In fact, after just a few days, your dog will get excited any time you bring the prong collar out and will sit patiently with a wagging tail as you put it on. That will show in your dogs behavior and make you stressed, too! The reasoning should be obvious. These collars or no more or less humane than a prong collar, they are simply a different type of tool. Many believe prong collars are cruel and even injure a dog. This is not abusive, and in fact, it is far safer than a flat collar or a martingale. Required fields are marked *. What you’ll want to do is remove some of the prongs until it has a snug fit. This is some important stuff which will help you communicate effectively with your dog. Many times, a dog will behave perfectly while wearing a prong collar, but once the prong collar comes off, the dog goes right back to behaving poorly. Since there is no precise correction, your dog will remain confused and will learn nothing. You’ll want to put the prong collar on your dog at least 20 minutes before using it for training. Exciting stuff, right?! Here are a couple images to help show a proper vs improper fit. I prefer to grill some chicken breasts and cut them into really small pieces. Once again, say “YES!” and give your dog a treat! Sandrinha Reply: April 10th, 2012 at 2:39 pm. Many people make the mistake of putting the prong collar on and going to work right away. I'm sending you a PM Starrchar. Unlike a choke chain or choke collar, a prong collar is designed to create an equal amount of pressure all the way around the dogs neck. Join us as we take an objective look at the pros and cons of aversive training versus reward based training and discover how prong collars work, why they are still recommended by some trainers, and what science has to say about their overall effectiveness and safety for our four-legged friends. A flat collar is not designed to disperse the force around the neck and therefor, a dangerous pressure point is created right on the dogs esophagus. 8 Things You Need to Know About the Prong Collar and Your Dog The Good. Other harnesses are designed to have a leash clipped onto the front, at the chest of your dog. The prong collar is designed to reduce the amount of pressure on the dog’s trachea. See more at http://www.selfhelpdogtraining.com for everything you need to know to train your own dog in the Foundation Style of Dog Training. The first thing you’ll want are some super awesome and tasty treats. If the collar is snug, that’s fine too as long as your dog isn’t showing any signs of pain. Since 1872 SPRENGER sets new standards in the production of bits, stirrups and spurs. Training Catalog. Aversive training tools undermine our relationship with dogs, and the prong collars is at the top of the list for worst offender. It’s not! Choke chains are outdated and no longer used by most trainers. Unfortunately, they are misused a lot. I realize every puppy is different and some are pleasers whereas other are not, some pups are harder than others, but I would appreciate basic guidelines. But the prong collar is a great training tool to communicate with your dog. All we’re doing right now is showing your dog the prong collar. People who do this are unknowingly causing their dog unnecessary pain and it could result in serious injuries to your dog. Pack leaders in wild dog packs are constantly being tested. A gentle leader collar is designed to go around the dogs head and snout. At what age can you start using a prong collar on a puppy? One major benefit of the remote training collar over the prong collar and many other tools is that we are not required to have a leash attached to the device in order for us to benefit from it. There is a whole lot of misinformation out there claiming that prong collars cause a great deal of pain and can even cause physical harm to your dog. The best part is that the collar … Dogs tend to love plain ol’ chicken breasts and they’re healthy, too. Any … expects. Pinching by a Dog Collar with Prongs. While prong collar training is extremely effective with nearly any dog of any breed, they are also the most dangerous collars on the market when misused. A prong collar looks pretty intimidating, there’s no doubt about that. When used incorrectly, you will cause your dog an unnecessary amount of discomfort and you will cause internal injuries to your dogs esophagus. I know, we just spent all that time getting the dog to associate the collar with fun and excitement! Most Wished For. MEMBERS BEWARE !!!! At what age should my puppy be to start training? 