If you have experience and skill in reading a study objectively and without bias, you can see that it actually disproves the point you and the citing website are trying to make. The one thing I dont do is avoid walking her altogether. The Prong Collar, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Top 5 Reasons to Take Your Dog for a Walk. Ive also used the gentle leader and it helped somewhat but she walked much slower and really hated it always trying to rub it off her face, which created a whole new set of issues. How do you know what size collar to purchase ? Its important that the collar is snug around the base of the dogs ears, meaning high up on the neck. A TWITCH influencer has stunned her fans and was temporarily banned from the platform after a terrifying video. 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. Truly modifying behavior takes time and consistency. The reason why I am so weary of collars is that when dogs pull they can cause a lot of damage. We put it on in the house about half an hour before taking her for a walk to make sure she was comfortable with it on. The dog doesnt know what behavior to offer. I follow Jeff Bellman and Skype with him occasionally and love his transparency & honesty about the training tools he uses. Hello, while I dont have a prong collar yet (getting one from work soon) I greatly appreciate your article. I spent a year night after night, hours in all weathers, trying thresholds etc to help our dog and while we saw improvement she was still had some reactivity issues. Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! Used well, it gives dogs access to their world and can be a critically important freedom enhancer. Putting a prong collar on him that would make him uncomfortable or hurt him would further harm him mentally. Because I adopted a 90 pound dog that, once he settled in, became seriously dog reactive in a city full of dogs that walk their owners and have no manners. Prong Collars, Choke Chains, Flat Collars, Harness, etc, are all part of your training tools and should therefore be used for that purpose only (they are not ornamental, although many believe that they are). I weigh less than 120 pounds and did not consider prong collars until we got a giant dog. I dont think the fear is based on the leash, but something else. For small dogs you can get the 2.25 mm. You will need to read the dogs body language. Your timid poodle may never need one. Make sure you buy the Herm Sprenger brand I recommend. Her constant coughing and choking has completely gone away. They take the easy route, as opposed to teaching proper, solid cues and commands. The prong has been like the cherry on top a great tool if everything else is in place. Be patient and give your dog the ability to learn. The former associates you as a good thing, the latter associates you with bad things.. I am in your same boat. The positive training methods consist of a verbal correction, which leads to a treat (definitely food motivated dog). Ive recently joined a couple of Service Dog sites and everyone on there says that it IS OK to use a prong collar on a trained Service Dog. Check Latest Price. Way to go Shadow!! :/ (Thank you for posting that video!). So as I did my research as a new dog mom, I see all the ominous warnings of the pinch collar. It is amazing!! When shown attention, she licked human hands and dog faces with something that could only be described as joy. We plan on taking him to training classes for sure but the dog is making everyone in the family cry, angry, sad because of the jumping/biting. 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. He hates them all except treats, of course, but they have zero effect on his lunging and pulling. Should the collar only be used while walking? WebThank you for downloading the San Francisco SPCAs Prong Collar Advocacy Kit. Those who support a ban on shock collars hope that more countries will follow suit. I cant agree more. I get it, I thought the prong collar was cruel at first too, but quickly learned its the exact opposite. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Herm Sprenger HS Ultra Chrome Metal Prong Dog Training Collar 162.25mm New Nice at the best online prices at eBay! I spend more than 40 hours a week writing, researching and helping dog owners, I can not do it for free and still feed my family. Fine, but I promise you (challenge me if you want! Contacted another balanced trainer and he recommended a prong. 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? And be consistent. and links therein.) You may get evil looks from other dog owners that just dont understand the power of the prong collar. 