Fur Savers

[lenovo]

I was wondering if anyone uses the fur saver choke?
If you do, my question is this.
Do you find it just as effective with training as a regular choke chain?
With the Newfs head being on the bigger side
How do you fit your dog and also how much leeway do you give with it?
Three links, four when you do a pop for training does it work?

 

[Peter Maniate]

From six months on, except for water work and the show ring, I use fur savers exclusively.

Combined with proper body mechanics it is just as effective as any other collar. In addition it gives a gentler correction than a more conventional choke collar. Proper body mechanics involves using a double handled leash and pulling to the side (same concept that allows a person to take a horse around on a lunge line), making the fur saver as effective as a head collar (like the gentle leader) without making your dog look like he is muzzled, without irritating his face and without risking a whiplash injury.

I fit the Newfs like you would for a regular choke. Normally this means putting it on one ear at a time, same for taking it off. Like to have three or four links when you pull it tight. Pop works much better with the larger links.

There are two types of fur savers, the ones with end welded links and those with centre welded links. You should get the latter as they are stronger.

If ordering a fur saver, it is important to know that they are measured for length differently than an ordinary choke. Regular chokes are measured from the inside of the end rings whereas fur savers are calculated in length from the outside of the end rings. Most adult Newfs use a 24 inch or 26 inch collar; a few may require a 28 inch.

The biggest advantage of a fur saver for a Newf, as the name implies, is that it does not wear the fur around the neck. This is because the elongated links are less likely to get caught in the fur compared to other types of chain collars (whether chokes or martingales). Not only does the catching in the fur tear the fur but it also causes unnecessary discomfort.

 

[lenovo]

From six months on, except for water work and the show ring, I use fur savers exclusively.

Combined with proper body mechanics it is just as effective as any other collar. In addition it gives a gentler correction than a more conventional choke collar. Proper body mechanics involves using a double handled leash and pulling to the side (same concept that allows a person to take a horse around on a lunge line), making the fur saver as effective as a head collar (like the gentle leader) without making your dog look like he is muzzled, without irritating his face and without risking a whiplash injury.

I fit the Newfs like you would for a regular choke. Normally this means putting it on one ear at a time, same for taking it off. Like to have three or four links when you pull it tight. Pop works much better with the larger links.

There are two types of fur savers, the ones with end welded links and those with centre welded links. You should get the latter as they are stronger.

If ordering a fur saver, it is important to know that they are measured for length differently than an ordinary choke. Regular chokes are measured from the inside of the end rings whereas fur savers are calculated in length from the outside of the end rings. Most adult Newfs use a 24 inch or 26 inch collar; a few may require a 28 inch.

The biggest advantage of a fur saver for a Newf, as the name implies, is that it does not wear the fur around the neck. This is because the elongated links are less likely to get caught in the fur compared to other types of chain collars (whether chokes or martingales). Not only does the catching in the fur tear the fur but it also causes unnecessary discomfort.

Thank you for taking the time and answering my question with such detail, it helps.
What make has the join in the middle of the link.
Once again thank you

 

[Peter Maniate]

What make has the join in the middle of the link.
Once again thank you

The particular brand that I get here in Ontario is Burgham TUFFLink. It is available from the Pet Supply House and other pet stores that use Burgham as a distributor. The Pet Supply House which is also a mail order store calls it a "fur saver" whereas Burgham labels it as a "heavy choke".

Noticed on another thread that you go to Ren's. Unfortunately their fur savers are the end welded type and while they would do, they sometimes break because all the stress is on the weld which is the weakest point. It could be worse; to get regular choke collars with centre welded links, you have to import them from Germany.

 

[Ivoryudx]

I don't use the 'fur Saver' chokes at all. Mainly because they do not allow for a smooth or proper correction due to the length of the individual links. When the ring slides over the long links it either goes too tight, or too loose. I don't leave collars on my dogs while home, or in crates for safety issues, so when we're out, its a buckle collar. If they are obnoxious, then I put a pinch on along with the buckle, or regular choke, so I can switch between them. jmo

 

[lenovo]

tks to all posts, I will see the difference with drawing to the side, as Peter mentioned. Because popping up and back is not effective, which is apparently the wrong way. I will take him for a walk tonight and do It Peter's way.
If I do see it is two tight or loose then I will go back to, collar with pinch or regular choke as back up.