It is like an airbag, you hope it never has to deploy, but when you need, it better be there! 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. Do your dogs reach a point that you no longer have to use the prong collar? What have you got to lose? Are shock collars banned in Europe? If you think prong collars are cruel, think about it this way. 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. Hes large for the breed. Prong and choke collars are typically placed on dogs with serious pulling issues. I just cant say enough positive about the usefulness of a prong collar. I have used every kind of collar for the pups Ive fostered and adopted. I used to be someone who thought the prong collar was evil and harmful.. until I met a former LEO K-9 trainer who taught ME how to use one, properly, on a GSD. Ziv, Gal. Our bet recommends it for our lab puppy. I love this link you provided. We got her at 8 weeks old. Scotland The use of electric shock collars was The kennel I work at is very much 50% training, 50% the tools you use. The 2 Most Psychologically Incisive Films of 2022, The Surprising Role of Empathy in Traumatic Bonding. But that isnt going to happen in just a few days. Ultimately, a leash is simply a tool, a kind of umbilical cord between human and dog that can be used well or poorly. I know thats easier said than done. Walking on a leash is not a natural behavior for a dog, and indeed it goes against their natural instincts to run and explore. I have a strong, 1.5 year old, hard headed, 60 pound English Springer Spaniel and he is all over the place on walks. This puppy's social behavior was a gift! Yes it will help you a lot! 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! _____. My dog loves going on walks and he always wears a prong collar when we leave the house. 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. It was a lifesaver for me and he was a true angel to walk with it. I signed us up for an obedience class. These tools of control are often necessary, but we should remain alert to the diverse ways in which they can inhibit a dogs freedoms and the ways these devices can themselves be harmful to our dogs and to us. He is doing well but, as he is getting older, he is pulling toward other dogs and people. I had an English Bulldog and, true to their bullheadedness, when a puppy on our first walks would pull out of his collar and leash and take off. Your story along with all the others brave enough to share will helps others in your same situation. Shes a 5 year old Great Pyrenees cross that Ive had the joy of owning for a year now. But when I have he mostly responds positively if he responds. During the first class Shadow had his own agenda and set out to personally meet and greet every student in the class. Her classes are pure chaos, as nobody has any control with head halters, harnesses and flat collars. And by the way, love the name Bear, thats our yellow labs name too . ) Dont forget to train them off of it. What is different about a prong collar is that as the martingale tightens it brings in teeth or prongs. A prong collar (also called a pinch collar) is an example of a dog training collar, and usually replaces a flat collar. 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. 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. 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. That would be my goal. 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 recommend the 3.0 mm size for most medium to large dogs. 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. You can have a dog who listens well, learns well and as a puppy? I thought prong collars were for out-of-control vicious dogs! I dont think its inhumane to use the collar w/o any jerking or quick pulling motions, but if youre one of those people who yanks, or if you have a dog that will abruptly yank, you need to do more than use a prong collar. 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. Science Shows Positive Reward-Based Dog Training is Best. However, I am primarily writing here because he recently growled and snapped at our 1.5 year old son while getting a correction with the collar he has never done this before. I just want him to be the perfectly trained dog I know hes capable of becoming. 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 studies seem to show that choke collars are dangerous but not prong collars. Training is a life long learning experience, for dogs and humans! Fast forward to today. With this volume of no-nos its so freaking easy to get wrong that can cause damage to your dog physically, mentally, or just to the bond between you and your dog. As for the comment about it causing pain, no one has ever mentioned their dog cries out, winces in discomfort. Everything Debbie has mentioned suggests not using the prong collar to jerk, yank, or whatever on dogs. It is cruel to these dogs for them to be abandoned over and over again, adding to their unsuitability as pets, by people who believe themselves humane, when a gentle training session with a prong collar can turn those wonderful dogs into the kind of pet the owner dreams of. You can purchases extra links if you have an extra large dog (just make sure to get the right mm size for the collar you have). He had good manners (or so I thought) and was very very love able. Its kinda like tapping your dog on the shoulder to keep his attention on you. Free shipping for many products! Thank you for this article! Karen. The dog grew quickly to an incredibly strong dog that could easily jump the fence in the backyard. We just have to apply it. Its important to keep in mind that using harmful collars are elective. Lets be realistic, Im not here to change your mind, and you will never be able to change mine. So glad you found a trainer to guide you! So make sure to watch the videos in the post about fitting and training. We have dogs in training classes with prong collars, slip collars, harnesses everything. Now, at age 6 it doesnt seem to be as effective. Woodrow doesnt mind it at all. Check Latest Price. I am certain it will help others that are struggling. A TWITCH influencer has stunned her fans and was temporarily banned from the platform after a terrifying video. 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. Hannah, Thank you so much for your message. Technically yes. 