collar for an anxious dog?
A flat, light collar with a clip buckle, fitted to two fingers, used only to carry the ID tag. For walks, a harness avoids any pressure on the neck.
Sources
- French ministry of Agriculture, answer to written question no. 06165, Senate Official Journal, 20/08/2026 (order of 19 June 2025).
- Carter A., McNally D., Roshier A. (2020). Canine collars: an investigation of collar type and the forces applied to a simulated neck model. Veterinary Record.
- Vieira de Castro A. C. et al. (2020). Does training method matter? PLOS ONE.
- China L., Mills D. S., Cooper J. J. (2020). Efficacy of dog training with and without remote electronic collars vs. a focus on positive reinforcement. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
- VetAgro Sup animal welfare chair: analysis of the French bill to ban electric and choke collars.