Martingale For Greyhounds: Is It Useful?
It is one of the most abused breeds par excellence. There are many animal protection associations that specialize in this breed. Greyhounds are dogs that are easy to distinguish due to their very stylized, lean and seemingly fragile body shape.
Many specimens belonging to this breed have been abused and abandoned. This is why it is rare to find one who is not afraid. We are used to seeing greyhounds with very large collars, usually in colored fabric: this is the martingale . Today we are wondering if this type of collar is the most appropriate.
What is a martingale?
A martingale is the typical graceful collar that greyhounds wear: most often it is made of leather or fabric. It is made up of two parts, one of them is fixed and ends in two rings to which a removable part is attached. If the dog pulls, the movable part tightens the neck. In this way, if the dog wanted to escape, he would not be able to.
The martingale for greyhounds are particularly easy to find. Many artisans make them to measure and they are available in various patterns and colors. Unfortunately, many animal welfare associations also produce and sell them to raise funds.
Why are martingales used in greyhounds?
There are two reasons why martingales are used in greyhounds. The first is the unique head-neck ratio of this breed and the second is the fear many of these dogs feel.
With a normal collar, a dog of any other breed would not be able to escape if, in a moment of fear, he tried. This is because the neck is much narrower than the head and the collar could not come out of his ears.
However, in the case that interests us – that of the greyhounds – we must consider that the neck is wider than the skull. This means that with any other collar, if they wanted to escape, they could do it without difficulty. Since the martingale tightens the neck, the dog wearing it would not be able to escape even if he wanted to.
Why is the martingale inexpensive?
What many greyhound owners don’t take into account is that martingales are bad. We’ve already talked about the negative health consequences of pulling on the leash, all of which result from putting pressure on the neck for long periods of time.
This type of collars cause health problems that almost always appear in dogs wearing punishment or training collars. We are talking about collars that constantly tighten the neck, exactly like a martingale . Instead of applying pressure with metal nails, in this case it is done with a strip of fabric, but the pressure is still exerted.
Although greyhound martingales are designed not to exert more than a certain amount of pressure and despite being made of a soft fabric, they continue to tighten excessively in the neck area which, as in any dog, is particularly sensitive.
In addition, some greyhound owners do not consider so-called muscle memory. We talk about the sensation or memories that remain associated with touch. If the greyhound has been mistreated in the past and was held by the neck with something pressing on it, he will have a constant feeling of fear and will feel helpless whenever something oppresses his throat.
Since the martingale tightens precisely in this area, he would not be able to forget this memory. His recovery following the mistreatment would therefore be impossible or in any case much slower and more difficult.
Alternatives to the martingale for greyhounds
Normal collars do not guarantee the safety of a fearful greyhound because, as mentioned, they would allow him to escape. Harnesses don’t look ideal either due to the very broad chest of this type of dog
However, the so-called three-point or anti-escape harnesses are becoming increasingly popular . They are normal harnesses that clip around the dog’s chest and ribs, but which have an additional grip point in the lower part of the belly: the narrowest area of the body.
Thanks to this third point, being the shortest strip of the three, the dog cannot escape. In the event that it is able to free itself from the other strips, this third would ensure an unmissable grip.
Like other harnesses, if the dog jerks, pressure is exerted on the chest and ribs. Or really bones and not soft and sensitive parts like the neck. In addition, the dog is more insured than a normal collar.
If the greyhound is in pain he will not be able to overcome the trauma of the mistreatment and will live scared and sad for his entire life. We want to stress again that the martingale tighten the neck and cause pain, so the best choice for a dog of this type is a bib with three attachment points. They are absolutely safe both for his health and in avoiding sudden escapes.
