But I also believe that most people that are dead against the prong collar never experienced a dog with any severe reactive behavior issues. Hi Im 19 and have a 4 month old Great Dane and he is almost 70Ib I started him out in obedience puppy classes and the trainer there recommend to get a harness but he grew out of it so quickly that wasnt able to train much with him but even with the harness he was very difficult to walk because he pulls so hard and he chews on his leash like he wants to walk himself. The pain and discomfort of of a prong collar isnt going to beat out the bad behavior. Pay no attention to the idiots who prescribe for your dog without knowing either you or it. However, the first reference to dog collars comes from Ancient Egypt. Russian/West Germany working/showline. I am looking forward to using this, in an even better way of using. One is 2.0mm (small) and the other is 3.0mm (medium). Shame they dont research the damage done to dogs by flat buckle ! This is always very stressful for me and I get there praying there wont be another dog in the waiting room. I swore Id never use a prong, they are cruel, I thought. My question is if the prong collar would scare him even more, causing more distrust, or if the boundaries of the collar would actually make him feel safer? We put it on her and it was like she was a different dog I could take her anywhere . And How To Ethically Find One, Ray Allen Multi-Function Harness An Honest Review, Ray Allen Nomad I.H.S Harness An Honest Review, Should I Cuddle My Dog? But for corrections? I asked him why not? He went on to tell me theyre known for breaking dogs necks. If you use the prong collar correctly and correct your dog BEFORE he takes off for the rabbit, then yes. I do believe it is each to their own, but to me it is still an aversive tool created for people who do not have time to train their dogs without punishment or the consequence of pain. Some people Needless to say Shadow and I were able to participate in class and he wasnt the class clown he was in the first class. For small dogs you can get the 2.25 mm. WebThank you for downloading the San Francisco SPCAs Prong Collar Advocacy Kit. The Prong Collar, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Top 5 Reasons to Take Your Dog for a Walk. Have you had success on this type of dog which is bred to hunt rodents? We have dogs in training classes with prong collars, slip collars, harnesses everything. We have two dogs, both staffies, that are really bad on the leash. Whilst Herm Sprenger advise that 5-6 months is the minimum? A Guide From A Professional Dog Trainer, How To Manage A Dog Who Is An Escape Artist. If hes really excited treats have no value, even hot dogs. You have that. And, while it's very clear that e-collars and prong collars are used because they cause psychological stress and pain, many people don't realize that choke collars also can cause a good deal of pain, suffering, and injury to dogs who wear them. I have a 4 month old border collie and the prong used gently allows me to walk him. I have a 60kg male rottweiler who got spooked by a kid on a scooter on one of our walks he lunged at the kid out of fear, one correction to my dog he snapped out of it place perfectly back into a heel position, I believe if I had a flat collar or a harness on that kid could well have a huge missing chunk out of his arm, thanks to the prong collar I was able to control my rottie and potentially saved that kids life and my dogs too. Teacup puppies are incredibly trendy, because of their small size and cuteness. It is up to you to do your research and make your own opinion. Again 99.9% of the time he is a joy to walk & im walking him and my other dog which could greatly overpower me. Tried the front clip harness but she would still pull so hard she would flip herself over and on to her side how does that not break ribs?! In large, older, strong, and/or strong-willed dogs, this would point us to the prong collars. The neck and cervical spine are one of the most important energy channels in the body. If you think about the anatomy of the neck, it contains essential things like the windpipe. Dogs become reactive (largely) through fear or excitement. WebShock collars have been illegal to use on dogs and cats in Wales for more than a decade. Thank you Melanie for sharing your story! I have tried 2 different harnesses and if he gets really excited he can escape both.once after a groundhog, once when a farm combine crossed in front of us he escaped the harness only 4 times total in a year, but each time was dangerous. You are doing everything right, just take it slow. Give it a chance, try it out and see what a difference it can make with your relationship with your dog. It certainly would not work if you kept yanking on it all the time. Try this post, and if you need more help? The prong collar is the opposite of cruel in the right hands. I dont want my dog to fear me or become aggressive towards other people or dogs. Have a read of how to train your dog to walk loose leash. A strong dog actually puked while I was walking him from the pressure on his throat. | rebarkable.comPrivacy Policy|Terms and Conditions, This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Im a 68-year-old skinny woman I dont have the strength for this dog and dont know what to do. You can do it with patience and guidance.. Hopefully that has changed. Yes theyre bad, because they have far too large an ability to be misused. This muddies the water for guardians seeking help with their companion dogs: If a force-free trainer with whom they worked didnt help them, does that push them to work with a trainer who uses force? Whilst the product is clearly quality, and I love that they actually give you most of this information the information is rather buried. Had him two