Good luck! It has been 4 years since I had my last beloved dog. However, the first reference to dog collars comes from Ancient Egypt. I have used a prong collar to walk my German shepherd and it has been a blessing. And thank you for all you do. Every time, with only a few sessions, the dogs became calm, happy and responsive. 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. Possibly causing neck/throat problems. She lived to be 17 yrs and 4 months, still hiked up until the last 4 months of her life. There are no quick fixes, and training is not a one time and done type of thing. I have just had a 1 to 1 training session with a trainer and when he first suggested the prong collar I said NO straight away, but I put the collar around my thigh to see the effect. I finally bought a Herm Sprenger collar and it was moderately helpful. I think hes smart enough to realize that hes in control, if he doesnt pull, his collar is comfortable for him. It also helps me correct her and keep her focused. A video of the electrifying The other thing to remember is the way it works. How, Mary wondered, can anyone be upset with having a social puppy? Our 90 pound puppy who gets excited and pulls on walks. Will the collar help all that? Dogs become reactive (largely) through fear or excitement. Im certain it must at least in part be me. The prong collar training gets a lot of attention from pure positive or force free dog trainers. 4 months old is border line too young in my opinion. 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. But for corrections? In my years of dog training (at this point, Ive been involved in training over 1300 dogs and won awards), Ive never found a reason for a prong collar that cannot be resolved with positive training. Research showing that force-free, positive reinforcement-based techniques are better for both human and dog is overwhelming, so much so that there is a growing list of countries that have banned shock collars, for example, Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovenia, and some territories in Australia. I walk him 4-6 miles a day, am in obedience & he generally does really well. My dogs get excited when they see the prong collars come out, it means they are going for a walk and cant wait to get the collar on! I laughed out loud and proceeded to tell him how straight front harnesses cause soft tissue injuries to dogs shoulders over time. WebCollars with inward facing spikes will be banned from dog shows and training classes under proposals to be discussed by the Kennel Club. A Guide From A Professional Dog Trainer, How To Manage A Dog Who Is An Escape Artist. Weve been using a Ray Allen Brand, the prongs go only partially around his neck/the 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 theyre not.. At this point, he rarely has to be corrected. Physical Damage Choke and Prong Collars: Health Concerns Call for Equipment Change in Dog Training However, loose leash walking has literally been impossible. 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. He was much better with not pulling for a period of time when I would take him on a walk, but then he went back to his old ways and now pulls like crazy now even with the prong collar. And remove links for smaller necks. Thank you so much for sharing. If you can figure that out? The content in this post is a breath of fresh air. Use lots of love and positive reinforcement with a no pull harness. The pulling can be very tiring and tiresome. She is 38 lb. In full transparency, we do use the prong collar for our dogs. This also could be possible. WebE-Collars & prong collars are banned in several countries in Europe. What have you got to lose? 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. Gentle Leader no longer works and just bought a front hitch harness which also does not work. Have you read the other comments here? Among Scandinavian countries , Sweden bans e collars. Best thing ever and very very safe when used correctly! I had to give him a couple of sharp tugs but after that he soon got the message that if he pulled I would tug him back My views of these evil looking collars has changed and I had got to the stage of not taking Sam out for daily walks as I was scared of being injured myself or him injuring or frightening other people. I love the prong collar! On the other end of the spectrum, there are also dog trainers who are force-free and rewards-based who lack the education and knowledge base to be effective concerning choices of neck restraints. Also, we wear a 2 wide flat collar on our Dobe with the prong so that the prong stays high on his neck where it belongs. I see you have recommended a few times to use a carabiner and I dont know what you mean. Its kinda like tapping your dog on the shoulder to keep his attention on you. Collars are known to be associated with whiplash, fainting, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, crushing of the trachea, partial or complete asphyxiation, crushing or fracture of the bones in the larynx, dislocation of the vertebrae in the neck, bruising of the esophagus, damage to the skin and tissue of the