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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. I really wish I had started using it early in his training program. 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). You need to work with him letting him know the leash is a good thing..associate the leash with something positive. A good behavior trainer is best in situations like this. 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! P.S. Thank you for sharing this information!!! I think its a bad idea. We just have to apply it. As a Chewy affiliate I earn commissions for qualifying purchases. It is like tapping the dog on the shoulder to get his attention. This is always very stressful for me and I get there praying there wont be another dog in the waiting room. Many trainers advise against these types of collars altogether, in part because the risk of injury to dogs is significant. What changes would you like to see? They are simply NOT necessary; there are better ways to train! I love him to bits and am looking forward to enjoying our walks from now on. 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. 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. I am worried about how my dog owning friends will react to me getting one of these collars, but having seen how easy and gentle yet effective it can be I have decided that I would be silly not to get one, both for her safety and mine, in certain situations. She is 38 lb. It can save everyones sanity. Im not a fan of harnesses, as they provoke pulling. At the moment, different regions are working Until Jackson was 10 or so and slowing down did he really walk loose leash style even with a Gentle Leader head collar. Prong collar is the only way, Headcollar training harness with a front point Balance harness etc etc. We have been working at it for 5 months now and occasionally I will just use his regular collar.he pulls every time! Bam. Specifically, they state that prolonged or extreme pulling of ANY collar can lead to damage. I went into the city to give him some new experiences besides our boring suburb walks and didnt use the prong collar. I dont want my dog to fear me or become aggressive towards other people or dogs. In addition, although positive punishment can be effective, there is no evidence that it is more effective than positive reinforcement-based training. Among Scandinavian countries , Sweden bans e collars. It is not OK. Could the use of the collar be creating more fear and anxiety in our already anxious dog? My boy is a saint bernard mix too. I wouldnt recommend trying one without researching how to properly use it but it works really well for some pups. Leash pulling is certainly one of the most frequent points of contention between human and dog, and it may be one reason that many dogs dont get walked: It can become a real headache for someone to try to walk a dog who constantly tugs and pulls and strains. Pulls a lot, lunges after wild rabbits and some other dogs etc. I agree 100%, the right collar and training are essential. 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. She agreed to train a lab mix that was petrified of everything and was essentially still catatonic after months of us having her. I used it as you explained back in 1999, maybe for 3 months and periodically as needed over a years time. I just ordered a Sprenger 2.25 mm 12 inch prong collar and will let you know how it works out in trainingit should arrive in 2 days. Then, when they do something right, or are questioning themselves, the fact you dont pop the leash means that they get a rush of relief. Woodrow doesnt mind it at all. Where are prong collars banned? However, some suppliers seem to be able to get them and sell them. ), she completely changed. Sarah, I totally understand your hesitation. Make sure you buy the Herm Sprenger brand I recommend. 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.. Initially I was not crazy about this, especially since our previous trainer was purely positive and I thought thatd be best, but her reasoning made sense to me since it was clear our dogs did not care about the treats in our hands when they saw something they wanted more. He is only c. 30 lbs., a puggle, but very strong. While establishing a governing body regulating the dog training industry is essential and necessary now, it will take time. 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. So now Im looking to eliminate the lunging at joggers, bikes, people walking towards us with or without dogs and the occasional car that she decides is a threat?? Whilst the product is clearly quality, and I love that they actually give you most of this information the information is rather buried. I love hearing all the success stories. Prong collars are still legal in the US, but are highly She was especially dialed in when hiking in Alaska, saved me from crossing paths with many bears, moose, & wolverines. He pulled his previous owner down their porch steps! I have never had him so much as attempt to lunge on the prong collar. Dr. Alix Partnow, a neurologist at VCA Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle, and Grisha Stewart, a Seattle dog trainer and author, answer this weeks questions. 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. Debi, this is a wonderful article, thank you. I thought prong collars were for out-of-control vicious dogs! You dont need a prong collar. Im thinking about buying for my dog a prong collar so your article is very helpful to me. WebWe'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. She fitted the prong collar and leashed him and literally within MINUTES he was no longer lunging or pulling even though there were loud cars, people, and other dogs coming and going around us. No trainers want to work with me because I have him on a prong. Do the ends really justify the means? 