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 . But, after attending a seminar with a balanced dog trainer and doing a lot of research, I realized what a great dog training tool the prong collar can be. I have tried several different collars and leads to stop him from pulling. She would pull so hard then entire walk with her two front feet in the air. The United States is yet to follow. I have used a prong collar to walk my German shepherd and it has been a blessing. But we all need to know the truth about prong collars before passing judgment. A prong collar should sit right behind the ears and What appealed to me the most in your blog is when you talked about how safe prong collar dogs are because they cant damage your dogs trachea given that they are going to be properly used. She introduced me to the idea of using a prong collar as a training tool which I initially had strong concerns about having never seen one in use and having just lost a dog to laryngeal damage issues. Hi, I don't want to hijack Debi's post but would like to comment. The Effects of Using Aversive Training Methods in Dogs: A Review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 19 (2017): 5060. So a friend recommended a prong collar, I knew that I had nothing to lose by trying it. Sarah, I totally understand your hesitation. Many thanks for your advice and recommendation. For some dogs it is more than just patience. Otherwise, they wouldnt work. No. The UK has also banned shock collars. That is a misconception. We decided to try a prong collar and WOW what a difference it made! Came to me weighing 43lbs, greatly malnourished (the rescue had fixed all the medical issues and had to adopt him out, so not complaining) since then, he is well nourished at 68 lbs.still pulls like a fiend sometimes. Flat collars can cause tracheal damage. I highly recommend following a couple of trainers online: https://www.facebook.com/MajorsAcademyDogTraining/ and https://www.facebook.com/SolidK9TrainingRI/ both of these trainers offer a lot of free advice. WebPerhaps it was the way the cave people restrained their wild dogs from running away. A world of difference. Thanks Karen for sharing your story. Though she is a pretty good heeler without it I feel safer and feel like she is calmer with it on. She jumped up to greet Mary and her owner shocked her for jumping while she was trying to say hello. I am a 56 year old woman with a mild case of MS that affects my balance. I have a now 2yr old Jack Russell (he's my 5th one)but he's my first reactive, leash aggressive one I've had. The pulling she used to have has almost been eliminated by the training techniques my trainer taught us. The answer may seem quite obvious, yet every day we choose option A via aversive devices like electric, choke, and prong collars for our companion dogs when successful, force-free alternatives are readily available. What a great story Donna, thank you for sharing. 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. 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? The collar is not designed to hurt the dog, but get the dogs attention. I am trying to gain more knowledge and be a responsible dog owner (esp. I still use it, especially on walks and it helps her not pull too hard and injure her neck. The prong collar, otherwise known as a pinch collar, has changed so many dog owners lives just scroll down and read some of the comments from people that have tried the prong collar and are brave enough to share their experience with you. After 5 years we still must put it on him when in public even though we still do training in private with him frequently to get him to behave on a regular collar. Should e-collars, prong collars, or choke collars be banned? We mediate and control access to the physical and social worlds of our dogs quite a bit. The use of these tools in any body of work (such as on police k9s) is not an excuse for you to use them on a pet dog. I know you said you have to be careful with how hard they pull with the prong collar Im just worried my dog pulls too hard and may injure himself because my dad even has a hard time walking him. You may have pure positive trainers tell you there are more humane ways to control your dog. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Herm Sprenger HS Ultra Chrome Metal Prong Dog Training Collar 162.25mm New Nice at the best online prices at eBay! Hes sweet smart and strong. Prong, or pinch, collars can look similar to a limited slip or martingale collar, other than they have metal prongs that protrude toward the canines throat when the pet uses the collar. Do your dogs reach a point that you no longer have to use the prong collar? Its all about communicating with the dog, not about pain at all. So glad it is working for your and your big pup! So, I have yet to try a prong collar, but doing all this research on it has really made me consider that I should. Quebec will institute a ban on choke, You could have taught a loose leash without a prong. But when I have he mostly responds positively if he responds. We make a concentrated effort to take him as many places as possible and have found some really great dog friendly parks, wineries etc. Not once. WebProng collars work by causing discomfort (pain/punishment) when the dog pulls against it. I have a 15 lb, 1 year old shih-poo who, because he is overly excited, attempt to pull and lunge to meet other people and dogs. After 3 weeks of work with our 11 month old, highly excitable rescue dog we saw his behavior getting worse and no amount of treats of any kind could get his attention any more. Ill let you know if youre right! I