years now he has also been attacked by other stray pitbulls. The OSPet offers a prong collar that is ideal for medium and large dogs with the maximum length of the collar at 24 inches and a diameter of 0.14 inches or 3.5 mm. I didnt outweigh him by much. Thats what they were built for, is to learn. (If youre struggling to teach a loose leash, this is for you. It also helps me correct her and keep her focused. If your dog pulls you when trying to walk him or is leash reactive, I strongly suggest you consider using a prong collar. I can see how someone would see it as dangerous or harmful. But a dogs neck is a very sensitive area. This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience, which means I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I have had 0 success teaching dogs to walk correctly using a harness. I have needed to figure out how to contain this pup that will weigh as much as me at a full grown 130lbs. I definitely want to use it. How Can I Find a Dog Trainer? Our 90 pound puppy who gets excited and pulls on walks. Good luck, I wish you all the best. If you want to advocate for using aversive tools, thats fine, but lying and telling people that the prong doesnt hurt , only makes you look ridiculous . Good luck with your future training of your puppy! Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! Furthermore, it is downright dangerous to leave either choke chain or prong collar on dogs if not working. I dont think so. Choke Chain Collars A choke chain collar is another inhumane training tool. Some times he forgets its on and tries to run and its clear hes in pain. I am also convinced, after having tried every other gentle alternative, that these are a) not effective and b) not kind, because walks with my dog are miserable for us both. Choke and Prong collars have been used to discipline dogs, usually larger and more aggressive breeds. Walks were ok, except if he saw a squirrel or a cat or another dog or wanted to drag me to the park etc. We decided to try a prong collar and WOW what a difference it made! The one linked in the article above fits dogs with up to a 18-inch neck. Its important to check that all links are secure before putting on your dog. Most of the citys bylaws carry a $240 fine for infraction. He clearly is afraid of the leash. The pulling she used to have has almost been eliminated by the training techniques my trainer taught us. She is very sweet but its obvious now that she hasnt been socialized at all. WebPerhaps it was the way the cave people restrained their wild dogs from running away. Weve invested a lot of time and money in our training and I feel like we have to go back to the drawing board. And although I knew they were just barking and pulling because they wanted to investigate and make friends, staffies barks tend to be quite scary, which Im sure intimidate my neighbors. No, Prong collars are not banned in the UK. It is amazing! She said doing this just makes the training go faster, which is helpful since she only has the dogs for a limited amount of time. My personal stance? Note: I just received an interesting email asking if it's possible that some dogs hold grudges against their guardians and trainers who mistreat them with aversive collars and "other abusive training techniques." Hi Carol, the prong collar is known to come apart at the most inconvenient times. That is a misconception. For their part, humans will be well rewarded for time spent helping their dog understand the how and why of leashes with many happy miles of walking together as a team. There are back clip harnesses, which promote pulling (think about sled dogs). Do your dogs reach a point that you no longer have to use the prong collar? I was on the verge of having to give him up when I was introduced to the Herm Springer. It is so inspiring, it brought tears to my eyes. Im so glad you were able to keep your dog! And not to mention all that pulling also affects me stresses my joints and feet, strains my wrists, has caused me to slip and fall in icy or muddy conditions, and makes me dread walking these problem dogs. It literally saved his life. Psychology Today, January 29, 2019. I despise using harnesses because I find they ALWAYS encourage pulling. Scotland The use of electric shock collars was Eventually you can stop using the collar, once she understands pulling is not acceptable. We told our dog trainer all about this today and he introduced us to the prong collar with lots of instruction about how to gently tug the leash with just 2 fingers to get the dogs attention. Have watched several videos by Jeff Geller and purchased a Herm Sprenger prong collar. It depends on the severity of his fearfulness. He already knew all basic commands, house broken and crate trained. Unfortunately, Kodi is one of those dogs that take you for a walk and not the other way around.. so i am wanting to try a prong collar, he gets so over stimulated when we go for a walk its almost unbearable.. pulling, barking, hyper over the top behaviour. Many people have never seen a prong or pinch collar properly used in dog training. Hi Lesa, I appreciate your feedback and the fact youve never needed to use a prong is great. This collar is used to treat injured dogs. What changes would you like to see? Now that I understand what I was doing wrong, I have all the confidence in the world that Ill be able to correct the problem with my mini Aussie and cant wait to give it a try this afternoon. A jerk on the leash to suddenly, quickly restrict airflow as the teeth of the prong squeeze the neck, often misappropriated as a mommy bite Ill discuss that one another time) actually just reinforces the idea that they were right to be scared of the oncoming threat., Over time? We mediate and control access to the physical and social worlds of our dogs quite a bit. Or