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. Slip leads and choke collars can do the same and cut off air supply. Ill let you know how our first walk goes! I recommend reading https://www.rescuedogs101.com/bringing-new-dog-home-3-3-3-rule/. So as I did my research as a new dog mom, I see all the ominous warnings of the pinch collar. For example, in the state of California, prong collars cant be used to tether a dog. The positive training methods consist of a verbal correction, which leads to a treat (definitely food motivated dog). It does not work by causing pain when used properly. When used correctly the prong collar will immediately stop your dog from pulling you. She jumped up to greet Mary and her owner shocked her for jumping while she was trying to say hello. Chest harnesses that clip in the front are a better choice for hard-pulling dogs because dogs generally dislike the sensation of being pulled to one side. 6. BTW the trainer only recommended this after understanding the extent of our dogs A.D.D. Controversial prong dog collars were recently banned by the government of Australias most popular tourist destinations, Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef and Gold and Sunshine Coasts. The other thing to remember is the way it works. Right this instant. Hes actually spit them out when he hes determined to get to something else. Just train the right way the first time and dont seek shortcuts.. So a friend recommended a prong collar, I knew that I had nothing to lose by trying it. I was horrified the first time I saw these collars for sale and thought they were really cruel! The dog will be much happier in fact. The collars are brutal due to the fact that they typically lack a quick release mechanism. Kelly, I think you will be pleasantly surprised on how quickly it will work. Dog collars can cause a good deal of physical and psychological harm to dogs. PostedApril 25, 2019 I raised him w/ a no-pull harness, and he quickly out grew that behavior. We are the first time adoptive fur parents of a Yellow Lab Mix. I was overjoyed when I was handed the leash and he did so for me as well!! Can you tell me why theyre being misused? Theyre primed for that. So, the time to start using it is whenever youve genuinely exhausted your options when youve tried the kinder methodology, youve tried a professional positive trainer, and youve gotten to a point where your dog cannot progress despite your dedication, patience and addressing all of the aspects of your dogs life that may be inhibiting their learning. Wasted $100 at PetSmart (clicker training ????). As a trainer, Mary sees many dogs struggling with fear, reactivity, and aggression toward unfamiliar people and dogs. These countries include Austria, Denmark, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, and parts of Australia. Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well. I do worry about what other people think, even though I shouldnt. He has started jumping, and biting and it seems more aggressive. I broke down and bought a prong collar for my girls (18 month old pitbulls) theyre the sweetest dogs but pull like crazy especially when they see a person or another dog they want to play with. 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. I have physical disabilities and any pulling from my 62 pound Labradoodle will hurt me. I cant agree more. 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. At what age do you recommend that people start using a prong Collar? He pulled so hard to the point of choking himself and pulling me over. But every dog is different. I walk him 4-6 miles a day, am in obedience & he generally does really well. I have a 150lbs St Bernard mix, I cant walk her she is stronger then me. Every dog and situation is unique. And harnesses? The reason why I am so weary of collars is that when dogs pull they can cause a lot of damage. Whilst Herm Sprenger advise that 5-6 months is the minimum? Decided to use the old prong collar on a walk to the post office with Bow today ???? 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.. Remove the prong collar entirely. ), All you have to do to unlock that? For small dogs you can get the 2.25 mm. In other words, the use of violence in dog training is not correlated with particular dogs or with particular behavior problems. I felt like his regular collar was causing him pain because he was pulling against it so much. The training program we used 20 years ago used a choke collar, so that is what we were used to. WebCollars with inward facing spikes will be banned from dog shows and training classes under proposals to be discussed by the Kennel Club. 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. And Herm Sprenger agrees. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process. The biggest pup I fostered (who was also a tripaw) did really well with a prong collar but when it was first recommended to me I didnt want to try it. P.S. ), she completely changed. Harriet, you need to calm down. I was a bit taken aback, as I didn't expect it and thought it was cruel. Dogs become reactive (largely) through fear or excitement. he wont make eye contact, has to be taken out of his kennel, has to be carried inside after be letting out to go to the bathroom, etc. With his prong collar, I barely even have to hold the leash. I switched him to a prong (Herm Sprenger 2.25mm) and his behavior improved immediately. You dont use it to punish, you use it to guide. She is passionate about helping puppy parents get things right, right from the start. If you correct the behavior before he gets into that state of mind, the prong will work. When we adopted our 95 lb lab, he had no leash manners at all. Shelby, I love your story! Im still a little nervous about it, which is why Im doing more research on prong collars before I buy one to continue their training for when they come home. Depending on what you are using it for, you can keep it on during the day, but take it off at night when the dog is sleeping. Numerous people who choose to share their lives with a dog also choose to use various types of collars, including electric shock collars (e-collars), choke collars, or prong collars that are connected to different sorts of leashes, both of which give people varying degrees of control over their canine companions. Hes pretty good on our boring suburb walks with a regular collar, but any new experience he is almost uncontrollable. "As long as we are looking for shortcuts to proper training, both the dog and the guardian will likely suffer long term consequences from a poor choice of training tools, a poor use of these tools and the negative side effects from their aversive properties." I have not used one so cant recommend anything specific, but you can find them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/32rG40v. It used to be he wouldnt move at all when we set him down, but now he runs to go outside it runs away from us when were outside (we have a fenced in yard so he cant get away). This has been our experience with all three of our rescued dogs as well. Specifically, they state that prolonged or extreme pulling of ANY collar can lead to damage. Its all a matter of dog and what the owner is comfortable with! With the prong collar, weve been able to quickly train him not to pull on our walks. 