actually have a ton of experience with the prong collar with my own dogs and other foster dogs I have trained. However, she told me that she uses a prong collar with her two German shepherds for the same reason and offered to demonstrate on my dog while we were there. Would a prong collar work on a 20-30 lead on a trail? Especially for a breed that everyone seems to be initially wary of. Additionally he pulled my husband to the ground one time. The San Francisco SPCAs website points out that the skin on a humans neck is ten to fifteen cells thick, whereas the skin on a dogs neck is only three to five cells thick. Granted, my training should have been better and more consistent, and Ill probably always blame myself for letting her get this bad when it could have been prevented but I gotta say, she is exhausting to walk! That would be my goal. Great article!! Your email address will not be published. and has a loving heart. My new rescue golden girls neck (just below her ears) measures 14. in. What changes would you like to see? Most of the citys bylaws carry a $240 fine for infraction. No more shoulder injuries for me. A prong collar worked wonders on my hooligan, made her walk like a lady. Instantly what a difference, no pulling, no zig zag walking. These collars are usually made of metal and are NEVER allowed on authorities therapy pet dog sees. Viewfinders, what do you think about the ban on prong collars? Your story along with all the others brave enough to share will helps others in your same situation. It's always good to remember that a dogs neck is delicate and can be injured by violent jerks on a neck collar and even, presumably, by sustained hard pulling. Please see ourfull disclosurefor further information. So please Herm Sprenger! A large loving pit bull wondered its way up to the shop where I was working and we had decided to take care of it while it was there. I think our dog is fearful that our son is causing him to get negative corrections. I may not have a certificate as a dog trainer, but I have attended more training sessions with dog trainers than I can count. But Id recommend giving it a try, if he seems too afraid, then take a few steps back. Wish more people would stop and educate themselves to see the value in them! My trainer switched her to a prong collar with flat round ends. _____. Actually he has never gagged, choked or shown any discomfort to prong where Ive had dogs gag if they pulled hard with flat collar. Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, said the government is delivering on its election commitment to review the For my willful, hard-headed, inattentive Doberman yearling, thats definitely a prong collar for training sessions now. 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 probably am going to get blisters all over my hands, I had to work so hard to keep him from pulling me. If hes really excited treats have no value, even hot dogs. I am so happy you found a way to change the path of you and your dogs life. No warning, no rhyme or reason as to when it will occur. He was supposed to be in a down but got up when my son went by with a musical toy so I gave him a small correction back to his down. At what age do you recommend that people start using a prong Collar? Many people have never seen a prong or pinch collar properly used in dog training. But theyre not.. The absolute best feeling was able to have a family trip to a busy seaside and she walked calmly through crowds, passed dogs, runners and cyclists and she was good as gold. I have a 140 BRT, and he is only 14 months old. But more importantly is the age of the puppy. He started really being obedient when the trainer put a prong collar on him and she showed him whos boss with a firm tug or two. 1 Beaverdam Rd, NC 28804 US (828) 253-3393 Alternatives to Choke Chains, Prong Collars, and Other Aversive Methods Aversive methods such as choke chains, pinch collars, and shock collars can not only lead to painful injuries, they are less effective than more positive training methods. They are not suitable for all dogs, and if used incorrectly, they can cause injury. It does not work by causing pain when used properly. Teaching pressure & release is fast, easy, and helps build the dogs confidence. I needed to read this because I didnt want to be too harsh but realized I must have control of him. He didnt need to or want to. Not sure what type of training you are looking for, but maybe check out Spirit Dog Training. These collars have been the subject of controversy in recent years, with some people arguing that they are inhumane and should be banned, while others claim that they are an effective Small prong collars are for dogs with necks up to 12 inches, and medium prong collars are for dogs with necks 12-16 inches. Is there any advise other than your article on the prong collar you can help with please know though that my intention is to use the collar correctly and for the right reasons, i have paid special attention on how NOT to use the collar.. A Twitch star was temporarily banned from the live-streaming platform after zapping herself with a shock collar as part of a bizarre stunt.