neck, prolapsed eyeballs, and brain damage. Harriet, you need to calm down. I am certain it will help others that are struggling. But I urge you to give it a try, as youve read by all the comments below, the prong collar can be life changing. Your story along with all the others brave enough to share will helps others in your same situation. Some people I just found this page after admitting to a dog-focused friendly advice group on facebook that I REALLY struggle with walking my dog. Virginia transformed her into an absolutely normal dog. WebPerhaps it was the way the cave people restrained their wild dogs from running away. A shortcut that compromises too much for me to feel comfortable using one or recommending one when there are tried and tested methods that dont require one. 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. Oh! However, the first reference to dog collars comes from Ancient Egypt. As a trainer, Mary sees many dogs struggling with fear, reactivity, and aggression toward unfamiliar people and dogs. A lot of peer pressure and uneducated people spreading rumors about a training tool they have no experience with. Our campus officially banned prong collars on January 24, 2017. Like others have mentioned, Im sure the dog is not afraid of this collar if theyre running to you to put it on for a walk. According to a review article published by Gal Ziv, the results show that using aversive training methods (e.g., positive punishment and negative reinforcement) can jeopardize both the physical and mental health of dogs. WebProng collars work by causing discomfort (pain/punishment) when the dog pulls against it. But are prong collars cruel? This is always very stressful for me and I get there praying there wont be another dog in the waiting room. The dog will be much happier in fact. Im over that. I have used the prong collar with my Lab. I do believe the prong collar has saved many dogs lives. Dog lovers are fighting to extend this ban to prong and choke collars as well. You still need to train your dog. This is the worst tool you can use for a reactive dog. I know that he understands what I want him to do when I tell him to walk close and he does it on occasion, but is too wired and easily distracted even at three years old to maintain a loose leash. 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. Diana, I love your story, thank you so much for sharing! 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. He was getting worse and worse out of control. Its a large part of what drove me to write this blog post was because people are using these tools and are not actually looking at the whole page, reading all the information and are consequently making poorly informed decisions., Or, theyre making their decision based on the word of a trainer who is practicing with outdated techniques which is a really easy mistake to make.. I decided to share my story because so many people have not. I switched him to a prong (Herm Sprenger 2.25mm) and his behavior improved immediately. We rehomed a 8 month old GSD who was full of anxiety and nervousness. I somewhat reluctantly use the prong collar because I know I have control regardless of situation & can keep him safe. Hello, while I dont have a prong collar yet (getting one from work soon) I greatly appreciate your article. Have a read of how to train your dog to walk loose leash. If you think prong collars are cruel, think about it this way. I have a ten month old foxhound that I walk daily in the forest for two miles in rugged terrain. Time, time is all it takes. But more importantly is the age of the puppy. Unlike when our little baby sees her shampoo bottle she knows its bath time and disappears. Thanks for sharing! Stay strong and be confident in knowing you are doing everything right! Kilian you are very welcome. Its not an issue. Do the ends really justify the means? A type of collar designed to hurt dogs as behavioural punishment is set to be banned in Queensland. The rescues and shelters are full of dogs that were not trained properly by their owners and so were abandoned. So I would not recommend the prong in your scenario. And a Gentle leader or head collar that goes around a dogs muzzle is that really comfortable for your dog? Whilst I know that the potential for misuse is not a reason to call something bad, its mainly a method of training that I see no reason for.. This gives respect for the tool, and means that youre less likely to misuse it. Carol, good professional dog trainers ALWAYS recommend a back up collar for a prong collar. 