Martingale collar with a chain - legal?

agilebasenji: You rock! We did a bit of lure coursing a dog camp last year. They had a short course set up for all breeds. What a hoot! My pointer loved it, but she was outclassed by the sight hounds. My setter was still a bit more intreged by the birds in the field.

 
Most dogs really enjoy it.  A few dogs, like our lab (RIP), got worried about being that far from dad and would do half the course then run back to dad.  I've also seen a bc get really upset when the "bunny" cut in front of him.  The dog just stopped, you could see the brain short-circut and he ran back to mom.  Tried him again and the exact same thing happened.  I guess the "mutant sheep" that cut towards him, instead of away, was just too much.
 
I'd like to try our malinois on the lure.  I took the basenjis herding, so I guess it's only fair.
 
Good luck in your obedience trial.

lol!  Hey thanks for the encouraging words!  Trudy's doing great! []

Focus is not built by coercion, using any collar, slip, martingale or otherwise. Excellent focus is created by building a relationship with the dog.  Your reference to herding dogs being easier is well taken, but keep in mind that I also own a hound and a Yorkie.  And, some herders are so reactive that focus isn't all that easy for them either.
I would much rather concentrate on building the duration of focus from a reward based perspective.  It's just as easy, may take a little longer, but in the end, is just as reliable.  The downside of collars is that when they aren't there, the dog gets it.  If you build focus from a reward based system, the collar could fall off and the dog is still focused on the handler.

And, BTW, you don't need to patronize me by telling me how bits are used.  This will be my 54th year on horses, as my dad started me at age 1 1/2 on a lead line.  []

I wasn't patronizing you, just explaining that I also am familiar with dressage competition.  I was pointing out that your analogy was poor.

I was originally not asking a question about training in general.  I have no problem with my dogs' trainkg.  I was asking about whether a certain collar, is certainly more kind than the choke, is allowed in the competition ring.

Do you think that you could compete in obedience and agility with your hound and yorkie without a collar?

Also, Spiritdog, you didn't answer this question.

I don't understand why it is OK for Mudpuppy to attach me for a very simple legitamate question and it isn't OK to defend myself?

You don't even know me or my dogs.  I didn't want to get into a lot of retorical stuff about training, dressage, etc.  I'm perfectly happy (and so is my trainer) with the way Trudy is being trained.  She is a very young, green and exuberant dog who tried hard but does best with some chain on her collar to a little "Hey you!" shake when she spots something more interesting across the floor during an obedience test.  Believe me, I DON"T want to correct her during a test because it is penalized.  She needs the experience in the ring - its a catch 22 thing.  The same way you would take a green horse in the ring, knowing that, because of distractions and new environment, it will not be perfect.

You don't know me or my dogs.  There is no need for this hostility in this community, especially over this kind of question.  The question was kind of like "Can you use a Myler Comfort Snaffle or a copper snaffle at a dressage show".  I don't want to hear a big critic on the pros & cons of training with a Myler bit or how harsh copper is.  My horse goes better in the Myler bit, can I use it?  Yes or no.

Believe me, I'm not a bad person.  We apparently have a lot in common so cut me some slack here.

A novice dog in early competition often requires little reminders to stay focused - I competed for years in obedience.  It would be wonderful if the dogs were proofed to a point where focus was insured - but given there are so few "fun matches" these days - conditioning a green dog can be difficult.  Yes, I know one can take them to strip malls, schools etc.  But the actual show ring is another thing altogether.
 
So, hang in there - your question was legit and I don't think any of us has to jump all over someone for asking a question - especially during the Holidays (grin)[]

Thank you Gilbyd [].  ! didn't want to sound like a whiner, but, gosh, I thought I asked a pretty simple equipment question there, I thought. 

Trudy (my avatar) is a great little setter dog!  She just needs that little chain jingle to let her know that she's at work and not suppose to look at the little kid with the lollipop. It's hardly a correction and a flat collar doesn't work as well as the sound of a chain.  That is why I would really prefer using a chain martingale, but, rules are rules. 

I'm using a choke chain in class to transition her off of the prong.  Just wearing it on a loose lead, right now, is enough to make a difference.  I hope and plan to bring her to the point where she won't rely on a collar to keep her attention in the ring. Right now, for a greenie, she's doing great. []