| We take Chloe on 2 kinds of walks - fun walks and work walks. Fun walks use a regular nylon collar and a flexi-lead. She's ahead of me, behind me, around me. If she stops to sniff, we use 'leave it', and then keep going. We don't have too much of a control problem ('cept yesterday when she pulled me down after seeing a squirrel). But usually these walks are just that - fun.
For the work walk we use a prong collar and short training lead. Chloe walks at heel and we practice all her commands. If she gets distracted and falls out of the heel she gets a short pop, as we were instructed, just enough to get her attention again. We have no problems with this collar or her behavior when we use it. I don't believe this collar is supposed to be used for an out of control, lunging dog. I think it could hurt them if that was their behavior to begin with. But with Chloe, the all over feeling of the prongs are an attention grabber, not punishment. Her skin is so thick and her neck so strong it doesn't hurt her in the least.
Our trainer did not recommend starting the puppies too young with the prong, however. Chloe began with the prong during basic obedience at about 7-8 months.
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Annette |