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. Still a long way to go but this collar has put us on the right tracks. No trainers want to work with me because I have him on a prong. People would comment on how well-mannered she was on walks and after a few years, I didnt need the prong collar at all. According to a review article published by Gal Ziv, are better for both human and dog is overwhelming. She actually does really well but is strong with high prey drive. Contrary to popular belief, dogs dont have thick skin on their necks, nor does their fur protect them from pressure on the neck. A word of caution thoughif you do use one expect criticism from others. Hes my first dog and unfortunately socialization was very difficult and so he was highly reactive to dogs. I have a reactive dog when out, other dogs, cars and people but an absolute gent when in the home. WebDog keeping regulations in Germany 1. I have been lectured by multiple people and even had someone who found my dog once remove the collar and refuse to give it back. She is slowly getting used to our house and noises but has a very difficult time with walks (shes afraid of everything car, people, loud sounds). I might regret asking this but can I get opinions please? As subjects go, Prong collars are pretty divisive in the dog world.. I have used prong collars before with fantastic success. All of the images in this post contain dogs who are wearing prong collars incorrectly. Before he never watched me. WebShock collars have been illegal to use on dogs and cats in Wales for more than a decade. He is a pandemic puppy but I had actually had my name down to get him 8 mths prior so he was very much wanted not a knee jerk. Kodi will be 2 yrs old in September this year, originates from a rescue center and has been with me from 4 months of age. I have tried regular collars, a harness, e collar now my last resort is a prong collar. We got her at 8 weeks old. Ive come to the conclusion that the people bashing the prong collar never had a dog like yours. We took different routes, different scenery with woods walks and hikes vs. in the neighborhood nothing helped. My hope? We put on the collar and took my dog out into the waiting room, where there was actually another dog waiting. The prong collar helps keep his focus on me and makes it a positive experience for both of us. And trust me, my dog knows how to communicate if he doesn't like something. 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. Even with a prong? Their use is discretionary, optional, or voluntary. She nearly pulled my partner off her feet in the first week. We praised and rewarded him and he was getting it so quickly; finally!! I have had 0 success teaching dogs to walk correctly using a harness. It has been a life-saver. I didnt outweigh him by much. I was terrified to hurt him during the first 2 sessions, but my son was not and he was getting the dog to listen! Its structured like a martingale collar, where the bulk of the collar is tightened by a cinching chain which attaches to your leash. The Halti works great to end the pulling but the lead runs on the ground between his legs so he steps on it. Plain martingale collars dont provide the same type of pressure to catch a dogs attention. Furthermore, it is downright dangerous to leave either choke chain or prong collar on dogs if not working. We dog sat for a friends dog last week that has no leash manners, and the way he pulled on his flat collar scared me! The kennel I work at is very much 50% training, 50% the tools you use. I had the stigma that the prong collars were abusive. By the time I realized how bad it was I was so in love with her there was no way I was going to give up on her! WebShock collars Carry On Bags: Yes Checked Bags: Yes For more prohibited items, please go to the 'What Can I Bring?' 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. You need to correct the behavior at that point. If you use the prong collar correctly and correct your dog BEFORE he takes off for the rabbit, then yes. 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." I always enjoyed walking my dog because I love him and I like to get out and walk, but now walking him is sooooooo much better. I really wish I had started using it early in his training program. You wont ever get to this stage, because youll be practising a loose leash long before theyre large and unruly! The prong could help with the jumping and biting if used correctly. They take the easy route, as opposed to teaching proper, solid cues and commands. The prong collar controversy is real! It should be something a little louder and prouder on their site. The prong collar is the opposite of cruel in the right hands. Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! I have a 150lbs St Bernard mix, I cant walk her she is stronger then me. No matter how stubborn. Aversive collars are unfortunately just one side effect of antiquated dog training practices and lack of regulation in the industry. Where do we draw the line? She jumped up to greet Mary and her owner shocked her for jumping while she was trying to say hello. So yes, I agree, if used properly no issues, in the grand picture it gave her ultimate freedom in living her best dog life. Choke and Prong collars have been used to discipline dogs, usually larger and more aggressive breeds. Love the prong collarI always thought they were cruelbut they're not. This essay was written with Boulder (Colorado) force-free certified dog trainer, Mary Angilly, who, in December 2017, started a campaign to ban shock, choke, and prong collars in the city. This harness is one of few that is genuinely military spec and is still useful for regular pet users. 