must you be on the side of the dog on a short lead? So glad you found a trainer to guide you! Free shipping for many products! I have not used one so cant recommend anything specific, but you can find them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/32rG40v. Recently we were able to do a board and train with an old coworker of mine for a very reasonable price and she told us that she combines positive and negative reinforcements in her training. These are then used when you want to apply a Correction (also called a leash pop) that press into the skin around your dogs neck to apply discomfort or pain in order to communicate that your dog has done something incorrectly. However, it is good to note that the prong collar works by giving a leash pop or correction through the leash, a quick jerk on the leash results in a sudden constriction of the neck., Now, lots of trainers will tell you that this doesnt hurt the dog, that it merely tells them no in a language they understand., Whilst that may be true, its not something we have data for, and bearing in mind that a dogs neck is 3x more sensitive than ours, and they definitely restrict airflow for a short time, its arguable that this device goes against animal welfare rights and are subsequently banned in certain countries like Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland and the Canadian Province of Quebec., Of course this can be argued as human error, but sometimes its just easier to control the situation than remedy the fallout. I dont want her to listen to me just because she fears what comes if she doesnt. Recommended just for you: Top 5 Reasons to Take Your Dog for a Walk. Hell jump at people and dogs who walk by because he wants to visit, he thinks everyone is his friend. Immediately Im an abuser, bla bla bla. The studies seem to show that choke collars are dangerous but not prong collars. When shown attention, she licked human hands and dog faces with something that could only be described as joy. Thats awesome Joe! The training program we used 20 years ago used a choke collar, so that is what we were used to. You noted that you have used these devices for a quick fix when you need foster dogs to walk along side yours You also made notes about how to introduce the dog to the prong collar, and with the use of reassuring gestures and being patient with the animal, along side the use of treats why would the prong collar be needed? Now I have an American Foxhound, and while she does pull a little bit at the beginning of a walk she settles right in with her harness pretty quick. The RSPCA deems them to be cruel. They [Prong Collars] are not recommended unless other training methods have been exhausted.. Thanks Karen for sharing your story. Now he is eyes on me. But Id recommend giving it a try, if he seems too afraid, then take a few steps back. Offering him a toy when he attacks me, biting and scratching me, only taught him to attack me in order to get a toy. I signed us up for an obedience class. Hi, I don't want to hijack Debi's post but would like to comment. It means that youre not in control. They certainly can be if misused. Her eyes arent red after a walk and she doesnt pant constantly walking now. Where do we draw the line? A prong collar is a device that has good and bad points to it, but as well go into later, its ripe for misuse. I somewhat reluctantly use the prong collar because I know I have control regardless of situation & can keep him safe. We were told that it was probably allergies. Yes it will help you a lot! He was a bully breed mutt and 100 +lbs. 2. It is not OK. We're based in South Australia where purchasing a prong collar from outside Australia is illegal, however, it is not banned in some States, one of them being South Australia. Immediately the two dogs got ready to lunge at one another. Thanks for sharing! Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. Our canine companion is usually a part of our life that we love, and humans tend to show affection with a cuddle, An escape artist dog or a hound-ini is another kind of dog that is really stressful to care for. Shadow was a big big dog, who loved everyone and everything. Bam. Just saw the first video about how to put it on -on your website. Weve been using a Ray Allen Brand, the prongs go only partially around his neck/the collar. Good to read something siilar to mine! Highnote612 1 yr. ago. Whilst I would hope youd use it right (though, I dont think I would trust myself to use it right consistently over long periods of time), it also doesnt surpass the fact that you can probably achieve your loose leash walking goals way easier than banishing your pup or dog to this device., No, they are not suitable for use on a puppy. This gives respect for the tool, and means that youre less likely to misuse it. I used a pinch collar 3 times and he learned that quickly and never pulled out of the leash again. Lets be realistic, Im not here to change your mind, and you will never be able to change mine. I remember over 10 years ago they seemed to have a bad rap. I have used a prong collar to walk my German shepherd and it has been a blessing. Are you supposed to leave the spike collar on all the time? Weve tried all our trainers suggestions like carrying a stick shaped treat and letting her have a nibble when shes at our knee, spatula with cheese/peanut butter, hot dogs, treat sack at our hip and feeding while walking NOTHING worked. Ultimately, a leash is simply a tool, a kind of umbilical cord between human and dog that can be used well or poorly. Im not sure you have the experience to recommend this nor have the dogs best interest in mind. Some dogs only need it for 6 months, others will need it for years. I didnt even know what that really was until the first week of taking her for walks. It could be killedalong