What is so special about this collar?

A martingale is designed for dogs whose head and neck are approximately the same size.  These dogs can easily slip a regular collar, so the martingale is designed to tighten (a limited amount) when the dog pulls.

Yep that sounds like Maze.. She can slip her collar but is to busy pulling forwards to do so.. 

 Exactly, but they are also not recommended to be worn all the time.  You can get them with a side buckle to make them easier to put on.  Otherwise, you have to slip them over the head, and many dogs balk at that.

I just like the look of as little hardware as possible.  I use no-buckle, adjustable martingales for Kenya.  I don't use them as a training collar, just like the look.  Sorry the pic is blurry
 

Also a lot of people have dogs that can or will slip a collar.  A halti, gentle leader, easy walk, etc is really no better as far as guaranteeing the dog can't slip or step out.  If fitted correctly, a dog cannot slip a martingale. If there's no snaps (like above), there's no way it could break or snap open either.

You can even switch with a martingale from one loop to the other and it becomes a regular collar, which is pretty nice.

I like Sammy's collar to be a little looser, he has a really long neck and if its the proper fitting it sits a bit higher than seems comfortable when we aren't walking, though he rarely wears it when we're not on leash or visiting.  This way, it tightens when he's on leash with even the smallest amount of pull and he can't get out easily if he changes direction on me.

a martingale is not a training collar, and will not stop your dog from pulling. It's just much safer than any other kind of collar- the dog can't back out of it if it's adjusted properly, and it doesn't cause neck damage like a choker.

I simply prefer them and I do think they help me maintain control of the dog esp when worn up high on the neck. I used one on my Akita, and I will be using one on Cleo, and when they are up high it's much easier to keep them up there...IMO.

 I use a martingale on Tootsie, even though she hasn't slipped her collar since she was a pup, I don't want to take any chances. She only wears this collar when we use the leash, never by itself.

Maybe one of the reasons you are having a hard time with each is because none of the above are solutions for pulling. Besides tools, what have you tried to do do train Maze to stop pulling?

marty_ga

Exactly, but they are also not recommended to be worn all the time. 

The reason for that is the increased chance that a dog will get its jaw or a foot caught in the collar.  Nick at Bluegrass Collar and Lead offers a satin lining with his collars.  That lining makes it unlikely that the cloth martingale closure portion of a collar will stick out enough (when there is no leash attached) for the dog to get a jaw or foot trapped (or for the dog to chew up the collar).

To visualize the problem look at the picture Liesje posted above.  If one pulls on the D-ring, the other two metal pieces of the martingale closure come together.  The collar winds up looking sort of like a human necktie.   The portion sticking out can catch on the jaw or a foot.

janet_rose

To visualize the problem look at the picture Liesje posted above.  If one pulls on the D-ring, the other two metal pieces of the martingale closure come together.  The collar winds up looking sort of like a human necktie.   The portion sticking out can catch on the jaw or a foot.

That will depend on how it fits the dog.  I adjust Kenya's martingales after I put them on so they are not loose.  They are worn higher than a flat collar.  The loop and ring are at the back of her neck, and since the collar is not loose it doesn't slide.  The way I fit them, my dogs could just as easily get stuck in a flat collar than the martingales. She does not wear the pink one pictured all the time b/c it is thicker and still a little stiff from being new, but when I first got her she came with a thin black nylon martingale that she always had on.

AuroraLove

Maybe one of the reasons you are having a hard time with each is because none of the above are solutions for pulling. Besides tools, what have you tried to do do train Maze to stop pulling?

 Yep, like everyone is saying martingale collars are more slip proof than a regular collar.  Personally I use one because it is easy.  I have padded martingale collar/leash in one that I slip over Kirby's head when taking him out for potty breaks.  Since I don't leave a collar on him all the time it is far faster than snapping a standard collar on and off every time.  I only use it for potty breaks though, I prefer a standard harness for everything else.

Martingales are supposed to look like this when properly fitted.