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. Lindsay Lowe, "5 Ways Collars Can Harm Your Dog". The Hi, I don't want to hijack Debi's post but would like to comment. Ziv, Gal. Small prong collars are for dogs with necks up to 12 inches, and medium prong collars are for dogs with necks 12-16 inches. Rainalo I followed her to the nearest pet store and purchased a Sprenger prong collar and she fitted it properly for us and instructed me in how to apply it. I have a strong, 1.5 year old, hard headed, 60 pound English Springer Spaniel and he is all over the place on walks. After I brought him home I tried to take him for walks but he would literally drag me down the street at a pretty fast pace. 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. Most dogs that are terrified of things have never been exposed to them rather than having been beaten by/with the thing theyre exposed to. She needs her exercise and fresh air and i will never deny her of that because of my own fears. Anyways, she had so much leash reactivity when I first adopted her. Ive noticed several times that ours become lodged and arent connected all the way, leading to it easily being able to break apart when the dog pulls. I used it as you explained back in 1999, maybe for 3 months and periodically as needed over a years time. Another asked if perhaps dogs, because they read human faces, including angry faces, very well, might get a "bad feeling" from their human when they choose to use something that causes them pain. They out weigh me, so its important to have them under control. Reviewed by Jessica Schrader, "Collars are a vital part of dog ownership. We just rescued a 2 year old (they think) GSD mix this past Tuesday. Leashes and collars are tools of control and should be used very carefully, In Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible, Jessica Pierce and I write that while tools of control are often necessary, we should remain alert to the diverse ways in which they can inhibit a dogs freedoms and the ways these devices themselves can be harmful., Research tells us that the use of force via aversive equipment is not only ineffective but can be psychologically and physically damaging. Watch videos, learn how to use the collar correctly ( I wish YouTube had been around when I trained my first dog in 1995!) Ill let you know how our first walk goes! Mary saw her guardian, who looked upset, pick her up and take her to the car after a solid ten minutes of yelling, "Down!" Quebec will institute a ban on choke, prong, and shock collars in 2020. A prong collar worked wonders on my hooligan, made her walk like a lady. Ive seen collar covers that disguise the prong. The prong is the best, the dogs pull much less, even with other dogs, cats and squirrels to distract them. 1 1/2 Inch Keeper's Hidden Prong Double Leather Collar Gold and Silver Knots on Black Web with Metallic Gold and Black Leather and Brass Hardware $0.00. I think thats what gets so many people especially with e-collars or prong/choke collars, they just get it thinking it will be a quick fix and have no idea how to use it. I bought a prong collar for my 12-year-old unfixed rescue dog, pitbull. Whilst Herm Sprenger advise that 5-6 months is the minimum? If used correctly prongs are a great tool and can greatly improve your and the dogs quality of life, I have four bouvier dogs whom i love dearly, but using the regular belt type choker, got me dragged under the wheels of truck, which fortunately stopped at the last second, saving my life and the probably the dogs as well, since i walk all four at once, so all i can say, is your information and positive comments on the use of the prong collar seems to be my only and final choice. It was suggested that we use the prong collar on our 3 month old Bichon/Shih Tzu who just started training. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. (We are in the process of training him to be a therapy dog to take to local nursing homes/schools etc)He thinks everyone is his friend and wants to play. You should be exhausting other means before resorting to a prong collar.And I know that sometimes it can feel like you have done so, but typically? Doing this is utterly unacceptable and thoroughly unprofessional. But since I invested so much money in this trainer I figured I'd give it a try. You can walk your dog around without a collar, harness, leash (please dont do it in public, there are laws in place) and they will listen to you every step of the way.. You will hear strong opinions about prong collars on both sides, for and against. Adding in a prong collar and correcting their fear (aka. On walks, sometimes he pulls on leash, other times does not. Hi.i have asweet female bullmastiffnamed VODKAPlease guide me when n which sized prong coller fits my VODKA? The reason is that your dog might get spooked by something (fire works, thunder or whatever) and decide to make a dash for it. Huge mistake, he was so overwhelmed he was pulling nonstop on our hour walk around the park. 