with the child flung into the windshield as her mother hits the brake. Use of the prong/e collar & it has changed their lives all for the better & made some very happy dogs too. There are no quick fixes, and training is not a one time and done type of thing. How, Mary wondered, can anyone be upset with having a social puppy? Regular collars allow the dogs to hurt themselves if they have no leash manners, and Ive personally seen this many times choking, damage to the neck, etc. I just want her to be happy and enjoy the world! And thank you for all you do. I decided to share my story because so many people have not. So now its up to you to decide what you are comfortable using to train your dog. Consequently, its my advice to not use corrections because theyre too easy to miss. Thank you for most educational article on pinch collar. Its about patience and consistency. I have tried regular collars, a harness, e collar now my last resort is a prong collar. Victoria, you and your pup are a perfect example on how the prong collar is such a life-saver! With the prong collar, weve been able to quickly train him not to pull on our walks. My guess he was abused while wearing one or was constantly on one. Hi Debi, I have a pit Pyrenees rescue and have been in weekly training. I do worry about what other people think, even though I shouldnt. Its another self-rewarding cycle. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process. If it werent for this collar we would never be able to do that. I just rescued a 5 month golden husky mix. We found out that her dog, while on a choke collar, started pulling when he saw another dog across the street, so much so that his paws came off the ground. No matter how stubborn. This includes a flat collar. WebDog keeping regulations in Germany 1. Is it because it works so rapidly and they don't care what the dog thinks and feels?". Any collar, and training tool for that matter can cause damage to a dog if not used properly. Excellent post!! A lot of peer pressure and uneducated people spreading rumors about a training tool they have no experience with. With the gentlest reminder, and no indication that she had felt anything at all, my dog turned straight back to me, looking happy and ready to take notice of me. Hi! The use of any type of restraint, whether a collar that goes around a dog's neck or a front-clip harness, is elective. The prong collar sounds just what we need. As subjects go, Prong collars are pretty divisive in the dog world.. I have only used the style that the prongs go all the way around the neck, so I cant speak of the effectiveness of the ones that dont. We only introduced it after 31/2 mths at which point Ive learnt to read my dog and I have the knowledge how to manage him and descalate his triggers etc. It's good to know that when many people learn how bad they really are, they stop using them. Now what should I do? No one ever claimed it so it became our shop dog and because I opened and closed the shop regularly I was the one in charge of walking him. When you adopt a dog that pulls so hard you can not walk him, then come talk to me do you want to go through a 6-12-18 month (or more) positive-only training program so this dog can finally take a walk in a public space? Its important to keep in mind that using harmful collars are elective. I switched him to a prong (Herm Sprenger 2.25mm) and his behavior improved immediately. A good behavior trainer is best in situations like this. Thank you so much for sharing. She seems not herself when she has it on in the house during the day do not want her sweet personality to go away with using this collar. Free shipping for many products! Hello, After doing my research and coming across this website, Im ready to try a prong collar with my rescue Nala. I finally gave up on my fears, and holy cow I was in control. started a campaign to ban shock, choke, and prong collars in the city, are known to inflict stress, discomfort, and pain, and potentially have long-term negative effects on dogs. Another point that is important to stressa larger systemic issue facing dogs, their guardians, and dog trainersis that there is no regulation in the dog training industry. . It was like I was walking a totally different dog altogether. Thats not the case. Because puppies learn really easily. and know that the collar is the least likely choice of training tools to hurt your dog. Can you use the pinch collar on a 26lb puppy? Im stating it like this so its super obvious for any trainer coming into this piece to know my stance, this caveat is not necessarily for you, my dear new puppy parent, but I have a commitment to my training methodology and need to openly state this.For reasons explained below, I am not a fan of prong collars, however, in order to give a view into why, this piece is needed. At this point I dont care at all what people will think of me if they see a prong collar on her. Barely had to use the collar; I mean BARLEY, and we got into the groove. Hes my first dog and unfortunately socialization was very difficult and so he was highly reactive to dogs. Choke collars and collars with sharp prongs, which are designed to make pulling painful, can also do serious damage if not used with extreme caution and under carefully controlled conditions. So yes, I agree, if used properly no issues, in the grand picture it gave her ultimate freedom in living her best dog life. I have tried a few with our foster dogs, and they never truly work. My dog has been going through training to be my service dog and I have been researching weather or not its ok to continue using my prong collar with her. The UK has also banned shock collars. The collar is designed to create even pressure around the neck and distribute the correction so it can be considered kinder than a choke collar, choke