20 plus years ago when I trained with a Schutzhund club some people started using them as early as 5 or 6 months. They can even look downright painful. You're signed out. This doesn’t have to be done in a cruel way. A prong collar is a training collar used to teach dogs leash manners. Why is it so effective? Hopefully, your dog takes it further and touches the collar with his or her nose or paws at it. Once your dog has a full understanding of the rules, the prong collar is no longer needed. Generally, dogs don’t perceive any “correction” from this sort of collar and therefore, remains confused as to why they lose control of their own bodily movements. If you want to know more about this dog collar, then keep reading. Many harnesses, especially those which you clip the leash onto the dogs back, actually facilitate pulling. If your dog is still afraid or unsure of the collar, you need to go back to step one and repeat that step as many times as necessary with as many breaks as necessary. The most effective dog training collar designed by humans for successful domestic dog behavior correction is a metal dog collar with prongs. You’re about to take back control and you’ll do it safely and effectively. Prong collars should not be used on dogs that are timid or on those that are responsive to a simple choke collar. Hello, a very helpful article and helpful videos. Let me review for clarity:-... As for size of prong, use a Herm Sprenger 2.25mm (small) for dogs 30 pounds and under. I like to say, “YES!” At the exact same time you say “YES!”, give your dog a little treat followed by some love and praise. This is one major drawback to a prong collar and is especially true with quick release prong collars. This model from super is a little different though. You actually get the opposite effect as your dog will try to “run away” from the thing that is choking him or her (this is a natural reaction in dogs). Prong collars are not inhumane – people who use them improperly are! At this point, your dog is comfortable wearing the collar, you have the collar properly sized for your dog, you only use the collar during appropriate times, and you’ve desensitized your dog to the prong collar. You should have watched the video on page one about properly fitting a prong collar. Prong collar training is a tried and proven method to quickly and efficiently train almost any dog, large or small. The below video is an excellent intro into how to first begin using a prong collar. No physical harm is done because of equal distribution. You must use lots and lots of praise in conjunction with a prong collar. Let’s start with the basics. When the rules are clear cut and the dog understands the rules, it reduces a lot of stress from the dog. Let’s explore the most common types of collars. If you’re doing it right, your dog will actually have fun and get excited anytime you put the collar on. Before we can start using a prong collar effectively, your dog must be comfortable with it. Efficient with security – no compromises in quality, availability and partnership. However, it might not actually be that useful. It’s true, prong collars are the most abused training tool around. My trainer advised me to start with the prong collar when my nugget was about 4 months old. Once your dog has associated the prong collar with happiness, treats, love, and praise, we’re ready to move onto the next step. Dog need to learn that a prong collar is nothing to fear. I realize every puppy is different and some are pleasers whereas other are not, some pups are harder than others, but I would appreciate basic guidelines. Many thanks, Fittings Catalog. You can take your dog to crowded places and everyone will tell you how well behaved your dog is. By moving too quickly, you’ll confuse the frighten your dog. Thank you! 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,526. If you are using a trainer who recommends a choke collar or choke chain, find another trainer! What is the ultimate goal you have for your dog? It’s also a safe and effective alternative to choke collar. So let’s get started! Generally speaking, prong collars do not fit small, more sensitive dogs. If your dog doesn’t see you as a true leader, your dog will feel anxious and stressed. It can easily fit dogs that have a neck of around 14 inches. Because the collar is designed to mimic the sensation of when a mother bites it’s pup. This allows you to physically turn your dogs head. You will be able to grow a stronger bond with your dog, communicate more effectively with your dog, and enjoy more places together. Now, let’s take it a step further. Not good! 22 Answers. $24.95$24.95($24.95/Count) Get it … TGD Pop-Up Q&A: I’m struggling with prong collar training my 90 pound pittie! A prong collar has bluntly pointed metal that pinches your dog’s skin lightly when you pull on the control loop. That was only necessary during the first step so your dog could be slowly introduced to the collar and not become afraid of it. The pack wants to make sure the leader isn’t getting weak. Alright, now it’s time to put the collar on your dog. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Prong collars just show how much you don't know. Ok, before we really get into this, let’s address the elephant in the room. Your dog will test you from time to time. A prong collar can make a dog even more aggressive when improperly used. He’s VERY strong. Alright, now we’re getting somewhere! Herm Sprenger is one of the most popular brands when it comes to training collars. Check out this all-inclusive prong collar training guide! in Dog Pinch Collars. I personally wouldn’t wait to start till problems developed. A choke collar is probably the worst type of collar you could ever put on a dog. The same holds true with prong collars. As you can see, from a very young age, puppies learn when they’ve done something unacceptable when their mother physically bites their necks, most commonly the back of the neck. Where necessary, a prong collar can serve as an interim device on the way to a buckle or martingale collar as the sole piece of equipment.