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. If you have a stubborn or strongly pulling dog, these collars can change a dogs behavior in literally one short session. We were working with a purely positive trainer for a while, who was really great, but when it came to real-world practice out and about it was still nearly impossible for me to get my dogs attention with just treats when they saw something they wanted to go after, usually a squirrel but sometimes a friendly neighbor. I have a 7-month-old Doberman who has been in training classes since he was 3 months old. And ask yourself, is it better for your dog to drag you through your walk, choking himself on his flat collar or to have a peaceful walk with your dog walking next to you, enjoying the smells and scenery? I had an amazingly trained companion who was really an off the leash dog (always carried a leash), used mostly hand signal commands. This needs to be done with good training. 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. Any collar, and training tool for that matter can cause damage to a dog if not used properly. I will write as unbiasedly as I can, and be informative and factual, allowing you to make your own decisions. 3. I have won over a few of my clients here in Monaco & France re. Wish us luck! Thank you for sharing your story Darci! She would pull so hard then entire walk with her two front feet in the air. As soon as the GSD would hear the prong collar, he would sit and wait for it to be put on for his walks and never tugged on me ever again. I have needed to figure out how to contain this pup that will weigh as much as me at a full grown 130lbs. A video of the electrifying Our dog seems calmer and more self-controlled and pays more attention than all the treats and tugs and words were able to do. I have a reactive dog when out, other dogs, cars and people but an absolute gent when in the home. Gentle Leader no longer works and just bought a front hitch harness which also does not work. Dogs that I thought were a lost cause QUICKLY cease pulling and are walkable again! Picking up a prong collar tomorrow. 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. I have a 140 BRT, and he is only 14 months old. And I could say there is enough research that shows a flat collar and head halters cause more damage than a prong collar. The content in this post is a breath of fresh air. I felt like his regular collar was causing him pain because he was pulling against it so much. Her eyes arent red after a walk and she doesnt pant constantly walking now. Some dogs only need it for 6 months, others will need it for years. I dont care what breed you have, how strong they are, or how small you are. Ive used regular collars, choke collars, gentle leaders, harnesses and the prong collar. (My dog is super sweet and not aggressive just stubborn!) I admit I have not tried them all. That should tell us something. Just read some of the success stories in the comments. Our shih-poo is VERY smart and learns quick so we know it isnt an intelligence issue. Dr. Jean Dodds says choke or prong collars are not recommended as they can easily injure the delicate butterfly-shaped thyroid gland that sits just below the larynx and in front of the trachea. They out weigh me, so its important to have them under control. _____. 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? 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. I dont think the fear is based on the leash, but something else. If your dog pulls you when trying to walk him or is leash reactive, I strongly suggest you consider using a prong collar. If you just allow him to pull on the collar and go after the rabbit, it may startle him and if he is sensitive dog, it may correct the behavior. When she looked down, her dog's eye had prolapsed. Webtypical flat collar greatly increasing the possibility of damage or injury to the dog. If it hurt him in any way I seriously doubt he would come running for me to put it on him. I know that I could have accomplished this with positive reinforcement but it would have taken me another year and based on his size I did not have the luxury of time. For small dogs you can get the 2.25 mm. She was still her happy-go-lucky self playing. Thank you for this article devilifying prong collars. As with other training devices, when used under supervision and in combination with proper behavioral training, these collars can be quite effective. Russian/West Germany working/showline. I have physical disabilities and any pulling from my 62 pound Labradoodle will hurt me. I had the stigma that the prong collars were abusive. We worked with a balanced trainer to begin with and we saw some improvement but didnt want to use a prong because of their reputation. The prong collar is the opposite of cruel in the right hands. I have a 150lbs St Bernard mix, I cant walk her she is stronger then me. I have seen all of those injuries in dogs, and I experimented with many of those tools before I tried the prong. Fine, but I promise you (challenge me if you want! It depends on the severity of his fearfulness. A TWITCH influencer has stunned her fans and was temporarily banned from the platform after a terrifying video. . I am certainly not here to push, either way, just to give the facts and my opinion on what a great training tool it can be when used properly. For the first time ever I relaxed and smiled while in a vets waiting room! Dogs become reactive (largely) through fear or excitement. He is a pretty stubborn dog (my understanding is that the breed tends to be that way). Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. It could take months or years, depending on your training. All Rights Reserved. This one is really important, before you use any tool with your dog that you understand how they work and why your dog will respond to it especially when they cannot communicate their needs or feelings clearly. Its all a matter of dog and what the owner is comfortable with! The dangerous dogs act suggests that an individual only needs to be frightened. Very pleased with the purchase and have recommended it to other dog owners. I bought the collar at Petsmart. Yes, Yes, Yes!!! So, out comes my trusty prong collar. WebShock collars Carry On Bags: Yes Checked Bags: Yes For more prohibited items, please go to the 'What Can I Bring?' Used well, it gives dogs access to their world and can be a critically important freedom enhancer. I asked him why not? He went on to tell me theyre known for breaking dogs necks. Shadow received an award at the end of the class for Most Improved. But that is true for a flat collar, letting the dog choke itself by pulling so hard the owner cant control him. Shame they dont research the damage done to dogs by flat buckle ! She walked normal and actually we all enjoyed our walk instead of dreading it. Good luck! Lately, I am getting hounded on social media about responding to a post saying it was a great tool for training. Prong/Choke = obedience training, Harness = tracking work, flat collar = protection work. I think our dog is fearful that our son is causing him to get negative corrections. I should say that my dog is quite highly trained and in a training environment excels at quite advanced exercises. I can walk right past other dogs and people and he looks at them and keeps in stride with my pace. Like a child, I believe the structure it provides, is helping to build a better relationship. Web1.England 1. Teacup puppies are incredibly trendy, because of their small size and cuteness. 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. We want to help your organization become prong-free too! Just saw the first video about how to put it on -on your website. They [Prong Collars] are not recommended unless other training methods have been exhausted.. 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. 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 just rescued a 5 month golden husky mix. I used positive reinforcement in training him to walk since he was 3 months old. Unfortunately, people really just dont understand these collars and that they can actually help prevent damage or injury, and help owners bond and communicate better with their dogs. I know my dog and one day well eventually work away from the prong collar but hes not there yet. Not sure what type of training you are looking for, but maybe check out Spirit Dog Training. Yes. 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! Since the incident he has been mouthing our son a lot more. Thanks so much for sharing your story Jessica! Try the stop and go method first, by not moving forward anytime there is any tension on the leash should teach him not to pull. We have dogs in training classes with prong collars, slip collars, harnesses everything. No matter how stubborn. A Twitch star was temporarily banned from the live-streaming platform after zapping herself with a shock collar as part of a bizarre stunt. Its not illegal to use I have found your article online about using prong collars.. well, i am at my wits end with my darling Border Collie. What have you got to lose? 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. I know thats easier said than done. Once I started using a prong collar on my girl (along with the time commitment of training! So now its up to you to decide what you are comfortable using to train your dog. He gets to decide to eliminate that discomfort by not pulling. We recently moved to a suburb of Boston where walks are now exercise but also to do her business. Scotland The use of electric shock collars was 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. 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. If you decide you want to try a prong collar with your dog, make sure your purchase the Herm Sprenger brand (this is the exact one I have). Im sorry to hear that you havent found a trainer that will work with you. I want to be able to enjoy walking him not only within the neighborhood but along trails this summer. I asked the vet if she could give me some gentle tranquillisers to use on such occasions, just to calm her down, but the vet was very reluctant to do this. Now we're loose leash and enjoying our walks and adventures. Thats all. He did well about 75% of the time but at some point he figured out that he was bigger and stronger than me and started to lung at people and other dogs (he loves people and dogs what can I say). My advice would be to give it a try w/ a professionals guidance to see if it could solve your dogs leash pulling habit. He pulled so hard to the point of choking himself and pulling me over. 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. This is the worst tool you can use for a reactive dog. The reason is that your dog might get spooked by something (fire works, thunder or whatever) and decide to make a dash for it. Reviewed by Jessica Schrader, "Collars are a vital part of dog ownership. Like anything Im sure using it wrong or without training can be bad but using it as training tool correctly can be a great benefit and my dog has responded amazing to it., I just started training with the prong collar, I immediately see a difference in my pitt/boxer mix. I'm just afraid I'm going to lose the arm muscle I built up from all that pulling! He lunged once and never did it again. Excellent post!! As subjects go, Prong collars are pretty divisive in the dog world.. and eventually? 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. Lindsay Lowe, "5 Ways Collars Can Harm Your Dog". Sincerely Brian Kelly. The state government will introduce legislation into parliament to end the use of pronged dog collars, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Sunday. When used correctly the prong collar will immediately stop your dog from pulling you. Dr. Jean Dodds. To find out what size prong collar your dog needs, you will need to measure their neck. About 30% of the time he will heel/sit/stay with the choke collar but there is no real control without constant pulling on him. Consult with Virginia from Olivers Travels dog training. I guess Im an animal abuser from what I read, but I would put the care and loving I provide to my dog above 99.9% of what most humans receive. So I started on this years path of advice from experienced rescue owners, 1:1 sessions with a personal trainer ( But this got expensive and she made me feel like i was a big part of the problem by not being able to get over my anxieties when we walked by people, dogs etc) I know I have some work to do there and I am trying.