chains, or slip leash alternative. The collars are brutal due to the fact that they typically lack a quick release mechanism. Anyways, she had so much leash reactivity when I first adopted her. He did bite me once but that was clearly situational and hasnt happened again. personality. It took everything in me to hold him back and walking him was physically hard on me. But I will never be completely relaxed walking her if shes going to lunge and bark at every person, bike, dog we see on our walks. They also wondered if this could have long-term "trust issues." We also tried the plain slip-chain/choke chain collar (per my Mother in laws recommendation), and found that she still pulled and choked herself despite us -trying- to use it responsibly and kindly, OR she would back out of it and completely slip away. The former associates you as a good thing, the latter associates you with bad things.. A world of difference. WebProng collars arent banned in Australia. What can Thank you for a very informative article. The reason why I am so weary of collars is that when dogs pull they can cause a lot of damage. Thank you for the article it helped ease my mind in using this for our pups. Follow SolidK9Training on Youtube, he offers plenty of training videos on prong collars. Why are these collars still so popular in 2019 when we know better? What is different about a prong collar is that as the martingale tightens it brings in teeth or prongs. We were lead to believe that our Bear was leash trained. The first of its kind, the flagship plan aims to ensure the UK is leading the way in animal welfare and includes a ban on the use of electric shock collars, a move which has been long-campaigned for by The Kennel Club. The prong collar allows us to share our life with our dog and not just have a dog at home waiting for us to get back from our adventures. The more we can share these real-life stories, the more people can realize that the prong collar is not cruel, but a life saving training tool. New Zealand, Austria, Australia, Switzerland, the Canadian Province of Quebec, and many others have made prong collars (and in many cases choke and shock collars) illegal. There was never so much as an indent in his skin and I was able to easily control him for the first time. This isn't the case in England, where they're legally allowed to be used without restriction. Humane Society, PETA, & SPCA all speak against prong collars. I trained my German Shepard/Siberian Husky mix using a pinch collar, got tips on training from a gal who trained duck hunting dogs, she taught me hand signals and all. _____. They take the easy route, as opposed to teaching proper, solid cues and commands. Its crazy how the internet is overwhelmed with posts claiming how dangerous these collars are when I find they have done wonders for both me and the dogs Im walking, all without hurting them. She is definitely non reactive to squirrels and birds ( her triggers) now. I recommend the 3.0 mm size for most medium to large dogs. Also, as the author mention, there are huge differences in the quality of a Pet Smart pinch collar and a Herm Sprenger (the recommended brand). She is a pretty assertive dog, gets plenty of outdoor time and exercise, and still she is totally happy and excited when we pick up her collar to announce a walk. Make sure you buy the Herm Sprenger brand I recommend. That means that you have failed in training your dog and have taken a shortcut instead of learning to understand and work with your dog., I mean zookeepers train tigers. I need to be able to use my prong collar! 2. My friend who also trains dogs showed me how to use it properly and it changed our lives! The prongs simulate another dog's mouth, which makes sense if you've ever taken your dog to the dog park. So, the reason he has to be carried into the house is that he wont move when he has a leash on. Wow Deanna, what a great transformation story. As soon as the prong collar is on her, she is in full listen mode. When I am conducting group training sessions I introduce the prong collar to each and every one of my classes and I properly fit it around my own bare leg and give it the correct pull as if I were training a dog to demonstrate to my groups how safe and non-damaging the prong collar is. We finished the class and we both learned so much from it. Ive compensated by going out during less busy times and the latest which has been driving to off leash dog parks as she is sooooo much off leash. CodeMiko posted in her Discord yesterday, sharing that she was suspended on Twitch for her use of a shock collar on herself during her Sunday, Feb. 26 stream. For my willful, hard-headed, inattentive Doberman yearling, thats definitely a prong collar for training sessions now. But when it came down to either his discomfort or my injuries I agreed to try it. A video of the electrifying If you decide this is your right path, just make sure that youre going into this as prepared as you can, because you owe it to your dog to do so. She also volunteers for a local dog rescue and Humane Society. I had a guy ask me yesterday, as my dog and I were riding the bus, why I had a prong collar on him. ID tags should not be put on a prong collar, and your dog should not be left in one for long periods of time. Below is a step-by-step guide outlining the steps we took and the timeline we used as we worked toward our prong collar ban. I have a 120 lb Great Dane Mastiff mix. I am a firm believer of the pros of a prong collar and I would never get on other then the Herm brand, the rest always break or corrode. What theyre made to do, and what theyre not made to do.. I had the stigma that the prong collars were abusive. "), There are few quick fixes with dog training. Those who support a ban on shock collars hope that more countries will follow suit.