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. Id love to hear about your success stories on using the prong collar. My 3 year old 70 lb pit bull has always been difficult and stubborn. This is supported by Herm Sprenger, the top manufacturer of prong collars in the world., Anything pain based is not suitable for a reactive dog.. 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. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. I swore Id never use a prong, they are cruel, I thought. Two, Find a trainer that will work with you and the prong collar. As a super strong pitty, he can yank a full sized adult over in a half a second to randomly lunge at a person or dog or squirrel. Yes it will help you a lot! 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. The prong collar is adjustable in size by adding/removing links. Will that be a problem when he wears the prong collar? The collar is not designed to hurt the dog, but get the dogs attention. She is happy and waiting for me to put it on. I knew that if we kept at it, eventually the dogs would figure it out and be better behaved, but the fear of losing our pups made me feel we didnt have the time to be patient. It is like an airbag, you hope it never has to deploy, but when you need, it better be there! That creature is way stronger and way more dangerous than a german shepherd so why keep perpetuating the same rubbish?. For this very reason, many countries with a progressive approach to pet safety and health, such as Austria and Switzerland, have already banned prong collars. We took our oldest daughters Welsh Pembroke Corgi to a trainer. It in fact dates the police academys training techniques back to the 1990s, along with their computer systems and their approach to the law is that something you really wish to stand with?, The My dog loves his prong, and gets all excited when he sees it is simple classical conditioning, such that your dog recognises that means training or walkies, that doesnt mean that they feel positive about the experience when the prong tightens around their neck., I mean, I can train your dog to see a lemon and think its the best thing in the world it doesnt mean theyll like the taste of lemon.. We have dogs in training classes with prong collars, slip collars, harnesses everything. The prong collar is a tool to train leash manners. The prong collar I bought when he was 1yr old (Sprenger) trust me I've tried everythingthe prong collar worked the best for communication along with his obedience commands. We tried positive reinforcement but he is totally indifferent to treats. Give it a chance, try it out and see what a difference it can make with your relationship with your dog. Of course the length of time it takes for each dog varies. _____. Science Shows Positive Reward-Based Dog Training is Best, What and Who Dogs Want and Need: Love, Not Shocks, Living With a Dog Is Good, If It's Good for You and the Dog. I went on vacation and decided to send him to dog training school to try to correct some of his bad behaviors and the trainer brought him back and showed me how to use the prong collar. Wish us luck! I have a 120 lb Great Dane Mastiff mix. They are not suitable for all dogs, and if used incorrectly, they can cause injury. Ill let you know if youre right! I bet Sam is looking forward to enjoying his walks with you just as much as you are! Some dogs only need it for 6 months, others will need it for years. Summary of eRumor: This warning about the dangers of pronged collars, a tool used for training dogs, appeared on social media. It is amazing!! Fine, but I promise you (challenge me if you want! The Ray Allen multi-function harness is designed with a lot of sports in mind. 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? I work with high drive, hard working dogs. Do you think these changes are happening quickly enough in the US? I was having a hard time finding others. I know my dog and one day well eventually work away from the prong collar but hes not there yet. I do agree positive reinforcement is key in fear based cases. I mean, afterall, if youve been using a tool for 30 years with your dogs (or even 3 months) you dont want to find out that youve been doing a bad thing, or that if youve been sucking it up and using a harness, you dont want to find theres potentially an easier option., So, I want to discuss one of those options for you now, so that you, my dear puppy parent, understand what youre looking at when assessing these options for you and your little pup. A petite woman in her mid-40s walks her 100 pound rottweiler with some difficulty. My dog like to take off after rabbits . He only does the right things when he has the prong collar on cause hes smart and knows not to mess around w/ it on. He was on the road to becoming an uncontrollable pet who would be doomed to being kept outside when the grandkids come to visit, or visitors come into the home. I should say that my dog is quite highly trained and in a training environment excels at quite advanced exercises. Specifically, they state that prolonged or extreme pulling of ANY collar can lead to damage. Is 3mm what I should use with a lab? The pain and discomfort of of a prong collar isnt going to beat out the bad behavior.