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. 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. I dont have to pull on her constantly to keep her in heel. Then we started a balanced training class, and they showed us how to use the prong collar. We make a concentrated effort to take him as many places as possible and have found some really great dog friendly parks, wineries etc. The former associates you as a good thing, the latter associates you with bad things.. They are not suitable for all dogs, and if used incorrectly, they can cause injury. Train with your brain, not with It is so inspiring, it brought tears to my eyes. I used a pinch collar 3 times and he learned that quickly and never pulled out of the leash again. We tried positive reinforcement but he is totally indifferent to treats. In full transparency, we do use the prong collar for our dogs. Also we may all live to see tomorrow. But there is no getting away from the fact that if they didn't cause the discomfort/pain, they wouldn't work. You are most likely reading this because your dog pulls on the leash, is leash reactive or you cant control your dog on leash, right? Exhaust other options Fit it properly Use an experienced trainer (who admits what it is and how it works) Use as designed Pick a quality one (no rubber tips! For my willful, hard-headed, inattentive Doberman yearling, thats definitely a prong collar for training sessions now. (see Training Methods and Devices for more details) Shadow received an award at the end of the class for Most Improved. It could take months or years, depending on your training. Ive come to the conclusion that the people bashing the prong collar never had a dog like yours. 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. This is something that I will be sure to remember because Im planning to buy handmade dog prong collars for my dogs at home. We rehomed a 8 month old GSD who was full of anxiety and nervousness. I have yet to see a dog injured by normal use of a prong collar (of course I only use Herm as well. This is an awesome example of how great of a tool the prong collar can be under the right training. Thank you for saving a dogs life! I have used the prong collar with my Lab. I rescued Shadow, a black Newfoundland, many years ago, that was when I was introduced to the prong collar in an obedience class I took with Shadow. Thats not how the tool works and thats not the humane way to go about it. How Can I Find a Dog Trainer? Patty, its worth a try. This must never happen. I did read Netherlands. Which in the summer months of course is everyone we see. 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. The Ray Allen multi-function harness is designed with a lot of sports in mind. I think, a prong collar, having the constant fear and discomfort creates a different situation for a smart dog, and when they dont have that worry or fear, they just drop all their training. Hes my service dog now. 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 may look into a Herm Sprenger. 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). He lunged once and never did it again. 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. I had held out at first because I was skeptical, but as I said, once I started using the prong collar it was like night and day! 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. A dog has to have the following floor space available: Growing up I had a Doberman who couldnt be walked without it! Filter by 1 Inch Custom Hidden Prong Embroidered Collar $0.00. This will then tighten around the dogs neck while he is hanging and obviously suffocate him to death (I am sure that you do not wish this upon your family pet). 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. Please do more research, because your answer sounded very disturbing. For this reason, more and more trainers and veterinarians are recommending that a dog be walked or run on a chest harness. Are you supposed to leave the spike collar on all the time? 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. All dogs will show signals that he is about to lung or go after prey, such as excitement, whining, eye contact, etc. The veterinarian was ultimately able to save the dog's eye. Good luck. Most of the citys bylaws carry a $240 fine for infraction. Is it normal to have a few inches of chain that dont have the prongs, and does that work as well? I admit I have not tried them all. WebHidden Prong Collars. Thousands of trainers and Id wager millions of owners train their dogseasy dogs and challenging dogsand manage their behavior without any of this stuff. Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! Its another self-rewarding cycle. Lauren, thank you so much for sharing your story. These are common pet dogs. I say moderately, because he still pulled and lunged somewhat. After our outing I realized how overwhelmed he still gets with new scents and experiences. Many trainers suggest using a carabiner to connect the prong to the collar. It is not allowed to permanently keep a dog in a box; only two hours per day at the most. I want to be able to enjoy walking him not only within the neighborhood but along trails this summer. If you use the prong collar correctly and correct your dog BEFORE he takes off for the rabbit, then yes. 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. Your email address will not be published. Oh! 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. It is so much better to be able to walk your dog without the worry of being pulled to the ground! However, if used in the wrong way, collars can lead to serious or even fatal injury." The dog didnt even attempt to pull, lunge or drag me anywhere anymore. Loved this post! 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. I know my dog and one day well eventually work away from the prong collar but hes not there yet. The prong collar is NOT cruel, it saves dogs lives. 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. 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. Leashes restrict dogs' ability to have control of their lives and to make choices. Thanks for sharing this article.
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